SHEPHERD ME, O GOD

When we need a setting of Psalm 23 that brings immediate comfort to a congregation, Marty Haugen’s "Shepherd Me, O God" is often the first piece we reach for. The melody is marked "gentle and tranquil" on the score, and it truly lives up to that direction. Instead of a heavy choral arrangement, this piece relies on a flowing, supportive accompaniment and a refrain that feels like a quiet, personal prayer: "beyond my wants, beyond my fears, from death into life."

In the choir loft, this song is incredibly versatile. It works perfectly as a Responsorial Psalm, but its themes of being fed and led by the Good Shepherd make it a natural choice for Communion. Because of its reassuring words about walking through the valley of death without fear, it is also a profound comfort during funeral Masses, offering grieving families a moment of genuine peace.

The verses are set simply, allowing a cantor or a unison choir section to deliver the text clearly before the whole congregation joins in the refrain. Singing it requires a gentle touch—we want to focus on phrasing and breathing together, letting the natural rhythm of the psalm text guide the melody.