Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.
Parallel translations
- WEB Don’t reject me in my old age. Don’t forsake me when my strength fails.
- BSB Do not discard me in my old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails.
- NKJV Do not cast me off in the time of old age; Do not forsake me when my strength fails.
- NASB Do not cast me away at the time of my old age; Do not abandon me when my strength fails.
- NLT And now, in my old age, don’t set me aside. Don’t abandon me when my strength is failing.
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
The psalmist prays that God would not cast him off in old age or forsake him when his strength fails. It is a moving plea for God's faithfulness in life's later years.
Overview
As his strength wanes with age, the psalmist asks God not to reject or abandon him. This tender prayer voices the concern of the elderly believer for God's continued nearness. God's promise is to carry his people even to old age and gray hairs (Isaiah 46:4), assuring that those in Christ are never forsaken at any stage of life.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- 2 Tim 1:12For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
- Isa 46:4And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.
- Ps 71:18Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.
- Ps 90:10The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
- Ps 92:13–15Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.
- Eccl 12:1–7Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
- 2 Tim 4:18And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
- Ps 73:26My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
- 2 Sam 19:35I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?
- 2 Sam 21:15–17Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 71:9 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.