Psalm 23 KJV in Large Print: Free Printable PDF

Psalm 23 in large print: words and download

Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, 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.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil;
my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Words: King James Version (1611), Psalm 23. Public domain in the United States: scripture translation published 1611 (public domain in the US).

Download PDF: Psalm 23

Psalm 23 is also listed on the large print prayers and hymns page with the hymns.

The wording below comes from the King James Bible at Project Gutenberg. It keeps “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures” and “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.” This sheet uses the KJV wording, rather than a modern translation or a paraphrase.

What is Psalm 23 and who wrote it?

Psalm 23 is the 23rd of the Book of Psalms, part of the Hebrew Bible and of the Christian Old Testament. According to Wikipedia, its heading ascribes it to King David, who is said in scripture to have been a shepherd as a youth. In the Greek Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate the psalms are numbered slightly differently, and this psalm is Psalm 22, so Catholic readers may know it by that number.

The psalm speaks of God as a shepherd who feeds and leads the flock. Wikipedia notes that the image was common across ancient Israel and Mesopotamia. The King James Version of 1611, which our sheet uses, is described there as the most widely recognized English version.

How is Psalm 23 used in worship and at the bedside?

The psalm is used in both Jewish and Christian worship. In Jewish tradition it is sung at the third Shabbat meal, and it is recited beside the deceased and at funerals, according to Wikipedia. Christians link the shepherd image with Jesus as the Good Shepherd in the Gospel of John, and the psalm is sung at Masses for the dead. In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer it is appointed to be read on the evening of the fourth day of the month.

Many people already know it by heart, which is why it is a natural choice for a bedside, a care-home visit or a memorial. Our large print prayers and hymns page collects the other short readings and hymns.

How do I print Psalm 23 in large print?

Choose the text size, paper and typeface above the preview, then press Download PDF. Open the saved PDF and print at Actual size or 100%, using the same paper size you selected. Fit to page can shrink the type below the size you chose.

These counts come from generating this sheet with both available typefaces, Atkinson Hyperlegible and Liberation Sans. All six verses are included at every size. Later pages repeat the Psalm 23 heading so loose sheets can be kept together.

For a one-page reading sheet on an ordinary printer, use 18 point on Letter or A4. For a larger one-page copy, use 11 x 17 paper if your printer supports it. The cream background is available if white paper causes glare.

For a service of remembrance, print one copy per person at 24 point and set them out with the large print Lord's Prayer and a hymn such as Amazing Grace. The page on what large print is explains where the 18, 24 and 28 point sizes come from.

Also in this layout: the Lord's Prayer, the Apostles' Creed, the Doxology and the Hail Mary.