View source for The Text of Ps. 23:6b

=Introduction=
The Masoretic text of Ps 23:6b reads as follows:<ref>Hebrew text from [https://hb.openscriptures.org/read/ OSHB], based on the Leningrad Codex.</ref>
:וְשַׁבְתִּ֥י בְּבֵית־יְ֝הוָ֗ה לְאֹ֣רֶךְ יָמִֽים׃
One of the most debatable issues of Psalm 23 concerns the verb וְשַׁבְתִּי in verse 6. Translations have read the text in three different ways.<ref>Weber offers an additional suggestion on how to render ושבתי in Ps 23:6b. According to the author, the consonantal text of the MT (ושבתי) may be deliberately ambiguous in order to evoke both meanings simultaneously ("And I will return/dwell in the house of the Lord...") (cf. Weber 2016, 128. So, Botha 2015, 285). This suggestion does not have strong scholarly support and so will not be covered in the argument maps.</ref>

#Read the text as '''וְשַׁבְתִּי''' (so MT; ''waw'' consecutive + Qal perfect 1cs from שׁוּב - "and I will return"). This option is represented by the modern translation TOB: '''Et je reviendrai'''<ref>Translation footnote: "Versions: j'habiterai, voir 27,4; Dt 30,20."</ref> à la maison du SEIGNEUR.<ref>English translation: "'''and I will return''' to the house of the Lord."</ref>
#Read the text as '''וְשִׁבְתִּי''' (''waw'' conjunctive<ref>''Waw'' conjunctive is also referred to as ''waw'' non-inversive.</ref> + Qal infinitive construct from יָשַׁב with 1cs pronominal suffix - "and my dwelling"). The LXX appears to support this option which is represented by the modern translation LSV: "'''And my dwelling''' [is] in the house of YHWH." 
#Read the text as '''וְיָשַׁבְתִּי''' (''waw'' consecutive + Qal perfect 1cs from יָשַׁב - "and I will dwell"). The majority of ancient (Peshitta, Targum, Jerome ''Hebr.'') and modern translations appear to support this option which is represented by the modern translation NIV: "'''And I will dwell''' in the house of the Lord." We note that these translations ''appear'' to be reading וְיָשַׁבְתִּי. It is possible that some of them are actually reading וְשִׁבְתִּי (lit.: “my dwelling [will be]...” - option 2) but translating it as “I will dwell”, which would have the same English translation as וְיָשַׁבְתִּי ("and I will dwell").

=Argument Maps=
=== וְשַׁבְתִּי - Following the Masoretic Text=== 
This option preserves the traditional Hebrew text וְשַׁבְתִּי (''waw'' consecutive + Qal perfect 1cs from שוּב - "and I will return"), and it is represented by the modern translation TOB: Et je reviendrai<ref>Translation footnote: "Versions: j'habiterai, voir 27,4; Dt 30,20."</ref> à la maison du SEIGNEUR.<ref>English translation: "'''and I will return''' to the house of the Lord."</ref> Although this option is not favored by the consulted English translations, it is an option favored by several non-English modern translations such as French (e.g., TOB, NBS, S21), German (e.g., ELB, EÜ, ZÜR), and Portuguese (e.g., NVI) as well as by English commentators (e.g., Keil and Delitzsch 1900, 332; Ross 2011, 554; Ewald 1835, 16; NICOT). The arguments for and against this view are as follows.

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[וְשַׁבְתִּי]: The earlier reading of the text is וְשַׁבְתִּי ("and I will return") (cf. Keil and Delitzsch 1900, 332 :C:; Ross 2011, 554 :C:; Bellinger and Arterbury 2005, 393-394 :A:; Ewald 1835, 16 :C:; NICOT; etc.)#dispreferred
 - <Odd>: The use of the preposition בְּ  ("in") with the verb וְשַׁבְתִּי ("and I will return") is odd (cf. Goldingay 2006, 345 :C:; Futato 2009, 102 :C:). The preposition בְּ is more commonly used with verbs derived from the root יָשַׁב ("to dwell") than from the root שׁוּב ("to return").
  + <לְ or אֶל>: The verb שׁוּב ("to return") is typically accompanied by either the preposition לְ ("to") or the preposition אֶל ("to"), not by a בְּ preposition.
   + [לְ or אֶל]: Gen 18:33b וְאַבְרָהָ֖ם שָׁ֥ב לִמְקֹמֹֽו "and Abraham returned to his place" (ESV); Gen 28:21 וְשַׁבְתִּ֥י בְשָׁלֹ֖ום אֶל־בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֑י "and I return safely to my father's home" (NET).
  <_ <More difficult reading>: The reading וְשַׁבְתִּי is the more difficult reading and is therefore to be preferred. Scribes were more likely to ‘fix’ the text to make it more understandable than make its meaning more obscure.#dispreferred
   <_ <Infinitive>: If the infinitive וְשִׁבְתִּי is preferred, then there is no need for scribes to have changed anything, since the consonants remain the same.
  <_ <Wide range of translation>: The בְּ preposition occurs in every verse of the psalm except v.1. Its occurrences demonstrate "the wide range of English translations it \[the preposition\] can sustain depending on context: \[בִּנְאֹות דֶּשֶׁא\] 'in' (pastures green); \[בְּגֵיא\] 'through' (the valley); \[בַשֶּׁמֶן\] 'with' (oil). So while it would most naturally mean 'in' here—'in the house of'—it could perhaps mean 'to' (the house of)" (Briggs 2021, 163 :C:).#dispreferred
  <_ <Pregnant Construction>: In Ps 23:6b, we have a ''pregnant construction'': "'and I shall return (''perf. consec.'') in the house of Jahve' ''i.e.'' having returned, I shall again dwell in the house of Jahve" (Delitzsch 1883, 407 :C:. Cf. also Grosser 2023, 295 footnote 3 :M:).#dispreferred
 + <Just visiting>: "Seldom does a traveling guest take up residence with his or her host . . . Rather, once a long-term relationship has been established, the guests return to their host’s house and hospitality whenever they are in the region again" (Arterbury and Bellinger 2005, 394 :A:).#dispreferred
  + [Ps 23:5]: Verse 5 describes YHWH providing for his guest the way a banquet host would provide; e.g., YHWH “arranges/prepares a table” (which was associated with the preparation of a meal or a feast) and “anoints the guest's head” ("to rub a guest’s head with olive oil was part of the prescribed etiquette followed by a solicitous host as he welcomed his guests" \[Bratcher and Reyburn 1991, 234-235 :C:\]).#dispreferred
  + [Example]: "This pattern of returning to the host’s home is the pattern we see between Elisha and the woman of Shunem (2 Kgs 4,10-36) and between Sisera and Heber the Kenite (Judg 4). A similar pattern can be seen in the New Testament when Paul tells Philemon, his former host, to get the guest room ready (Phlm 1,22). In addition, the return of the guests to their former host’s home at a later time is quite pronounced in the Greco-Roman world (e.g., Xenophon of Ephesus, ''An Ephesian Tale'', 158-59 and 166)"  (Arterbury and Bellinger 2005, 394 :A:).#dispreferred
 + <Restoration>: "The restoration of the life of the suppliant (ישׁובב) in v. 3 can also be described as corresponding to the return (ושׁבתי) of the suppliant to the house of Yahweh during a long life (v. 6ab), so that the presence of Yahweh with the worshipper on his journey in the first stanza (עמדי, v. 4) finds an echo in the presence of the worshipper with Yahweh in his temple (at the end of the journey) in the second (לפני, v. 5 and בבית־יהוה v.6)" (Botha 2015, 286 :A:).#dispreferred
  + <Poetic Feature>: The presence of the verb שׁוב in v. 3 (יְשֹׁובֵב) forms "an instance of inclusion between vv. 3 and 6" (Botha 2015, 285 :A:).#dispreferred
 + <Pilgrimage>: The psalmist's vow "to return" to the house of the Lord is consistent with reading Ps 23 as a pilgrimage, "in which case the psalmist is making a pledge to return to Yahweh's house another time, and repeatedly keep making the house of the Lord the centre point of his religious orientation" (Asumang 2010, 16 :A:).#dispreferred
  <_ <No internal evidence>:The psalm presents no internal evidence of a pilgrimage. Such a journey would "have to be supplied as a potential context" (Briggs 2021, 159 :C:).
 + <Wanderings>: The psalm describes the psalmist's wanderings such as being led "to water in places of repose" (Ps 23:2; JPS, 1985), being guided "in right paths" (Ps 23:3; JPS, 1985), and being pursued by "goodness and steadfast love" (Ps 23:3; JPS, 1985). "From a literary perspective, the notion of 'return' fits quite well in the poem and brings closure to the wanderings" (Grosser 2023, 296 :M:; cf. also Jacobson and Tanner 2014, 245 :C:).#dispreferred
 + <Manuscript evidence>: The Masoretic text vocalizes ושבתי as וְשַׁבְתִּי, and the vocalization of the Masoretic text reflects an ancient reading tradition. Moreover, the Nahal Hever Psalms scroll supports the consonantal text ושבתי which can be read as וְשַׁבְתִּי ("and I will return").#dispreferred
  + [MT]: וְשַׁבְתִּי #dispreferred
   <_ <Spelling>: וְשַׁבְתִּי is contracted from וְיָשַבְתִּי. The ''yod'' has dropped out of the text; therefore, וְיָשַבְתִּי should be read for וְשַׁבְתִּי (Jennings 1884, 100).
  <_ <Revocalization>: The consonantal text might instead be read as וְשִבְתִּי ("and my dwelling").
 + <Ps 23 is linked to Ps 24>: "To return" fits best because the ending of Ps 23 is connected to the beginning of Ps 24. The psalmist's return to the house of the Lord is immediately followed by the entrance liturgy (Knauf 2001, 556 :A:; Weber 2016, 128 :C:).#dispreferred
  + [Ps 24:3]: מִֽי־יַעֲלֶ֥ה בְהַר־יְהוָ֑ה וּמִי־יָ֝קוּם בִּמְקֹ֥ום קָדְשֹֽׁו ("who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?" \[NIV\]).#dispreferred

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===Revocalize וְשַׁבְתִּי to וְשִבְתִּי (preferred)=== 
Other translations revocalize the Masoretic text וְשַׁבְתִּי ("and I will return") to וְשִבְתִּי (''waw'' conjunctive<ref>''Waw'' conjunctive is also referred to as ''waw'' non-inversive.</ref> + Qal infinitive construct from יָשַב with 1cs pronominal suffix - "and my dwelling"). The LXX appears to support this option which is represented by the modern translation LSV: "'''And my dwelling''' [is] in the house of YHWH." 

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[וְשִבְתִּי]: The earlier reading of the text is וְשִבְתִּי ("and my dwelling") (cf. Kirkpatrick 1906, 126 :C:; Driver 1898, 61 :M:; Rosenmülleri 1831, 457 :C:; etc.).
 + <לְאֹ֣רֶךְ יָמִֽים>: The prepositional phrase לְאֹ֣רֶךְ יָמִֽים (for length of days >> "forever" \[ESV, Ps 23:6\] or for "as long as I live" \[CSB, Ps 23:6\]) fits best with the verb "to dwell", which is durative and atelic.
  + [Ps 93:5]: Another example of אֹרֶךְ יָמִים occurring with an atelic verb is seen in Ps 93:5 - עֵֽדֹתֶ֨יךָ׀ נֶאֶמְנ֬וּ מְאֹ֗ד לְבֵיתְךָ֥ נַאֲוָה‬־קֹ֑דֶשׁ יְ֝הוָ֗ה לְאֹ֣רֶךְ יָמִֽים׃ ("The rules you set down are completely reliable. Holiness aptly adorns your house, O LORD, forever." \[NET\]; cf. also Deut 30:20).
  <_<Prepositional phrase>: The prepositional phrase לְאֹ֣רֶךְ יָמִֽים also works with the verb "to return". The idea is that the "returning to YHWH's house" is something that the psalmist will do again and again for as long as he lives. Alternatively, the psalmist could be saying he would return to remain in YHWH's house forever (NICOT: "A verb of motion (such as šûḇ \[שׁוּב\]) plus the preposition b- \[בְּ\] gives the sense of move to a place in order to remain there permanently").#dispreferred
   + [Ps 21:5]: Another example of אֹרֶךְ יָמִים occurring with a telic verb is seen in Ps 21:5 - חַיִּ֤ים׀ שָׁאַ֣ל מִ֭מְּךָ נָתַ֣תָּה לֹּ֑ו אֹ֥רֶךְ יָ֝מִ֗ים עֹולָ֥ם וָעֶֽד ("He asked you to sustain his life, and you have granted him long life and an enduring dynasty" \[NET\]; cf. also Prov 3:2).#dispreferred
 + <Other occurrences>: The reference "to dwell in the house of the Lord" is not uncommon, it also occurs in other psalms (cf. Barnes 1869, 213 :C:; Jennings 1884, 100 :C:).
  + [Examples]: Ps 84:5 אַ֭שְׁרֵי יֹושְׁבֵ֣י בֵיתֶ֑ךָ - "Blessed are those who dwell in your house" (ESV, Ps 84:4) and Ps 27:4 שִׁבְתִּ֣י בְּבֵית־יְ֭הוָה - "That I may dwell in the house of the Lord" (ESV, Ps 27:4).
 + <Ancient witnesses>: The LXX and Symmachus probably read וְשִבְתִּי instead of וְשַׁבְתִּי. Moreover, the Nahal Hever Psalms scroll supports the consonantal text ושבתי which can be read as וְשִבְתִּי ("and my dwelling").
  <_<Vocalization>: Since the MT reflects an ancient reading tradition, the consonantal text should follow the MT vocalization וְשַׁבְתִּי ("and I will return").#dispreferred
  +[LXX and Symmachus]: LXX (καὶ τὸ κατοικεῖν με - "and my residing/dwelling") and Symmachus (καὶ ἡ κατοίκησίς μου - "and my residing/dwelling").
   <_<Harmonization>: This reading can be explained as a harmonization to Ps 27:4b.#dispreferred
    +[Ps 27:4b]: שִׁבְתִּ֣י בְּבֵית־יְ֭הוָה ("That I may dwell in the house of the Lord" \[ESV\]).#dispreferred
 - <Visiting>: A guest seldom takes residence with a host, but he often returns to a host’s house (cf. Arterbury and Bellinger 2005, 394 :A:).#dispreferred
  + [Ps 23:5]: Verse 5 describes YHWH providing for his guest the way a banquet host would provide; e.g., YHWH “arranges/prepares a table” (which was associated with the preparation of a meal or a feast) and “anoints the guest's head” ("to rub a guest’s head with olive oil was part of the prescribed etiquette followed by a solicitous host as he welcomed his guests" \[Bratcher and Reyburn 1991, 234-235 :C:\]).#dispreferred
  + [Example]: "This pattern of returning to the host’s home is the pattern we see between Elisha and the woman of Shunem (2 Kgs 4,10-36) and between Sisera and Heber the Kenite (Judg 4). A similar pattern can be seen in the New Testament when Paul tells Philemon, his former host, to get the guest room ready (Phlm 1,22). In addition, the return of the guests to their former host’s home at a later time is quite pronounced in the Greco-Roman world (e.g., Xenophon of Ephesus, ''An Ephesian Tale'', 158-59 and 166)"  (Arterbury and Bellinger 2005, 394 :A:).#dispreferred

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===Emend וְשַׁבְתִּי to וְיָשַבְתִּי=== 
The majority of ancient (Peshitta, Targum, Jerome ''Hebr.'') and modern translations seem to emend the Masoretic text וְשַׁבְתִּי ("and I will return") to וְיָשַבְתִּי (''waw'' consecutive + Qal perfect 1cs from יָשַב - "and I will dwell"). This option is represented by the modern translation NIV: "'''And I will dwell''' in the house of the Lord."

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[וְיָשַבְתִּי]: The earlier reading of the text is וְיָשַבְתִּי ("and I will dwell") (cf. GKC §69m; Baethgen 1904, 69 :C:; Hitzig 1835, 39 :C:; etc.).#dispreferred
 + <Ancient witnesses>: Several early witnesses probably read the text as וְיָשַבְתִּי ("and I will dwell").#dispreferred
  +[Peshitta, Targum, and Jerome]: Peshitta (ܕܐܥܡܪ - "so that I may dwell" \[Taylor 2021, 81\]), Targum (כד אתיב - "When I shall dwell" \[Stec 2004, 61\]), and Jerome ''Hebr.'' ("et ut inhabitem" - "and I will dwell").#dispreferred
  <_ <Easier reading>: וְיָשַבְתִּי is the easier reading, and therefore scribes were more likely to change וְשַׁבְתִּ֥י to וְיָשַבְתִּי and not the other way around. 
   <_ <Accidental error>: If the "yod" was omitted or added accidentally, then it is dubious whether a preference for the most difficult reading is valid. #dispreferred
 + <Other occurrences>: The reference "to dwell in the house of the Lord" is not uncommon, it also occurs in other psalms (cf. Barnes 1869, 213 :C:; Jennings 1884, 100 :C:).#dispreferred
  + [Examples]: Ps 84:5 אַ֭שְׁרֵי יֹושְׁבֵ֣י בֵיתֶ֑ךָ - "Blessed are those who dwell in your house" (ESV, Ps 84:4) and Ps 27:4 שִׁבְתִּ֣י בְּבֵית־יְ֭הוָה - "That I may dwell in the house of the Lord" (ESV, Ps 27:4).#dispreferred
 + <לְאֹ֣רֶךְ יָמִֽים>: The prepositional phrase לְאֹ֣רֶךְ יָמִֽים (for length of days >> "forever" \[ESV, Ps 23:6\] or for "as long as I live" \[CSB, Ps 23:6\]) fits best with the verb "to dwell", which is durative and atelic.#dispreferred
  + [Ps 93:5]: Another example of אֹרֶךְ יָמִים occurring with an atelic verb is seen in Ps 93:5 - עֵֽדֹתֶ֨יךָ׀ נֶאֶמְנ֬וּ מְאֹ֗ד לְבֵיתְךָ֥ נַאֲוָה‬־קֹ֑דֶשׁ יְ֝הוָ֗ה לְאֹ֣רֶךְ יָמִֽים׃ ("The rules you set down are completely reliable. Holiness aptly adorns your house, O LORD, forever." \[NET\]; cf. also Deut 30:20).#dispreferred
  <_<Prepositional phrase>: The prepositional phrase לְאֹ֣רֶךְ יָמִֽים also works with the verb "to return". The idea is that the "returning to YHWH's house" is something that the psalmist will do again and again for as long as he lives. Alternatively, the psalmist could be saying he would return to remain in YHWH's house forever (NICOT: "A verb of motion (such as šûḇ \[שׁוּב\]) plus the preposition b- \[בְּ\] gives the sense of move to a place in order to remain there permanently"). 
   + [Ps 21:5]: Another example of אֹרֶךְ יָמִים occurring with a telic verb is seen in Ps 21:5 - חַיִּ֤ים׀ שָׁאַ֣ל מִ֭מְּךָ נָתַ֣תָּה לֹּ֑ו אֹ֥רֶךְ יָ֝מִ֗ים עֹולָ֥ם וָעֶֽד ("He asked you to sustain his life, and you have granted him long life and an enduring dynasty" \[NET\]; cf. also Prov 3:2). 
 - <Ancient support>: Most ancient witnesses support reading the consonantal text ושבתי (e.g., MT, Nahal Hever Psalms scroll, and LXX).
  <_<Contracted form>: The consonantal text ושבתי is contracted from וישבתי.#dispreferred
    - <Aphaeresis>: It is not probable that the MT ושבתי is contracted from וישבתי; "the aphaeresis may be admissible in the case of the ''infin. absol.'', where the finite verb that supports it prevents all ambiguity (Jer. xlii. 10: יָשׁוֹב = שׁוֹב), and, after the analogy of שֶׁבֶת, in the case of יְשִׁיבָה = שִׁיבָה (2 Sam. xix. 33); here, however, it would be without any adequate reason or design" (Delitzsch 1883, 407 :C:). 
 - <Visiting>: A guest seldom takes residence with a host, but he often returns to a host’s house (cf. Arterbury and Bellinger 2005, 394 :A:). 
  + [Ps 23:5]: Verse 5 describes YHWH providing for his guest the way a banquet host would provide; e.g., YHWH “arranges/prepares a table” (which was associated with the preparation of a meal or a feast) and “anoints the guest's head” ("to rub a guest’s head with olive oil was part of the prescribed etiquette followed by a solicitous host as he welcomed his guests" \[Bratcher and Reyburn 1991, 234-235 :C:\]).
  + [Example]: "This pattern of returning to the host’s home is the pattern we see between Elisha and the woman of Shunem (2 Kgs 4,10-36) and between Sisera and Heber the Kenite (Judg 4). A similar pattern can be seen in the New Testament when Paul tells Philemon, his former host, to get the guest room ready (Phlm 1,22). In addition, the return of the guests to their former host’s home at a later time is quite pronounced in the Greco-Roman world (e.g., Xenophon of Ephesus, ''An Ephesian Tale'', 158-59 and 166)"  (Arterbury and Bellinger 2005, 394 :A:).
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=Conclusion=
The earlier reading is probably וְשִבְתִּי ("and my dwelling"). Three main reasons support our preferred interpretation. First, the reference "to dwell in YHWH's house" is a common theme in other psalms.<ref>Cf. Pss 27: 4 and 84:4. Cf. also Barnes 1869, 213; Jennings 1884, 10.</ref> Second, the use of the preposition בְּ ("in") with the verb וְשַׁבְתִּי ("and I will return") is odd.<ref>Cf. Goldingay 2006, 345; Futato 2009, 102.</ref> The preposition בְּ is more commonly used with verbs derived from the root יָשַׁב ("to dwell") than from the root שׁוּב ("to return"). Third, the LXX and Symmachus support this reading. It is possible that some of the other ancient versions (Targum, Jerome ''Hebr.'', and Peshitta),  are actually reading וְשִׁבְתִּי (lit.: “my dwelling [will be]...”) but translating it as “I will dwell”, which would have the same English translation as וְיָשַׁבְתִּי ("and I will dwell"). In terms of interpretation, the psalmist does not literally dwell in YHWH's house as a Levite resides in the temple. Instead, "dwelling in YHWH's house" is used to refer to living in YHWH's presence.

==Translations==

===Ancient===
*LXX: καὶ τὸ κατοικεῖν με ἐν οἴκῳ Κυρίου εἰς μακρότητα ἡμερῶν.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/PsalmiCumOdis/page/n107/mode/2up?view=theater Rahlfs 1931, 120].</ref> 
**"and my residing in the Lord's house is for length of days".<ref>[https://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/nets/edition/24-ps-nets.pdf NETS].</ref>
*Symmachus: καὶ ἡ κατοίκησίς μου<ref>[https://septuaginta.uni-goettingen.de/hexapla Göttingen Hexapla Database].</ref>
**"and my dwelling".
*Peshitta: ܕܐܥܡܪ ܒܒܝܬܗ ܕܡܪܝܐ ܢܘܓܪܐ/ܟܠܗܘܢ#3#/ ܕܝܘܡ̈ܬܐ<ref>The symbol #3# indicates a variant reading. [https://cal.huc.edu/index.html CAL] presented the following options: 
:"'''1 long time''' Syr, LJLA. --(a) wi. '''ܐܝܬ ܠ‏''' : to be for a long time Syr. --(b) enduring quality Syr. --(c) old age Syr.
:'''2 adv.: for a long time''' Syr. --(a) '''ܡܢ ܢܘܓܪܐ'''‏ : for a long time now Syr" ([https://cal.huc.edu/getlex.php?coord=62027023006&word=9 CAL]).</ref> 
**"so that I may dwell in the house of the Lord for the length of my days".<ref>Taylor 2021, 81.</ref>
* Jerome ''Gall.'': et habitabo in domo Domini in longitudine dierum<ref>[https://archive.org/details/vulgata_weber_gryson/page/790/mode/2up Weber-Gryson] 1994, 795.</ref>
**"and that I may dwell in the house of the Lord for length of days".
* Jerome ''Hebr.'': et ut inhabitem in domo Domini in longitudinem dierum<ref>[https://archive.org/details/vulgata_weber_gryson/page/790/mode/2up Weber-Gryson] 1994, 794.</ref>
**"and I will/shall dwell in the house of the Lord for length of days".
*[https://cal.huc.edu/index.html Targum]: כד אתיב בבית מקדשא דיהוה נגדא דיומנא 
**"When I shall dwell in the house of the sanctuary of the Lord for length of days".<ref>Stec 2004, 61.</ref>

===Modern===
====וְיָשַבְתִּי ("and I will/shall dwell/live")====
*'''English'''
**and I will live forever in your house, LORD. (CEV)
**and I shall dwell<ref>Translation footnote: "Or shall return to dwell."</ref>  in the house of the LORD forever. (ESV)
**and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for many long years. (JPS, 1985)
**and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long. (NEB)
**and I will live in the Lord’s house for the rest of my life. (NET)
**and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (NIV)
**I make my home<ref>Translation footnote: "'My home' versions; 'I shall return to' Heb. (a simple correction of vowels)."</ref>  in the house of Yahweh for all time to come. (NJB)
**and I will live in the house of the LORD forever. (NLT)
**and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long. (NRSV)
**and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord throughout the years to come. (REB)

*'''German''' 
**in deinem Haus darf ich nun bleiben<ref>Translation footnote: "Bleiben: 'mit alten Übersetzungen; H' (in dein Haus) zurückkehren."</ref> mein Leben lang. (GNB)
**in deinem Haus darf ich bleiben<ref>Translation footnote: "Oder: in dein Haus darf ich zurückkehren."</ref> mein Leben lang. (HFA)
**und ich werde bleiben im Hause des HERRN immerdar. (Luther 2017)
**und ich werde wohnen im Haus des HERRN für alle Zeit. (NGÜ)

*'''Portuguese''' 
**e habitarei na Casa do Senhor para todo o sempre. ([https://www.bibliaonline.com.br/ara/sl/23 ARA])
**E na tua casa, ó Senhor, morarei todos os dias da minha vida. ([https://www.bibliaonline.com.br/ntlh/sl/23 NTLH])

*'''Spanish''' 
**y en la Casa de YHVH moraré por largos días. (BTX4)
**y en tu casa, oh Señor, por siempre viviré.<ref>Translation footnote: "Sal 27:4."</ref> (DHH)
**y en la casa del Señor habitaré para siempre. (NVI)
**y en la casa de Jehová moraré por largos días. (RVR95)

====וְשִבְתִּי ("and my dwelling")====
*'''English'''
**And my dwelling [is] in the house of Jehovah, For a length of days! (YLT)
**And my dwelling [is] in the house of YHWH, For [the] length of [my] days! (LSV)

====וְשַׁבְתִּי ("and I will return")====
*'''French'''
**et je pourrai retourner<ref>Translation footnote: "Texte hébreu traditionnel. Certaines versions anciennes ont: j'habiterai."</ref> ╵au sanctuaire de l’Eternel tant que je vivrai. (BDS)
**<ref>Translation footnote: "Je reviendrai à: plusieurs versions anciennes ont lu j'habiterai dans, ce qui correspond à une autre vocalisation possible du texte hébreu; cf. 27.4+; Dt 30.20. - pour la longueur des jours: cf. 21.5+; 93.5."</ref>et je reviendrai à la maison du Seigneur pour la longueur des jours. (NBS)
**Seigneur, je reviendrai<ref>Translation footnote: "Certaines versions anciennes ont compris j'habiterai."</ref> dans ta maison aussi longtemps que je vivrai. (NFC)
**Et je reviendrai<ref>Translation footnote: "Reviendrai. Les anciennes versions, avec une légerè modification, ont lu: j'habiterai."</ref> dans la maison de l'Éternel pour la durée de mes jours. (NVSR)
**Je reviendrai pour toujours dans la maison du Seigneur. (PDV)
**et je reviendrai dans la maison de l’Eternel jusqu’à la fin de mes jours. (S21)
**et je reviendrai<ref>Translation footnote: "Versions: j'habiterai, voir 27,4; Dt 30,20."</ref> à la maison du SEIGNEUR, pour de longs jours. (TOB)

*'''German''' 
**und ich kehre zurück ins<ref> Translation footnote: "LXX, die syr. und aram. Üs. lesen: und ich werde wohnen im."</ref> Haus des HERRN für immer. (ELB)
**und heimkehren werde ich ins Haus des HERRN für lange Zeiten. (EÜ)
**und ich werde zurückkehren ins Haus des HERRN mein Leben lang. (ZÜR)

*'''Portuguese''' 
**e voltarei à casa do Senhor enquanto eu viver. ([https://www.bibliaonline.com.br/nvi/sl/23 NVI])

==Secondary Literature==
:Arterbury, Andrew E., and William H. Bellinger. 2005. "'Returning' to the Hospitality of the Lord: A Reconsideration of Psalm 23,5-6." ''Biblica'' 86, no. 3: 387–95.
:Asumang, Annang. 2010. "[https://www.academia.edu/1039796/The_presence_of_the_shepherd_a_rhetographic_exegesis_of_Psalm_23 The Presence of the Shepherd: A Rhetographic Exegesis of Psalm 23]." ''Conspectus: The Journal of the South African Theological Seminary'', 1-24.
:Baethgen, Friedrich. 1904. [https://archive.org/details/diepsalmen00baet/page/n3/mode/2up ''Die Psalmen'']. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht.
:Barnes, Albert. 1869. [https://archive.org/details/notescriticalexp0001unse/page/n5/mode/2up ''Notes: Critical, Explanatory, and Practical on the Book of Psalms'']. Vol. 1. New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers.
:Botha, Phil J.. 2015. "Following the 'Tracks of Righteousness' of Psalm 23." ''Old Testament Essays'', 28(2), 283-300.
:Bratcher, Robert G., and William D. Reyburn. 1991.'' A Translator's Handbook on the Book of Psalms''. New York: UBS Handbook Series.
:Briggs, Richard S. 2021. ''The Lord is My Shepherd: Psalm 23 For The Life of The Church''. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic.
:DeClaissé-Walford, Nancy L., Rolf A. Jacobson, and Beth Laneel Tanner. 2014. “Book One of the Psalter: Psalms 1–41,” in ''The Book of Psalms'', ed. E. J. Young, R. K. Harrison, and Robert L. Hubbard Jr.. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
:Delitzsch, Franz Julius. 1883. ''A Commentary on the Psalms''. New York: Funk and Wagnalls.
:Driver, S. R. 1868. [https://archive.org/details/parallelpsalterb00driv/page/n5/mode/2up ''The Parallel Psalter: Being The Prayer-Book Version of The Psalms and A New Version, Arranged on Opposite Pages: With An Introduction and Glossaries'']. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
:Ewald, Heinrich. 1835. [https://archive.org/details/diepsalmen00ewal/page/16/mode/2up ''Die Psalmen'']. Göttingen: Vanderhoeck und Ruprecht.
:Futato, Mark D. 2008. "The Book of Psalms." In ''Cornerstone Biblical Commentary: The Book of Psalms, The Book of Proverbs''. Vol 7. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers.
:Goldingay, John. 2006. ''Psalms: Psalms 1-41.'' Vol. 1. BCOT. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic.
:Hitzig, Ferdinand. 1835. ''Die Psalmen: Historisch-Kritisch Untersucht''. Heidelberg: C.F. Winter.
:Keil, Carl Friedrich, and Franz Delitzsch. 1900. ''Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament In Ten Volumes''. Volume V. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
:Kirkpatrick, Alexander F. 1906. [https://archive.org/details/bookofpsalms01kirk/page/n7/mode/2up ''The Book of Psalms'']. London: Cambridge University Press.
:Keel, Othmar. 1997. ''The Symbolism of the Biblical World: Ancient Near Eastern Iconography and the Book of Psalms''. Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns. 
:Knauf, Ernst A. 2001. "Psalm XXIII 6." ''Vetus Testamentum'', 51(4), 556-556.
:Grosser, Emmylou. 2023. ''Unparalleled Poetry: A Cognitive Approach to the Free-Rhythm Verse of the Hebrew Bible''. New York: Oxford University Press.
:Jennings, Arthur Charles, William Henry Lowe. 1848. ''The Psalms with Introductions and Critical Notes''. London: Macmillan and Co.
:Perowne, J. J. Stewart. 1870. ''The Book of Psalms: A New Translation with Introductions and Notes, Explanatory and Critical''. Vol. I. London: Bell and Daldy.
:Rosenmüller, E. Frid. Car. 1831. [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.ah5l4u&seq=6 ''Scholia in Psalmos in Compendium Redacta'']. Lipsiae: Sumptibus Jo. Ambr. Barthii.
:Ross, Allen P. 2011. ''A Commentary on the Psalms 1-41''. Vol. 1. Grand Rapids: Kregel.
:Weber, Beat. 2016. ''Die Psalmen 1 bis 72''. Vol. 1 of Werkbuch Psalmen. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer. Perlego version.

=References=

[[Category:Argument maps]]

[[Chapter::23]]:[[Verse::6]]