Psalm 73:26
New International Version
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

New Living Translation
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.

English Standard Version
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Berean Standard Bible
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

King James Bible
My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

New King James Version
My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

New American Standard Bible
My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

NASB 1995
My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

NASB 1977
My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Legacy Standard Bible
My flesh and my heart fail, But God is the rock of my heart and my portion forever.

Amplified Bible
My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the rock and strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Christian Standard Bible
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever.

American Standard Version
My flesh and my heart faileth; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.

Contemporary English Version
My body and mind may fail, but you are my strength and my choice forever.

English Revised Version
My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
My body and mind may waste away, but God remains the foundation of my life and my inheritance forever.

Good News Translation
My mind and my body may grow weak, but God is my strength; he is all I ever need.

International Standard Version
My body and mind may fail, but God is my strength and my portion forever.

Majority Standard Bible
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

NET Bible
My flesh and my heart may grow weak, but God always protects my heart and gives me stability.

New Heart English Bible
My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Webster's Bible Translation
My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

World English Bible
My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
My flesh and my heart have been consumed, "" God [is] the rock of my heart and my portion for all time.

Young's Literal Translation
Consumed hath been my flesh and my heart, The rock of my heart and my portion is God to the age.

Smith's Literal Translation
My flesh failed and my heart: the rock of my heart and my portion is God forever.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For thee my flesh and my heart hath fainted away: thou art the God of my heart, and the God that is my portion for ever.

Catholic Public Domain Version
My body has failed, and my heart: O God of my heart, and God my portion, into eternity.

New American Bible
Though my flesh and my heart fail, God is the rock of my heart, my portion forever.

New Revised Standard Version
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
For behold, your distant ones shall be destroyed and you shall destroy all who go astray from you for eternity.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
My flesh and my heart faileth; But God is the rock of my heart and my portion for ever.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
My heart and my flesh have failed: but God is the strength of my heart, and God is my portion for ever.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Endow the King with Your Justice
25Whom have I in heaven but You? And on earth I desire no one besides You. 26My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 27Those far from You will surely perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.…

Cross References
2 Corinthians 12:9
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

Isaiah 40:29-31
He gives power to the faint and increases the strength of the weak. / Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall. / But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day. / For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison. / So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Matthew 11:28-30
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. / Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. / For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Hebrews 13:5-6
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” / So we say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

Romans 8:38-39
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, / neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.

Lamentations 3:22-24
Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. / They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness! / “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in Him.”

1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Isaiah 26:3-4
You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in You. / Trust in the LORD forever, because GOD the LORD is the Rock eternal.

Psalm 18:1-2
For the choirmaster. Of David the servant of the LORD, who sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: I love You, O LORD, my strength. / The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

1 Corinthians 1:8-9
He will sustain you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. / God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.


Treasury of Scripture

My flesh and my heart fails: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

flesh

Psalm 63:1
A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

Psalm 84:2
My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.

Psalm 119:81,82
CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word…

but

Psalm 18:2
The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

Psalm 27:14
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Psalm 138:3
In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.

strength.

Psalm 16:5,6
The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot…

Psalm 119:57
CHETH. Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.

Psalm 142:5
I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.

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Age Consumed Eternal Fail Faileth Fails Flesh Forever Heart Heritage Portion Rock Strength Wasting
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Psalm 73
1. The prophet, prevailing in a temptation
2. Shows the occasion thereof, the prosperity of the wicked
13. The wound given thereby, diffidence
15. The victory over it, knowledge of God's purpose.














My flesh and my heart may fail
This phrase acknowledges human frailty and mortality. In biblical context, "flesh" often refers to the physical body, while "heart" can denote the inner self, including emotions and will. The psalmist, Asaph, recognizes that both physical strength and emotional resilience are limited. This reflects the broader biblical theme of human weakness, as seen in passages like Isaiah 40:30-31, where even youths grow tired and weary. The acknowledgment of failing flesh and heart is a common human experience, emphasizing the need for reliance on something greater than oneself.

but God is the strength of my heart
Here, the psalmist contrasts human weakness with divine strength. The term "strength" implies a source of power and stability that transcends human limitations. In the Hebrew context, God as a source of strength is a recurring theme, as seen in Nehemiah 8:10, where the joy of the Lord is described as strength. This phrase also points to a personal relationship with God, where He is not just a distant deity but an intimate source of inner fortitude. This reliance on God for strength is echoed in the New Testament, such as in Philippians 4:13, where Paul declares he can do all things through Christ who strengthens him.

and my portion forever
The word "portion" suggests inheritance or a share of something valuable. In ancient Israel, land was often divided among tribes and families, and one's portion was a significant part of their identity and security. By declaring God as his portion, the psalmist is expressing that God is his ultimate inheritance and source of satisfaction, surpassing any earthly possession. This idea is mirrored in Lamentations 3:24, where the Lord is described as the portion of the soul. The term "forever" emphasizes the eternal nature of this relationship, pointing to the everlasting covenant between God and His people. This eternal perspective is fulfilled in the New Testament through Jesus Christ, who offers eternal life and an unending relationship with God, as seen in John 10:28.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Asaph
The author of Psalm 73, Asaph was a prominent Levite singer and seer in David's court. He is known for his honest and heartfelt psalms that often explore themes of justice, faith, and the struggles of the righteous.

2. The Sanctuary of God
While not directly mentioned in this verse, the sanctuary is a pivotal place in Psalm 73 where Asaph gains understanding and perspective on the prosperity of the wicked and the ultimate justice of God.

3. The Heart and Flesh
These terms symbolize the entirety of human existence, encompassing both physical and emotional aspects. The "heart" in Hebrew (lev) often refers to the inner self, including mind, will, and emotions.
Teaching Points
Acknowledging Human Frailty
Recognize that both our physical bodies and emotional states are prone to failure. This acknowledgment is not a sign of weakness but a step towards relying on God's strength.

God as Our Strength
Embrace the truth that God is the source of our strength. In times of weakness, turn to Him for renewal and support.

God as Our Portion
Understand that God is our ultimate inheritance and satisfaction. Earthly possessions and achievements are temporary, but God is eternal.

Eternal Perspective
Cultivate an eternal perspective that values spiritual growth and relationship with God over temporary worldly success.

Trust in God's Sovereignty
Trust that God is in control, even when circumstances seem overwhelming. His plans and purposes are perfect and for our ultimate good.Verse 26. - My flesh and my heart faileth. The meaning is, "Though my flesh and my heart fail utterly, though my whole corporeal and animal nature fade away and come to nothing, yet something in the nature of a heart - the true 'I,' consciousness, will remain, and will be upheld by God." God is the Strength of my heart, and my Portion forever. "A strong assertion of personal immortality" (Cook). "This is the mysticism of faith; we are on the verge of St. Paul's conception of the πνεῦμα, the organ of life in God" (Cheyne).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
My flesh
שְׁאֵרִ֗י (šə·’ê·rî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 7607: Flesh, as living, for, food, food of any kind, kindred by blood

and my heart
וּלְבָ֫בִ֥י (ū·lə·ḇā·ḇî)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3824: Inner man, mind, will, heart

may fail,
כָּלָ֥ה (kā·lāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3615: To be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent

but God
אֱלֹהִ֥ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

is the strength
צוּר־ (ṣūr-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6697: A cliff, a rock, boulder, a refuge, an edge

of my heart
לְבָבִ֥י (lə·ḇā·ḇî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3824: Inner man, mind, will, heart

and my portion
וְחֶלְקִ֗י (wə·ḥel·qî)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 2506: Portion, tract, territory

forever.
לְעוֹלָֽם׃ (lə·‘ō·w·lām)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5769: Concealed, eternity, frequentatively, always


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OT Poetry: Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart fails (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 73:25
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