Psalm 23

The shepherd psalm, read slowly. Notice how much is passive rest: He makes me lie down, He leads, He restores. Fear isn't denied; the valley of the shadow is real, and enemies are at the table. But the pronoun shifts from "He" to "You" exactly in the dark valley. Presence is the comfort, not the absence of danger.

"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." (Psalm 23:4)

Versions/Hebrew: In 23:6, "follow" is radaph [7291], the ordinary word for chase or pursue, used of enemies elsewhere; YLT: "goodness and kindness pursue me." "Mercy" is chesed [2617] (WEB "loving kindness"). "Quiet waters" in 23:2 is mei menuchot [4496], waters of rest.