Ke Na Le Modisa

The story of this hymn

This is Psalm 23 made singable — 'I have a Shepherd; what could I lack?' The psalm sits close to Basotho life, where boys still herd cattle in the mountains, and the Sesotho hymnal tradition begun by the Morija missionaries in the 1800s gave it a congregational form sung today in Sesotho, Sepedi and Setswana churches alike.

Where it sits in the service

A natural graveside hymn — many families sing it as the procession moves to the grave, or directly after a Psalm 23 reading earlier in the service. It also settles a congregation at the start. Wording differs between hymnals and languages, so print the hymn number from the book your congregation actually uses, or the first line rather than a full text.

In the programme, list it in the order of service as “Hymn — Ke Na Le Modisa” with the leader or choir named beside it, and add the Lifela tsa Sione number your congregation uses.

How it is actually sung

The Sesotho Psalm 23 from Lifela tsa Sione, and among the most-sung items at any Sesotho funeral. Congregations begin it themselves and sing it in harmony without arrangement. It works anywhere in the order and is the near-automatic choice at the graveside.

Printing the words

From the Lifela tradition and in general congregational use, though the hymnal setting itself may be licensed. Print the first line and the Lifela number if your church uses one — this is a text the room holds in memory, and a printed page does no work here. The church office can confirm the number.

This is practical guidance rather than legal advice. Reproduction rights vary by territory, by hymnal edition and by the licence your church holds — the church office is the right place to ask, and they answer this question often.