Blessed AugustineExposition on Psalm 22 · on Psalm 22:1
The Church speaks to Christ: "The Lord feedeth me, and I shall lack nothing" (ver. 1). The Lord Jesus Christ is my Shepherd, "and I shall lack nothing."
The Eastern Cross/Bible/Psalms/Psalm 22
The Book of Psalms · the Psalter
Psalm 22
Psalm 23 in the KJV and most English Bibles
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1
A Psalm of David. The Lord tends me as a shepherd, And I shall want nothing.
Ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυίδ. Κύριος ποιμαίνει με, καὶ οὐδέν με ὑστερήσει.
2
In a place of green grass, there he has made me dwell: He has nourished me by the water of rest.
Εἰς τόπον χλόης ἐκεῖ με κατεσκήνωσεν· ἐπὶ ὕδατος ἀναπαύσεως ἐξέθρεψέ με·
Blessed AugustineExposition on Psalm 22 · on Psalm 22:2
"In a place of pasture there has He placed me". In a place of fresh pasture, leading me to faith, there has He placed me to be nourished. "By the water of refreshing has He brought me up." By the water of baptism, whereby they are refreshed who have lost health and strength, has He brought me up.
3
He has restored my soul: He has guided me into the paths of righteousness, For his name’s sake.
Τὴν ψυχήν μου ἐπέστρεψεν· ὡδήγησέν με ἐπὶ τρίβους δικαιοσύνης, ἕνεκεν τοῦ ὀνόματος αὐτοῦ.
Blessed AugustineExposition on Psalm 22 · on Psalm 22:3
"He has converted my soul: He has led me forth in the paths of righteousness, for His Name's sake". He has brought me forth in the narrow ways, wherein few walk, of His righteousness; not for my merit's sake, but for His Name's sake.
4
Yea, even if I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will not be afraid of evils: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff, these have comforted me.
Ἐὰν γὰρ καὶ πορευθῶ ἐν μέσῳ σκιᾶς θανάτου, οὐ φοβηθήσομαι κακὰ, ὅτι σὺ μετʼ ἐμοῦ εἶ· ἡ ῥάβδος σου καὶ ἡ βακτηρία σου, αὗταί με παρεκάλεσαν.
Blessed AugustineExposition on Psalm 22 · on Psalm 22:4
"Yea, though I walk in the midst of the shadow of death". Yea, though I walk in the midst of this life, which is the shadow of death. "I will fear no evil, for You are with me." I will fear no evil, for You dwell in my heart by faith: and You are now with me, that after the shadow of death I too may be with You. "Your…
5
Thou hast prepared a table before me in presence of them that afflict me: Thou hast thoroughly anointed my head with oil; And thy cup cheers me like the best wine.
Ἡτοίμασας ἐνώπίον μου τράπεζαν, ἐξεναντίας τῶν θλιβόντων με· ἐλίπανας ἐν ἐλαίῳ τὴν κεφαλήν μου, καὶ τὸ ποτήριόν σου μεθύσκον ὡς κράτιστον.
Blessed AugustineExposition on Psalm 22 · on Psalm 22:5
"You have prepared a table in my sight, against them that trouble me". Now after the rod, whereby, while a little one, and living the natural life, I was brought up among the flock in the pastures; after that rod, I say, when I began to be under the staff, You have prepared a table in my sight, that I should no more…
6
Thy mercy also shall follow me all the days of my life: And my dwelling shall be in the house of the Lord for a very long time.
Καὶ τὸ ἔλεός σου καταδιώξεταί με πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς ζωῆς μου, καὶ τὸ κατοικεῖν με ἐν οἴκῳ Κυρίου εἰς μακρότητα ἡμερῶν.
Blessed AugustineExposition on Psalm 22 · on Psalm 22:6
"And Your mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:" that is, as long as I live in this mortal life, not Yours, but mine. "That I may dwell in the house of the Lord for length of days". Now Your mercy shall follow me not here only, but also that I may dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
About these notes
Every note is a real passage, quoted word for word from a published English translation, with its source. Nothing here is summarised or written by us. Some verses have many notes and some have none, because the Fathers wrote more on some passages than others.
- Blessed Augustine, Expositions on the Book of Psalms, tr. A. Cleveland Coxe from the Oxford translation, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888).
- Scripture: the Septuagint, in the translation of Sir Lancelot Brenton (1851), with spelling updated by Adam Boyd (2020); the Greek is Brenton's Septuagint text.
All of these translations are in the public domain. The passages were matched to their verses by the Historical Christian Commentaries project, which also hosts the full texts we link to. The Fathers are a treasury of the Church's mind, and they are best read alongside the life of the Church: if a passage raises a question, bring it to your priest.