Psalm 23
King James Version
David's psalm of trust, one of the most familiar passages in Scripture and a natural first copywork text for young writers.
Download the handwriting worksheet (PDF)Printable, ruled for handwriting: copy it by hand, then type it here.
About this text
Psalm 23 is attributed to David and is likely the most widely known psalm in any language, familiar even to readers with little other exposure to the Bible through its use at funerals, in music, and in common speech. Its central metaphor — God as a shepherd — draws on David's own early life as a literal shepherd before he became king, described earlier in the books of Samuel.
The psalm shifts partway through from describing God in the third person ("he maketh me," "he leadeth me") to addressing God directly in the second person ("thou art with me") starting in verse 4, right at the psalm's most difficult image, the valley of the shadow of death. That shift from description to direct address, in the middle of the hardest line, is easy to read past quickly and worth noticing while copying it slowly.
What to watch for
- 3 semicolons: a semicolon joins two complete thoughts that belong together, a pause longer than a comma but shorter than a period.
- 5 colons: a colon points ahead to what explains or completes the first half of the sentence.
- 1 apostrophe: sort each one into possession (the shepherd's staff) or a missing letter (don't = do not).
- Capital letters in the middle of a sentence: LORD. Ask why each one is capitalized before typing it.
- Old-fashioned words: maketh, leadeth, restoreth, yea, thou, art, thy, runneth. These are easy to "correct" by accident into modern spelling, so copy them exactly as written.
- Longest word: "righteousness" (13 letters). Try spelling it aloud once before reaching it.
- 6 lines averaging about 20 words each. Long lines: a younger child may do half the text per sitting.
Full text (reference)
1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4Yea, 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.
5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.