Funeral reading
Psalm 23 (Jewish Publication Society, 1917)
JPS 1917 translation
“Psalm 23 (Jewish Publication Society, 1917)” by JPS 1917 translation is a scripture reading read at a funeral or memorial service. It takes about 55 seconds read aloud, usually by the officiant. It is in the public domain, so the full text is printed on this page and goes straight into a ceremony script.
The full text
A Psalm of David. 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 guideth me in straight paths 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 hast anointed my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Public domain, so these words can be printed in a ceremony script or an order of service.
What it is about
The Jewish translation rather than the King James, if the family would prefer it.
Read at a funeral or memorial service. Themes: shepherd · comfort · the valley of the shadow · Jewish funeral · mizmor l’David.
Questions about reading it aloud
How long does “Psalm 23 (Jewish Publication Society, 1917)” take to read aloud?
“Psalm 23 (Jewish Publication Society, 1917)” takes about 55 seconds read aloud at a ceremony pace, which is slower than conversation — roughly 130 words a minute. That is the figure the run-sheet uses when it works out the timing for the whole service.
Who usually reads “Psalm 23 (Jewish Publication Society, 1917)”?
Usually the officiant rather than a guest reader. “Psalm 23 (Jewish Publication Society, 1917)” runs about 55 seconds, which sits inside the part of the service the officiant is already leading, and keeping it there means it is carried by the person who has rehearsed it.
Can “Psalm 23 (Jewish Publication Society, 1917)” be printed in a ceremony script?
Yes. It is in the public domain, so the full text is on this page and can be printed in a script or an order of service.
Where this text was checked
Checked word for word against a full-text edition that is itself the authority — a Project Gutenberg or Wikisource transcription, a publisher’s own edition, or the issuing body’s page.
Checked
A reading is two minutes of the hour.
The rest is the welcome, the life, the remembrances, the committal — and knowing what comes next. Answer some questions about them and get the whole service, written out, with this reading in its place.