Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.
Parallel translations
- WEB Then I called on Yahweh’s name: “Yahweh, I beg you, 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 118:5I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.
- Ps 22:20Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
- Luke 23:42–43And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
- Ps 143:6–9I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
- Ps 50:15And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
- Ps 30:7–8LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.
- Ps 142:4–6I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.
- Luke 18:13And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
- 2 Chr 33:12–13And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,
- Isa 38:1–3In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live.
- Ps 6:4Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’ sake.
- Ps 25:17The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses.
- Ps 40:12–13For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.
- Ps 22:1–3My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
- Ps 34:6This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
- Isa 37:15–20And Hezekiah prayed unto the LORD, saying,
- Ps 130:1–2Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.
- Ps 18:6In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.
- John 2:2And both Jesus was called, and 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.