NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
19 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
19 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
King James Version · 1611
My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. <sup>strength: Heb. rock</sup>
22 words · Formal / word-for-word
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
19 words · Essentially literal
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.
22 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
The Message · 2002
When my skin sags and my bones get brittle, God is rock-firm and faithful.
14 words · Contemporary paraphrase
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
19 words · Most literal English translation
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Psalms 73:26 in 6 translations: New International Version, King James Version, English Standard Version, New Living Translation, The Message, New American Standard Bible. Each uses a different translation philosophy — from word-for-word (KJV, ESV, NASB) to thought-for-thought (NIV, NLT) to paraphrase (MSG).
No single translation is "best" — it depends on your purpose. For deep study, use the ESV or NASB (word-for-word). For devotional reading, the NIV balances accuracy and readability. The NLT and MSG are excellent for understanding the general meaning in modern English. Comparing multiple translations helps grasp the full richness of the text.
Literal (formal equivalence) translations like KJV, ESV, and NASB translate word-for-word from the original Hebrew/Greek. Dynamic equivalence translations like NIV and NLT translate thought-for-thought for clarity. The MSG is a paraphrase that captures the spirit in contemporary language. Each approach has strengths — that's why comparing translations is valuable.
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