'Answer' in the Bible

“How then will one answer the messengers of the nation?That the Lord has founded Zion,And the afflicted of His people will seek refuge in it.”

O people in Zion, inhabitant in Jerusalem, you will weep no longer. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you.

But they were silent and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him.”

“The afflicted and needy are seeking water, but there is none,And their tongue is parched with thirst;I, the Lord, will answer them Myself,As the God of Israel I will not forsake them.

“But when I look, there is no one,And there is no counselor among themWho, if I ask, can give an answer.

“They lift it upon the shoulder and carry it;They set it in its place and it stands there.It does not move from its place.Though one may cry to it, it cannot answer;It cannot deliver him from his distress.

“Why was there no man when I came?When I called, why was there none to answer?Is My hand so short that it cannot ransom?Or have I no power to deliver?Behold, I dry up the sea with My rebuke,I make the rivers a wilderness;Their fish stink for lack of waterAnd die of thirst.

“Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;You will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’If you remove the yoke from your midst,The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness,

I will destine you for the sword,And all of you will bow down to the slaughter.Because I called, but you did not answer;I spoke, but you did not hear.And you did evil in My sightAnd chose that in which I did not delight.”

It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.