Do not stay so far from me, for trouble is near, and no one else can help me.
Parallel translations
- WEB Don’t be far from me, for trouble is near. For there is no one to help.
- KJV Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
- BSB Be not far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.
- NKJV Be not far from Me, For trouble is near; For there is none to help.
- NASB ¶Do not be far from me, for trouble is near; For there is no one to help.
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
He pleads, 'Don't be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.' In his isolation he begs God to draw close.
Overview
The sufferer turns from reflection to urgent petition: trouble presses in and no human help is available, so he asks God not to remain distant. This cry from utter isolation captures the loneliness of suffering. It foreshadows the Messiah, who in his passion was abandoned by all yet entrusted himself to God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Ps 71:12God, don’t be far from me. My God, hurry to help me.
- Ps 10:1Why do you stand far off, Yahweh? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
- John 16:32Behold, the time is coming, yes, and has now come, that you will be scattered, everyone to his own place, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
- Ps 72:12For he will deliver the needy when he cries; the poor, who has no helper.
- Heb 5:7He, in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear,
- Ps 38:21Don’t forsake me, Yahweh. My God, don’t be far from me.
- 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.
- Ps 35:22You have seen it, Yahweh. Don’t keep silent. Lord, don’t be far from me.
- Ps 69:1–2For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Lilies.” By David. Save me, God, for the waters have come up to my neck!
- Isa 63:5I looked, and there was no one to help; and I wondered that there was no one to uphold: therefore my own arm brought salvation to me; and my own wrath upheld me.
- Matt 26:56But all this has happened, that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him, and fled.
- Ps 13:1–3For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. How long, Yahweh? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?
- Ps 69:18Draw near to my soul, and redeem it. Ransom me because of my enemies.
- 2 Kgs 14:26For Yahweh saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter; for all, slave and free, and there was no helper for Israel.
- Deut 32:36For Yahweh will judge his people, and have compassion on his servants, when he sees that their power is gone; that there is no one remaining, shut up or left at large.
- Matt 26:74Then he began to curse and to swear, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately the rooster crowed.
- Matt 26:72Again he denied it with an oath, “I don’t know the man.”
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 22:11 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.