Psalm 55 22

Psalm 55:22 kjv

Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Psalm 55:22 nkjv

Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

Psalm 55:22 niv

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.

Psalm 55:22 esv

Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

Psalm 55:22 nlt

Give your burdens to the LORD,
and he will take care of you.
He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

Psalm 55 verses

Psalm 55 22 Meaning

Psalm 55:22 is a powerful divine injunction and promise, urging individuals to actively entrust their anxieties, concerns, and heavy emotional burdens to the Lord. In doing so, God assures them of His continuous, comprehensive sustenance and support, guaranteeing that those who live righteously by faith will never be shaken from their firm standing or utterly destabilized by life's adversities. It affirms God's unfailing care for His faithful people amidst turmoil.

Psalm 55 22 Context

Psalm 55 is a psalm of David, expressing profound anguish, lament, and betrayal. It begins with David’s earnest cry for God to hear his prayer, describing the overwhelming sounds of his enemies and the oppression of the wicked. He speaks of a close friend, an intimate acquaintance, who has turned against him, intensifying his pain ("it is not an enemy who taunts me... but it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend"). David longs for escape ("Oh that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest!"). Amidst this deeply personal betrayal and severe external threats, verse 22 marks a pivot point. After pouring out his heart in distress, David moves from complaint to a definitive declaration of trust in God’s sovereignty and unfailing support. It shifts the focus from the heavy burdens to the steadfast faithfulness of the Lord.

Psalm 55 22 Word analysis

• Cast (שָׁלַךְ - shalach): This is an imperative verb, a command, signifying an active, decisive, and deliberate action. It means "to throw," "fling," "hurl," or "deposit." The implication is to completely let go of something heavy and transfer it away from oneself. It’s not just setting it down gently, but fully disburdening oneself onto another.
• your burden (יְהָבְךָ - yehāb): A rare and unique word in the Hebrew Bible (appears here alone in the Masoretic Text with suffix). Its root suggests "that which is given" or "what is laid upon you." It refers to an appointed lot, a heavy load, an assigned task, or, more specifically in context, one's anxieties, cares, troubles, or responsibilities. It encompasses mental and emotional stress as much as, or more than, a physical weight.
• on the Lord (עַל־יְהוָה - al-Yahweh): "Upon Yahweh," emphasizing the specific divine recipient of the burden. This indicates a transfer of responsibility and reliance on the covenant-keeping God.
• and He will sustain (וְהוּא יְכַלְכְּלֶךָּ - wəhū' yəḵalḵəlēḵā from כּוּל - kul): The verb kul means "to contain," "to nourish," "to uphold," "to provide for," "to carry." The hiphil conjugation used here suggests a cause-and-effect: God will cause you to be sustained. It’s a promise of comprehensive provision – physically, emotionally, and spiritually – that goes beyond merely alleviating the burden, but actively upholding the individual through it.
• you: Refers to the person who casts their burden on the Lord. The personal nature of God's care is highlighted.
• He will never permit (לֹֽא־יִתֵּ֬ן - lōʾ-yittēn): A strong double negative. Loʾ (no, not) combined with yittēn (he will give/permit) emphasizes an absolute refusal. God will never allow, never concede, never grant permission for the stated outcome. It is a definite and unyielding assurance.
• the righteous (צַדִּיק - tsaddîq): Refers to those who are in right standing with God, acting in accordance with His moral and spiritual laws; the just, the upright, those who trust in God. Their righteousness is often imputed through faith.
• to be moved (לַמּוֹט - lammōṭ from מוֹט - moṭ): The verb moṭ means "to totter," "to waver," "to stumble," "to fall," "to be shaken." The negation never permit to be moved implies enduring stability, firm grounding, and unshakeable steadfastness in faith and spiritual standing, even when outward circumstances are turbulent. It does not mean they will avoid trials, but that their core will not be overthrown.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Cast your burden on the Lord": This is a direct command. It highlights a proactive act of relinquishing personal control and entrusting anxieties to God. It underscores the active role of faith in transferring heavy cares, rather than passively waiting.
• "and He will sustain you": This is God’s certain response to the act of faith. The promise extends beyond simple provision to active, continuous, and holistic upholding. It portrays God as an active helper and caretaker.
• "He will never permit the righteous to be moved": This emphasizes divine sovereignty and unwavering security. It guarantees stability and permanence for those in right relationship with God, assuring them that despite external pressures or inner turmoil, their foundational faith and standing with Him will remain unshaken.

Psalm 55 22 Bonus section

The active imperative "Cast" suggests that simply knowing about God’s ability to sustain is insufficient; one must deliberately engage in the act of entrusting. This isn't a one-time event but can be a daily practice of handing over worries and anxieties. The specific "righteous" refers not to a perfect state of sinlessness, but to those who, by faith, align themselves with God's will and seek to live in accordance with His ways, leaning on His grace. The promise is thus deeply tied to a living, dependent relationship with the Lord, underscoring that our stability is derived from His character, not our own strength or the world's assurances. The stability of the righteous contrasts sharply with the "slippery places" where the wicked will eventually fall, as described elsewhere in the Psalms (e.g., Ps 73:18).

Psalm 55 22 Commentary

Psalm 55:22 distills a profound theological truth and offers deep comfort. David, in the crucible of betrayal and persecution, demonstrates a pivotal act of faith: to consciously surrender his crushing weight of sorrow and fear to God. The word "burden" signifies not just a physical load but profound mental and emotional distress. "Casting" it denotes an active, complete divestment—an unreserved release of personal care into God's capable hands. God's response is an unwavering promise to "sustain." This is not merely helping with the burden, but bearing the individual through it, providing continuous spiritual, emotional, and physical support. The concluding assurance—that God will "never permit the righteous to be moved"—is a powerful statement of divine security. It signifies that even in the most turbulent of times, a believer's faith, core identity, and relationship with God will not be fundamentally displaced or shaken. It teaches radical trust in divine providence, affirming that true stability is found not in circumstance, but in an abiding relationship with the unchanging God.

• Example: A person overwhelmed by financial debt, unable to sleep, can "cast their burden" by pouring out their anxiety in prayer, committing their situation to God, and seeking His wisdom, rather than endlessly trying to carry it alone.
• Example: When facing unjust criticism or betrayal, instead of nursing bitterness or despair, one can "cast" that emotional burden on God, trusting Him to be their vindicator and sustainer.