Translations
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.
Even as I walk through a ravine of death-shadow, I will not fear evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff—they comfort me.
Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Footnotes
Tsalmawet (צַלְמָוֶת) is one of the Psalter's most debated words—either a compound of tsel (shadow) and mawet (death), or a single intensive root meaning 'pitch-black darkness.' The LXX reads skia thanatou ('shadow of death'), supporting the compound reading and creating a powerful intertextual arc toward Luke 1:79 (citing Isa. 9:2) and Messiah's descent into death. F.O.G. renders 'death-shadow' to hold both meanings; F.O.G.M. preserves the iconic 'shadow of death' for its liturgical and typological weight. Gei (גֵּיא), rendered 'ravine,' is a narrow steep-sided valley—more claustrophobic than the generic 'valley.' The shevet (rod) disciplines and defends; the mish'eneth (staff) supports and guides—together they portray the full range of shepherding care.

