5b. Thou anointest my head with oil,/ my cup runneth over As other sheep watch, the shepherd pours oil from a horn onto the head of an exhausted lamb he holds in his arms. Allegorical angels of goodness (with a full cup) and mercy (with an olive branch) border the scene. Like the overflowing cup, the text runs over into the borders. The psalmist is God's honored guest, his head bathed with perfumed olive oil in a Middle Eastern gesture of honor and hospitality, while his cup is filled to overflowing. One also recalls Jesus' anointing as an honored guest. The Syrian shepherd notes that much the same is done by the attentive shepherd for worn and weary sheep at the end of a long dusty day. The shepherd stands at the gate of the sheepfold, 'rodding' the sheep, inspecting each sheep as it enters, and anointing bruised or exhausted sheep with healing and refreshing olive oil. The sheep is then given a full refreshing drink of water. The covenant blessings of goodness and mercy (in place of evil and danger) follow the psalmist as expressions of God's grace. Overtones of hope and salvation are also evident in the words.