The Lord's My Shepherd: words for a funeral order of service
5 verses, 20 lines. Scottish Psalter of 1650, attributed to Francis Rous (died 1659). Out of copyright in the UK.
Put these words straight into an A5 order of service booklet.
Add to my order of serviceThe Lord's my Shepherd, I'll not want,
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green; he leadeth me
The quiet waters by.
My soul he doth restore again,
And me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness,
Even for his own name's sake.
Yea, though I walk in death's dark vale,
Yet will I fear no ill;
For thou art with me, and thy rod
And staff me comfort still.
My table thou hast furnished
In presence of my foes;
My head thou dost with oil anoint,
And my cup overflows.
Goodness and mercy all my life
Shall surely follow me,
And in God's house for evermore
My dwelling-place shall be.
At a glance
| Verses | 5 |
|---|---|
| Lines | 20 |
| Words | 114 |
| Fits one A5 page at 11 pt | Yes, about 70% of the page |
| Fits one A5 page at 12.5 pt (larger print) | Yes, about 79% of the page |
| Words | Scottish Psalter of 1650, attributed to Francis Rous (died 1659) |
| Usual tune | Crimond (Jessie Seymour Irvine, died 1887) |
| UK copyright in the words | Out of copyright Each writer died more than 70 years ago. |
| Text taken from | The memorial service for King Edward VII (1910) on Wikisource, which prints verses 1, 2, 3 and 5 Verse 4 is not in that service sheet. It follows the 1650 Scottish Psalter text given in the Wikipedia article on the hymn. |
Hymn books differ in small ways: a word here, a comma there, sometimes a verse left out. Check these words against the hymn book or sheet your organist will use, and edit them in the builder if they differ.
Questions
- Can I print the words of The Lord's My Shepherd in a funeral order of service in the UK?
- The words are from the Scottish Psalter of 1650, attributed to Francis Rous, who died in 1659. UK copyright in a writer's words lasts no longer than 70 years after the end of the year the writer died, so these words are out of copyright. This is information, not legal advice.
- How many verses does The Lord's My Shepherd have?
- The version on this page has 5 verses and 20 lines (114 words).
- Does The Lord's My Shepherd fit on one A5 page?
- At 11 point type on an A5 page with 14 mm margins: yes, it takes about 70% of the page. At 12.5 point: yes, about 79% of the page.
This page gives information, not legal advice. Facts were checked on 10 November 2026.