The Meaning of Psalms 71:9 Explained

Psalms 71:9

KJV: Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.

YLT: Cast me not off at the time of old age, According to the consumption of my power forsake me not.

Darby: Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.

ASV: Cast me not off in the time of old age; Forsake me not when my strength faileth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Cast me not off  in the time  of old age;  forsake  me not when my strength  faileth. 

What does Psalms 71:9 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 71:1-12 - "my Trust From My Youth&Rdquo
Some commentators ascribe this psalm to Jeremiah. His pensive, plaintive tone is certainly present in it. But whoever the author, he must have written in his old age, Psalms 71:9; Psalms 71:17-18. One keynote is great and greatly, Psalms 71:19-21; Psalms 71:23; another is all the day, Psalms 71:8; Psalms 71:15; Psalms 71:24.
Old men need have no failure in their buoyancy and gladness, if they will fix their thoughts where the psalmist fixed his. Other subjects will soon wear out, but they who make God's righteousness and salvation their theme will ever have material for meditation and praise. We have here an inexhaustible subject, and one which will keep us young. Let us ask for help, that we may disappoint the calculations of those who hate us, whether men or demons. It is a piteous spectacle when apparently prosperous careers" are overclouded, and age is overwhelmed in catastrophes which there is no time to surmount. But such is not God's way with His loyal servants. His rivers do not end in swamps and marshes, but broaden and deepen till they kiss the mighty ocean. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 71

1  David, in confidence of faith, and experience of God's favor, prays both for himself,
10  and against the enemies of his soul
14  He promises constancy
17  He prays for perseverance
19  He praises God, and promises to do it cheerfully

What do the individual words in Psalms 71:9 mean?

Not do cast me off in the time of old age when fails My strength do forsake me
אַֽל־ תַּ֭שְׁלִיכֵנִי לְעֵ֣ת זִקְנָ֑ה כִּכְל֥וֹת כֹּ֝חִ֗י תַּעַזְבֵֽנִי

תַּ֭שְׁלִיכֵנִי  do  cast  me  off 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: שָׁלַךְ  
Sense: to throw, cast, hurl, fling.
לְעֵ֣ת  in  the  time 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common singular construct
Root: עֵת  
Sense: time.
זִקְנָ֑ה  of  old  age 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: זִקְנָה  
Sense: old age.
כִּכְל֥וֹת  when  fails 
Parse: Preposition-k, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: כָּלָה  
Sense: to accomplish, cease, consume, determine, end, fail, finish, be complete, be accomplished, be ended, be at an end, be finished, be spent.
כֹּ֝חִ֗י  My  strength 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: כֹּחַ 
Sense: strength, power, might.
תַּעַזְבֵֽנִי  do  forsake  me 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: עָזַב 
Sense: to leave, loose, forsake.