The Lord Is My Shepherd

A very excellent and sweet exposition upon the XXII. Psalm of David called in Latin: Dominus regit me, etc. Translated out of Hye Almayne into English by Miles Couerdale. Anno MDXXXVIII. The.xxii. psalm of David called in Latin Dominus regit me, et nihil i The LORD is my shepeherde, I shall lack nothing. ii He fedeth me in a grene pasture, and leads me to the fresh water. iii He quyckeneth my soul, and brings me forth in the way of righteousness, for his names sake. iiii Though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, yet fear I no evil, for thou art with me: Thy staff and thy shepehooke do comfort me v Thou preparest a table before me against mine enemies, thou anoynteste my head with oil, and fyllest my cup full. vi Oh let thy loving kyndnesse and mercy follow me all the days of my life, that I may dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. An exposition upon the.xxii. Psalm. The effect of this Psalm IN this Psalm does David and every christen heart give thanks and praise unto God for his most principal benefit, namely, for the preaching of his dear and holy word, whereby we are called, accepted, and no^bred among the multitude, which is the congregation or church of God: where only (and in no place else) the pure doctrine, the true knowledge of Gods will, and the right service of God is found and had. But this same noble treasure does holy David praise and extol maruaylous excellently with goodly, sweet, fair, and pure words, ye and that with lykenesses, borrowed out of the Gods service of the old Testament. First, he lykeneth himself to a sheep, whom God himself (as a faithful diligent shepherde) does wondrous well take heed unto, A sheep fedeth him in a pleasant grene pasture, which sto^deth full of good thick grass, where there is abundaunce also of fresh water, and no scarceness. Item he lykeneth God also unto such a shepherde, The shepherde as with his staf leads and brings the sheep the plain right way, that it ca^ not go amysse, and defe^deth his flock so with the shepehooke, that the woolfe can not break in. After this does he make himself a geste, A geste for whom God prepares a table, where he fyndeth both strength and comfort, refreshynge and joy, and that plenteously.

And thus the Prophet gives ye word of God diverse names, The word of God has many names. calls it goodly pleasant grene grass, fresh water, the right way, a staff, a shephooke, a table, balm or pleasant oil, and a cup that is always full. And this he does not without a cause: for the power of Gods word is many fold For why? Like as a sheep in a fair pleasant medowe, beside the grene grass and fresh water in the presence of his shepherde (which leads it with the staff or rod, so that it can not go astraye: and defends it so with the shepehoke that no harm can happen unto it) has his food and pleasure in all safegarde. Or like as a man lacks nothing yt sytteth at a table, where there is plenty of meat and drink, and al manner of comfort and gladness: So much more, they that be ye sheep of this shepherd (whereof this psalm syngeth) lack no good thing, are rychely provided for, not only in soul but also in body. As Christ says in the sixte of Matthew: Seek first ye kingdom of God, and the righteousness thereof, so shall all these things be mynistred unto you. For as they yt want bodily food live in great straytnesse and pensyfnesse, not being able to fulfill the bodies request in this behalf: even so also those yt want this wholesome and necessary word of god, can not rejoice nor be pacyfyed inwardly. Ye even as bread and wine refresh a man's fleshy heart, and make him joyful: even so the word of God quyckeneth and refressheth a man's soul inwardly. The preaching of gods wod brings prosperity For when the word of God is truly and syncerely preached, look how many diverse names the prophet gives it here, so many commodyties and fruits does it bring. Unto them that are diligent and earnest to hear it (whom our LORD God knows only for his own sheep) it is a pleasant grene grass, a fresh water, wherewith they are satisfied and refreshed. It keeps them also in the right way, and preserves the^, that no mysfortune nor harm happen unto them. Moreover, it is unto the^ a continual wealth, where there is abu^daunce of meat and drink, and all manner of joy and pleasure. That is, they are not only instruct and gyded, refresshed, strengthed and comforted by the word of God, but ever more and more preserved in the right way, defended in all manner of trouble both of body and soul. And finally they have ye victory and prevail against all temptacyons and troubles, whereof they must abide right many, as the fourth verse does specifye. Shortly, they live in all manner of safegarde, as they, unto whom no mysfortune can happen, for as much as their shepherde does feed them and preserve them.

The doctrine to be taken of this psalm. Therefore should we take instruccion out of this Psalm, not to despise ye word of God, but gladlye to hear, and learn the same, to love it, and to make much of it, and to resort unto ye little flock, where we may have it. And again on ye other side, to fly and eschew those that do blaspheme and persecute it. …