You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Parallel translations
- WEB You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over.
- KJV Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
- NKJV You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
- NASB You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.
- NLT You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God sets a lavish table before the psalmist in the presence of enemies, anointing him and filling his cup to overflowing. God's abundant favor triumphs over opposition.
Overview
The image shifts to a generous host who honors his guest with a feast, anointing oil, and an overflowing cup, all while enemies look on powerless. God's blessing is not delayed until the threats are gone but is enjoyed in their very presence. This anticipates the abundant grace believers receive in Christ, who prepares for his people a place at his table.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 22
- Eph 3:20Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,
- Ps 92:10But You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox; with fine oil I have been anointed.
- Ps 45:7You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you above your companions with the oil of joy.
- Ps 16:5The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure.
- 1 Jn 2:20You, however, have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.
- Ps 31:19–20How great is Your goodness which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have bestowed before the sons of men on those who take refuge in You!
- Job 36:16Indeed, He drew you from the jaws of distress to a spacious and broad place, to a table full of richness.
- 1 Jn 2:27And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His true and genuine anointing teaches you about all things, so remain in Him as you have been taught.
- 2 Cor 1:21Now it is God who establishes both us and you in Christ. He anointed us,
- Isa 25:6On this mountain the LORD of Hosts will prepare a banquet for all the peoples, a feast of aged wine, of choice meat, of finely aged wine.
- 1 Cor 10:16Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
- Ps 22:26The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the LORD will praise Him. May your hearts live forever!
- John 10:9–10I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture.
- John 16:22So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.
- Ps 116:13I will lift the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD.
- Ps 78:19They spoke against God, saying, “Can God really prepare a table in the wilderness?
- Ps 104:15wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil that makes his face to shine, and bread that sustains his heart.
- John 6:53–56So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of Man, you have no life in you.
- Luke 7:46You did not anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with perfume.
- Amos 6:6You drink wine by the bowlful and anoint yourselves with the finest oils, but you fail to grieve over the ruin of Joseph.
- Ps 22:29All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before Him—even those unable to preserve their lives.
- Matt 6:17But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 23:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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