They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—to the LORD, but He did not answer.
Parallel translations
- WEB They cried, but there was no one to save; even to Yahweh, but he didn’t answer them.
- KJV They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.
- NKJV They cried out, but there was none to save; Even to the Lord, but He did not answer them.
- NASB They cried for help, but there was no one to save, They cried to the Lord, but He did not answer them.
- NLT They called for help, but no one came to their rescue. They even cried to the Lord, but he refused to answer.
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
David's defeated enemies cry out, even to Yahweh, but find no rescue. Those opposed to God's anointed have no deliverer when judgment comes.
Overview
In their extremity the foes appeal for help, but heaven is silent because they stand against the Lord's chosen king. The verse soberly shows that calling on God is met with no answer when it comes too late and from hardened hostility. It warns that there is no salvation apart from genuine submission to God and his Messiah.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Prov 1:28Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will earnestly seek me, but will not find me.
- Job 27:9Will God hear his cry when distress comes upon him?
- 2 Sam 22:42–43They looked, but there was no one to save them—to the LORD, but He did not answer.
- Isa 59:1–2Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear.
- Isa 1:15When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.
- Job 35:12–13There they cry out, but He does not answer, because of the pride of evil men.
- Hos 7:14They do not cry out to Me from their hearts when they wail upon their beds. They slash themselves for grain and new wine, but turn away from Me.
- Ezek 8:18Therefore I will respond with wrath. I will not look on them with pity, nor will I spare them. Although they shout loudly in My ears, I will not listen to them.”
- Mic 3:4Then they will cry out to the LORD, but He will not answer them. At that time He will hide His face from them because of the evil they have done.
- Zech 7:13And just as I had called and they would not listen, so when they called I would not listen, says the LORD of Hosts.
- Luke 13:25After the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ But he will reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’
- Jer 14:12Although they may fast, I will not listen to their cry; although they may offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will finish them off by sword and famine and plague.”
- Ps 50:22Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:
- Jer 11:11Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘I am about to bring upon them a disaster that they cannot escape. They will cry out to Me, but I will not listen to them.
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 18:41 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.