# Psalms 23.5

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-05-06 | updated: 2026-05-06 -->

**Book:** [Psalms](/codex/psalms/) · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 3. He restoreth my soul: He guideth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4. Yea, thou 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 hast anointed my head with oil; My cup runneth over.**
>
> 6. Surely goodness and lovingkindness shall follow me all the days of my life; And I shall dwell in the house of Jehovah for ever. (Psalms 23:3-6, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 3. He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
>
> **5. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over.**
>
> 6. Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in Yahweh’s house forever. (Psalms 23:3-6, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 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. <sup>anointest: Heb. makest fat</sup>**
>
> 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. <sup>for ever: Heb. to length of days</sup> (Psalms 23:3-6, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 3. My soul He refresheth, He leadeth me in paths of righteousness, For His name's sake, 4. Also, when I walk in a valley of death-shade, I fear no evil, for Thou [art] with me, Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.
>
> **5. Thou arrangest before me a table, Over-against my adversaries, Thou hast anointed with oil my head, My cup is full!**
>
> 6. Only, goodness and kindness pursue me, All the days of my life, And my dwelling [is] in the house of Jehovah, For a length of days! (Psalms 23:3-6, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** various (David majority; Asaph, Korah, Moses, Solomon, anonymous)
- **Audience:** worshipping Israel (corporate + individual devotion)
- **Location:** Israel, various periods
- **Time period:** composition spans c. 1400 BC (Moses, Ps 90), c. 400 BC; principal Davidic composition c. 1000 BC

## Theological reading

## Key words

_No Strong's-tagged lexicon matches found in this passage. (Lexicon coverage is curated, ~159 of the most apologetically-loaded Greek/Hebrew terms.)_

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.