Psalms 73:13

73:13 I concluded, ¹  “Surely in vain I have kept my motives ²  pure

and maintained a pure lifestyle. ³ 

Psalms 73:26

73:26 My flesh and my heart may grow weak, ⁴ 

but God always ⁵  protects my heart and gives me stability. ⁶ 

Psalms 86:12

86:12 O Lord, my God, I will give you thanks with my whole heart!

I will honor your name continually! ⁷ 

Psalms 139:23

139:23 Examine me, and probe my thoughts! ⁸ 

Test me, and know my concerns! ⁹ 

[73:13]  ¹ tn The words “I concluded” are supplied in the translation. It is apparent that vv. 13-14 reflect the psalmist’s thoughts at an earlier time (see vv. 2-3), prior to the spiritual awakening he describes in vv. 17-28.

[73:13]  ² tn Heb “heart,” viewed here as the seat of one’s thoughts and motives.

[73:13]  ³ tn Heb “and washed my hands in innocence.” The psalmist uses an image from cultic ritual to picture his moral lifestyle. The reference to “hands” suggests actions.

[73:26]  ⁴ tn The Hebrew verb כָלָה (khalah, “to fail; to grow weak”) does not refer here to physical death per se, but to the physical weakness that sometimes precedes death (see Job 33:21; Pss 71:9; 143:7; Prov 5:11).

[73:26]  ⁵ tn Or “forever.”

[73:26]  ⁶ tn Heb “is the rocky summit of my heart and my portion.” The psalmist compares the Lord to a rocky summit where one could go for protection and to landed property, which was foundational to economic stability in ancient Israel.

[86:12]  ⁷ tn Or “forever.”

[139:23]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “and know my heart.”

[139:23]  ¹¹ tn The Hebrew noun שַׂרְעַפַּי (sar’apay, “concerns”) is used of “worries” in Ps 94:19.