Psalms 71:6-9

71:6 I have leaned on you since birth; ¹ 

you pulled me ²  from my mother’s womb.

I praise you continually. ³ 

71:7 Many are appalled when they see me, ⁴ 

but you are my secure shelter.

71:8 I praise you constantly

and speak of your splendor all day long. ⁵ 

71:9 Do not reject me in my old age! ⁶ 

When my strength fails, do not abandon me!

Psalms 71:17-18

71:17 O God, you have taught me since I was young,

and I am still declaring ⁷  your amazing deeds.

71:18 Even when I am old and gray, ⁸ 

O God, do not abandon me,

until I tell the next generation about your strength,

and those coming after me about your power. ⁹ 

[71:6]  ¹ tn Heb “from the womb.”

[71:6]  ² tc The form in the MT is derived from גָזָה (gazah, “to cut off”), perhaps picturing God as the one who severed the psalmist’s umbilical cord. Many interpreters and translators prefer to emend the text to גֹחִי (gokhiy), from גוּח (gukh) or גִיח, (gikh, “pull out”; see Ps 22:9; cf. the present translation) or to עוּזִּי (’uzziy, “my strength”; cf. NEB “my protector since I left my mother’s womb”).

[71:6]  ³ tn Heb “in you [is] my praise continually.”

[71:7]  ⁴ tn Heb “like a sign [i.e., portent or bad omen] I am to many.”

[71:8]  ⁵ tn Heb “my mouth is filled [with] your praise, all the day [with] your splendor.”

[71:9]  ⁶ tn Heb “do not cast me away at the time of old age.”

[71:17]  ⁷ tn Heb “and until now I am declaring.”

[71:18]  ⁸ tn Heb “and even unto old age and gray hair.”

[71:18]  ⁹ tn Heb “until I declare your arm to a generation, to everyone who comes your power.” God’s “arm” here is an anthropomorphism that symbolizes his great strength.