Then I called on Yahweh’s name: “Yahweh, I beg you, deliver my soul.”
Parallel translations
- KJV Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.
- BSB Then I called on the name of the LORD: “O LORD, deliver my soul!”
- NKJV Then I called upon the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I implore You, deliver my soul!”
- NASB Then I called upon the name of the Lord: “Please, Lord, save my life!”
- NLT Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Please, Lord, save me!”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
In his extremity the psalmist called on Yahweh to deliver his soul. It matters because crying to God is the right response in desperate need.
Overview
From the brink of death the worshiper prays simply and urgently for deliverance. Calling on the Lord's name is the act of faith that brings salvation. This pattern of crying out and being heard culminates in the gospel promise that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Rom. 10:13).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 19
- Ps 118:5Out of my distress, I called on Yah. Yah answered me with freedom.
- Ps 22:20Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog.
- Luke 23:42–43He said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”
- Ps 143:6–9I spread out my hands to you. My soul thirsts for you, like a parched land. Selah.
- Ps 50:15Call on me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
- Ps 30:7–8You, Yahweh, when you favored me, made my mountain stand strong; but when you hid your face, I was troubled.
- Ps 142:4–6Look on my right, and see; for there is no one who is concerned for me. Refuge has fled from me. No one cares for my soul.
- Luke 18:13But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
- 2 Chr 33:12–13When he was in distress, he begged Yahweh his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.
- Isa 38:1–3In those days was Hezekiah sick and near death. Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, came to him, and said to him, “Yahweh says, ‘Set your house in order, for you will die, and not live.’”
- Ps 6:4Return, Yahweh. Deliver my soul, and save me for your loving kindness’ sake.
- Ps 25:17The troubles of my heart are enlarged. Oh bring me out of my distresses.
- Ps 40:12–13For innumerable evils have surrounded me. My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up. They are more than the hairs of my head. My heart has failed me.
- Ps 22:1–3For the Chief Musician; set to “The Doe of the Morning.” A Psalm by David. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?
- Ps 34:6This poor man cried, and Yahweh heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
- Isa 37:15–20Hezekiah prayed to Yahweh, saying,
- Ps 130:1–2A Song of Ascents. Out of the depths I have cried to you, Yahweh.
- Ps 18:6In my distress I called on Yahweh, and cried to my God. He heard my voice out of his temple. My cry before him came into his ears.
- John 2:2Jesus also was invited, with his disciples, to the marriage.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 116:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.