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The Twenty-Third Psalm by Eugene Field

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Eugene Field's "The Twenty-Third Psalm" offers a heartfelt poetic retelling of the well-known Biblical psalm usually linked to King David.

Poet
Eugene Field
Core theme
Death
The PoemFull text

The Twenty-Third Psalm

Eugene Field

My Shepherd is the Lord my God,-- There is no want I know; His flock He leads in verdant meads, Where tranquil waters flow. He doth restore my fainting soul With His divine caress, And, when I stray, He points the way To paths of righteousness. Yea, though I walk the vale of death, What evil shall I fear? Thy staff and rod are mine, O God, And Thou, my Shepherd, near! Mine enemies behold the feast Which my dear Lord hath spread; And, lo! my cup He filleth up, With oil anoints my head! Goodness and mercy shall be mine Unto my dying day; Then will I bide at His dear side Forever and for aye!

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Sourced from Project Gutenberg

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§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

Eugene Field's "The Twenty-Third Psalm" offers a heartfelt poetic retelling of the well-known Biblical psalm usually linked to King David. It preserves all the familiar imagery — the shepherd, the lush meadows, the shadowy valley, the overflowing cup — while transforming them into a rhyming, song-like verse that exudes warmth and intimacy. At its core, the poem expresses unwavering trust in God, spanning from everyday comfort to the journey through death and into eternity.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

  1. My Shepherd is the Lord my God,-- / There is no want I know;

    Editor's note

    Field opens by referring to God as a shepherd — someone who cares for, guards, and nurtures a flock. The speaker simply states that he lacks nothing. The word "my" carries significant weight: this isn't just any God, but a personal one. The depiction of "verdant meads" (green meadows) and "tranquil waters" creates a picture of absolute peace and abundance.

  2. He doth restore my fainting soul / With His divine caress,

    Editor's note

    Here, the shepherd's care is tender and physical — a "caress" instead of a command. The soul is depicted as "fainting," suggesting it's worn out or lost, and God gently restores it. The second half of the stanza brings in moral guidance: even when the speaker strays from the right path, God guides him back toward "paths of righteousness" instead of punishing him.

  3. Yea, though I walk the vale of death, / What evil shall I fear?

    Editor's note

    This is the psalm's most famous image, and Field presents it as a bold rhetorical question: *what* is there to fear? The answer is clear — nothing. The "staff and rod" are tools a shepherd uses to guide and protect sheep, and the speaker takes ownership of them. The change from "He" to "Thou" and "Thy" is important: the speaker is now addressing God directly, creating a sense of closeness and intimacy in the relationship.

  4. Mine enemies behold the feast / Which my dear Lord hath spread;

    Editor's note

    God sets a feast for the speaker right in front of his enemies — a powerful image of divine favor that no human opposition can hinder. In ancient Near Eastern culture, anointing the head with oil was a sign of honor and blessing. The cup that "overflows" represents abundance that exceeds what is necessary.

  5. Goodness and mercy shall be mine / Unto my dying day;

    Editor's note

    The final stanza reflects on life and what lies ahead. "Goodness and mercy" aren’t just fleeting gifts; they’re constant companions. The poem concludes with the speaker opting to remain by God's side "forever and for aye," emphasizing eternal belonging with a repeated "forever." The tone finishes with warmth and confidence instead of awe or fear.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

The tone throughout is warm, trusting, and quietly joyful. There's no trace of anxiety, even as the poem navigates the valley of death — Field maintains a steady and confident voice. The rhyme scheme and the soft, song-like rhythm create a sense of comfort, resembling a lullaby for the soul. It feels more like a personal conversation between an individual and a God they truly love than a formal religious text.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

The Shepherd
God as shepherd serves as the central metaphor of the entire poem. A shepherd feeds, guides, protects, and looks for lost sheep — all depicting a God who is actively engaged in human life instead of being distant or indifferent.
The Vale of Death
The dark valley symbolizes suffering, danger, and mortality—the unavoidable tough times in life. Walking *through* it instead of avoiding it shows that faith doesn't eliminate hardship; it walks alongside the believer during these challenges.
The Overflowing Cup
A cup that overflows symbolizes an abundance beyond what you asked for or expected. It implies that God's generosity knows no limits.
Staff and Rod
A shepherd's essential tools are the staff, used for guiding, and the rod, which protects against predators. In this context, they symbolize God's active guidance and defense of each individual soul.
The Feast Before Enemies
The banquet spread in front of enemies symbolizes divine vindication. It shows that God's blessing on the speaker is clear and undeniable, even to those who wish him harm.
Oil Anointing
In ancient Near Eastern culture, anointing with oil indicated that someone was honored, chosen, or set apart. In this context, it shows that the speaker is not merely accepted by God but is genuinely cherished.

§06Form & structure

Form & structure

Meter
iambic tetrameter
Rhyme
ABCB ABCB ABCB ABCB ABCB

§07Historical context

Historical context

Eugene Field (1850–1895) was an American journalist and poet celebrated for his sentimental verses aimed at children and families, such as "Wynken, Blynken, and Nod" and "Little Boy Blue." He spent much of his career as a newspaper columnist in Chicago, where he skillfully blended humor with genuine warmth. This poem is his take on Psalm 23, one of the most frequently quoted passages in the Hebrew Bible, traditionally attributed to King David and likely written in the 10th century BCE. By Field's time, the psalm was already a vital part of American Protestant culture, recited at funerals, in churches, and at home. Field's adaptation maintains the original's structure and imagery while presenting it in the accessible, rhyming style that characterized his popular work, making this ancient text feel fresh and personal for a 19th-century audience.

§08FAQ

Questions readers ask

Is this poem the same as the Bible's Psalm 23?

It’s a poetic take that stays true to the original without copying it word for word. Field captures the same flow of images — the shepherd, the green pastures, the valley of death, the feast, the overflowing cup, and the promise of living with God forever — but expresses them in his own rhyming style. You can think of it as a lyrical translation instead of a direct quote.

Why does the poem switch from 'He' to 'Thou' in the third stanza?

In the first two stanzas, the speaker describes God in the third person, as if talking to someone else about Him. In the third stanza, when confronted with the valley of death, the speaker shifts to speaking directly to God — "Thy staff," "Thou, my Shepherd." This change from description to direct address highlights that the moment of greatest danger is also the moment of the closest personal connection.

What does 'vale of death' mean?

"Vale" is an ancient term for valley. The "vale of death" (which comes from the original psalm, "valley of the shadow of death") symbolizes the darkest and most perilous times in life — not just the moment of dying. Field condenses it to "vale of death" to match the meter, but the meaning remains unchanged: a place filled with profound fear and life-threatening danger.

What is the rhyme scheme of this poem?

Each four-line stanza has an ABCB rhyme scheme, where the second and fourth lines rhyme while the first and third lines do not. Field also includes internal rhymes in the third line of each stanza, like "verdant meads" and "tranquil waters," or "when I stray" and "points the way." This adds an extra musicality to the poem.

Why would Field write a poem that already exists as a famous Bible passage?

Poets have long reimagined sacred texts, breathing new life into old words for fresh audiences. Field's adaptation transforms the psalm into a catchy, rhyming format that's easy for anyone, especially children, to memorize and recite. It also showcases his personal style: warm, straightforward, and emotionally honest, steering away from formal religious tones.

What does it mean that God spreads a feast 'before mine enemies'?

It signifies that God openly blesses the speaker in front of those who oppose or wish him harm. His enemies cannot stop or deny this blessing. It represents a form of divine protection that transcends personal comfort — it serves as a visible, social validation.

What does 'forever and for aye' mean at the end?

"Aye" is an old-fashioned word that means "always" or "ever." Therefore, "forever and for aye" essentially translates to "forever and always" — this repetition serves to emphasize the sentiment and create a rhyme. It concludes the poem on the most powerful note of permanence: this relationship with God is everlasting.

Is this poem suitable for a funeral reading?

Yes, it has been used that way. Like the original Psalm 23, Field's version talks about death openly — "the vale of death," "unto my dying day" — while also expressing complete trust and the promise of eternal companionship. This blend of honesty about mortality and confidence in what comes next makes it a fitting choice for memorial occasions.

Citation

Cite this poem

MLA

Field, Eugene. "The Twenty-Third Psalm." Storgy, https://storgy.com/poems/the-twenty-third-psalm-eugene-field/.

APA

Field, E. (n.d.). The twenty-third psalm. Storgy. https://storgy.com/poems/the-twenty-third-psalm-eugene-field/

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In Eugene Field's verse adaptation of the Twenty-Third Psalm, the speaker's transformation of the original's intimate, second-person address into a formally rhymed, almost hymn-like lyric does more than restate scripture; it enacts the …

  • Row B — Evidence + Commentary4 pts
  • Row C — Sophistication1 pt
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