Bible Lyricization Project

Almost any Bible verse can be lyricized.

Let’s use Psalm 23 as an example.

Psalm 23 King James Version (KJV)

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4 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.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Step 1 (Scansion) Mark the accented syllables

Psalm 23 King James Version (KJV)

             ‘                    ‘                     ‘                ‘
23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
          ‘                        ‘                 ‘               ‘  
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:

      ‘                          ‘              ‘  

he leadeth me beside the still waters.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘
3 He re-storeth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘
4 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.
‘ ‘ ‘
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my

cup runneth over.
‘ ‘
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
‘
for ever.

Step 2 Break it down into meters  (musical measures)

Psalm 23 King James Version (KJV)

23                               The              Pickup
'                   
Lord is my                                        1
'
shepherd;                                         2

    I   shall not                                 3

want.   2 He                                      4                            
'                       
maketh me to                                      5

lie down                                          6                        
'              '
    in green                                      7

pastures:                   he                    8

                                 
'                       
leadeth me beside the                            9               
'            
      still waters.                              10                    
    '                          
3 He restoreth my                                11                          
'
soul:                                he          12            
'             
leadeth me in the paths of                       13
'
righteousness                                    14
'            
    for his name's                               15                 
'
sake.                                            16     
                                             

Middle Section  

'                 ' 
4       Yea, though I                            17
'                 '
walk               through the                   18
'                     '
valley of the shadow of                          19
'               '
death,                                           20  
'                      '
I will fear no evil: for                         21
'                       '
thou art with me; thy                            22
'                   ' 
rod and thy staff they                           23
'             '
comfort me.                                      24


   '                    '
5 Thou preparest a                              25
'             '
table before me                                 26
'
    in the presence of                          27

mine enemies: thou                              28
   '                    '                '
a-nointest my head with                         29

oil;                                            30
'            '
my cup runneth                                  31

over.                                           32


               '                      '                 
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall               33
 '          '     
follow me                                       34
'           '           '
all the days of                                 35
'              '
my life:       and                              36
'          '
I will dwell in the                             37
'                    '
house of the Lord                               38
'        '           
              for                               39
'
ever.                                           40

King James Version (KJV)