I asked Google, “What is the most quoted scripture at funerals?” Admittedly, I had an idea what the findings would be and I wasn’t surprised. The AI Overview response was, “The most commonly quoted scripture at funerals is Psalm 23…”

The Comforting Appeal of Psalm 23

I asked Google the question based on two premises:

1. Almost every adult, Believer or not, has heard Psalm 23
2. Because everyone has attended a funeral.

Psalm 23 has an enduring ability to provide comfort during difficult times, including for yours truly. I’ve described how memorizing it has become a key strategy in the battle plan against my inner critic.

In this article, I will elaborate on Psalm 23, amplifying its words to dig deeper into their meanings and extract all of their goodness. I’m not adding to the Word of God; just offering my translation and insights on how David’s words have helped me.

Let’s start with the English Standard Version (ESV) of Psalm 23. I have removed the verse numbers to enhance the experience for those listening to this blog post. Verse numbers weren’t part of the original manuscripts anyway.

The Beautiful Psalm 23 in the English Standard Version

A Psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name’s sake.

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.

You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Beautiful and comforting, right? Now, my expanded version.

Psalm 23 Personalized and Amplified

The Lord, King of kings and Lord of lords, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, Light of the World, Prince of Peace, Author and Perfecter of my Faith, Bread of Life, Lamb of God, Resurrection and Life, the Way and the Truth and the Life, the Name above every name, the Name to which every knee will bow and every tongue will confess is Lord,

is my shepherd; yes, I am a sheep, simple and easily lost without a shepherd and the Lord is my Shepherd, and He may be yours, too, but Jesus died for MY sins, MY wickedness, and if I stray from the flock, He will leave it and come looking for me!

I shall not want because God owns the cattle on a thousand hills and provides for my all of my needs according to His Glorious riches in Jesus Christ, even before I see the need coming, and He’s teaching me to be content in all things.

He makes me lie down in green pastures and take stock of His gracious Goodness all around me.

He leads me beside still waters when I stretch out my hand, taking me to the Living Water, where I will find peace and never thirst again.

He restores my soul, minute by minute, when I call upon His Name, and cast my burdens upon Him.

He leads me in paths of righteousness because His way is perfect and I have no righteousness apart from Him, and it’s all

for His name’s sake, Jehovah-Rohi: The Lord My Shepherd, Jehovah-Jireh: The Lord Shall Provide, Jehovah-Rapha: The Lord Who Heals, Jehovah-M’Kaddesh: The Lord Who Sanctifies, Jehovah-Shalom: The Lord Who Is Peace.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I’ll keep walking, maybe not running because sometimes I’m too tired and discouraged, but I’m not laying down in defeat either; I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus because He has defeated Death, and what I’m feeling is just a shadow that falls away when I focus on the Light of the World.

I will fear no evil, only because

for you are with me; a lesson I’ve learned so many times in my life as I’ve sought you and you answered, delivering me from all my fears.

your rod protects me and fights against those who fight against me, and disciplines me as a Good Father does with the children He loves

and your staff, guides me along safe paths, and rescues me from dangerous cliffs when I arrogantly go my own way, and

they comfort me, like a baby swaddled in a blanket.

You prepare a table before me…hold up; after all you have already done for me, you’re still serving me? I should be preparing a banquet feast for you; and You’re doing so

in the presence of my enemies; as they look on in envy and amazement

you anoint my head with oil; and my tears of joy mix with the oil as

my cup overflows unable to contain the Love and blessings my Lord has for me.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me as I follow my Shepherd, my eyes open to His work around me, my ears listening for His voice, waiting to hear great and hidden things that I’ve never known

all the days of my life, whether the next breath is my last or 10,000 more are yet to come, I know His Grace is sufficient for today, because the Lord made the day and I will be glad and rejoice in it, not worrying about tomorrow for today has enough troubles of its own,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever, in a room especially designed for me, never worrying again about mortgage payments, power bills, and garage door repairs, all the while singing “Hallelujah, praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”

How to Easily Memorize Psalm 23

David’s Psalm has comforted millions of people throughout history and we shouldn’t wait until funerals to enjoy its benefits. Train your mind to fall back on Scriptures as a weapon against the nasty voice in your head. Here’s how I memorized Psalm 23.

Three Simple Steps to Memorize Psalm 23

1. Find the version you enjoy most. I prefer the ESV, but you may like the New Living Translation (NLT) for its easy readability or the old English style of the King James Version (KJV). It will be easier to memorize the translation that flows best for you.
2. Listen on the Bible app at .75x speed. Read along if possible because seeing and hearing simultaneously is a powerful way to memorize Scripture, but that’s not always practical. Listening on the Bible app will accelerate memorization because you have more opportunities to practice. Slowing the speed down allows you to soak in the words, pause frequently, and recite them back.
3. Paint a picture in your mind. Psalm 23 is filled with visual imagery – green pastures, still waters, the valley of the shadow of death, rod and staff, a table in the presence of my enemies, an overflowing cup. Imagine Psalm 23 as an event happening to you, your journey; make it real. Because it is.
   

Use these three simple steps to memorize any Scripture. I also used it to learn The Lord’s Prayer, another powerful passage to put into your repertoire.

Make David’s Psalm Your Own

The entire Bible is God’s love letter to you, complete with everything you will ever need this side of Heaven. I encourage you to read it cover to cover. You can do it in about five months at a leisurely pace and will discover how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is for you.

I’m excited to hear how you learned and personalized Psalm 23! Post your version in the comments.