PSALM 23 David acclaims: The Lord is my shepherd.

1 THE LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they
comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Parallelisms: Individual concepts are repeated to create a unified theme…

THE LORD is my shepherd;

I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil;
my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

1 psalm 23 5july2010.doc
Chiasmus - A list of concepts given in one order , then repeated in a reverse order.
One example of many different forms of repetition

A THE LORD is my shepherd;

B I shall not want. 2 He maketh
C me to lie down in green pastures:
D he leadeth me beside
E the still waters. 3
F He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of
G death, I will fear no evil: for
H thou art with me;
I thy rod and thy staff
I they comfort me. 5
H Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of
G mine enemies:
F thou anointest my head with oil;
E My cup runneth over. 6 Surely
D goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of
C my life: and
B I will dwell in the house of
A the LORD for ever.

2 psalm 23 5july2010.doc
Chiasmus - Example 2: Symmetry of noun/pronoun references to the Lord and to David
1 A THE LORD is
2 B my
3 C shepherd;
4 D I shall not want. 2
5 E He maketh
6 F me to lie down in green pastures:
7 G he leadeth
8 H me beside the
9 I still waters. 3
10 J He restoreth
11 K my soul:
12 L he leadeth
13 M me in the paths of righteousness for
14 N his name's sake. 4 Yea, though
15 O I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
16 P I will fear no evil: for
17 O thou art with
18 N me;
19 M thy rod and thy staff
20 L they comfort
21 K me. 5
22 J Thou preparest a table before
23 I me in the presence of
24 H mine enemies:
25 G thou anointest Symmetry of references to:
26 F my head with oil; The Lord David
27 E My cup runneth over. 6 Surely 1st half: 8 8
28 D goodness and mercy shall follow 2nd half: 8 8
29 C me all the days of Total: 16 16
30 B I will dwell in
31 A the house of the LORD for ever.

3 psalm 23 5july2010.doc