2 Samuel 22:42

They cry out, ¹  but there is no one to help them; ²  they cry out to the Lord, ³  but he does not answer them.

They cried for help, but there was no-one to save them—to the LORD, but he did not answer.

"They looked, but there was none to save; Even to the LORD, but He did not answer them.

They called for help, but no one came to rescue them. They cried to the LORD, but he refused to answer them.

They cried "uncle" but Uncle didn't come; They yelled for GOD and got no for an answer.

They were crying out, but there was no one to come to their help: even to the Lord, but he gave them no answer.

They looked, but there was no one to save them; they cried to the LORD, but he did not answer them.

They looked, but there was none to save; Even to the LORD, but He did not answer them.

They cry out, ¹  but there is no one to help them; ²  they cry out to the Lord, ³  but he does not answer them.

¹ tc The translation follows one medieval Hebrew ms and the ancient versions in reading the Piel יְשַׁוְּעוּ (yÿshavvÿ’u, “they cry for help”) rather than the Qal of the MT יִשְׁעוּ (yish’u, “they look about for help”). See Ps 18:41 as well.

² tn Heb “but there is no deliverer.”

³ tn The words “they cry out” are not in the Hebrew text. This reference to the psalmists’ enemies crying out for help to the Lord suggests that the psalmist refers here to enemies within the covenant community, rather than foreigners. However, the militaristic context suggests foreign enemies are in view. Ancient Near Eastern literature indicates that defeated enemies would sometimes cry out for mercy to the god(s) of their conqueror. See R. B. Chisholm, “An Exegetical and Theological Study of Psalm 18/2 Samuel 22” (Th.D. diss., Dallas Theological Seminary, 1983), 271.