Large Print Psalm 23: Free Printable PDF
This is Psalm 23 in large print, in the King James Version of 1611. Choose 18, 24 or 28 point, on US Letter, A4 or 11 x 17 paper, with a cream option. The King James text is in the public domain, so you may print and copy it freely for any personal or group use.
| Translation | King James Version, 1611 |
|---|---|
| Length | Six short stanzas |
| Type size | 18, 24 or 28 pt |
| Paper | US Letter, A4 or 11 x 17 in, white or cream |
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).
The words above are set the way this site sets every text: left aligned, one column, plain type with no italics, and a blank line between stanzas. The text is listed with the other short readings on the large print prayers and hymns page, and you can print it on its own here.
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. A reader may need only the sheet in hand to feel the words are within reach. Our large print prayers and hymns page collects the other short readings and hymns.
How do I print Psalm 23 in large print?
Pick a size and a paper, then use the download button under the psalm. The psalm has fifteen lines in six stanzas, and 11 x 17 paper is a good size for a framed or wall-mounted copy. Use cream paper and a matte finish if the room is brightly lit. In our layout tests on US Letter paper it takes 1 page at 18 point, 2 at 24 point and 2 at 28 point, and 1 page on 11 x 17 paper at 24 point.
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.
The other short readings in the same layout are The Lord's Prayer, The Apostles' Creed, The Doxology and The Hail Mary.