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

PSALMS 55:22KJV
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Psalms 55:22 (KJV)

What does Psalms 55:22 mean?

Psalms 55:22 encourages the reader to give their worries and hardships to the LORD, trusting that God will support and care for them. The verse promises that God will not allow those who live rightly to be shaken or fall apart.

In this psalm, David is speaking out of a time of deep trouble and betrayal, likely by a close friend. He urges others to rely on God rather than carrying their burdens alone. The verse highlights a personal relationship with God, where the faithful can hand over their struggles and trust in God’s steady support.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 55:22

  • "Cast" (שָׁלַךְ, shalak): This word means to throw or hurl, suggesting not just a gentle handing over but a decisive act of letting go of one’s burdens.
  • "Burden" (יְהָבְךָ, yehavkha): This word can mean what is given or assigned, not just a heavy load, but anything that weighs on a person’s life.
  • "Sustain" (כּוּל, kul): This verb means to support, nourish, or hold up, showing that God’s help is ongoing and active, not just a one-time rescue.
  • "Moved" (מוֹט, mot): This word means to slip, totter, or be shaken, painting a picture of stability and security for those who trust in God.

Why Psalms 55:22 matters

  • The verse clears up the idea that faith means never facing hardship; instead, it promises God’s support through trouble, not an escape from it.
  • The strong language for “cast” and “burden” emphasizes an active, trusting surrender, not a passive hope that things will improve on their own.
  • In the context of betrayal and distress, this verse reassures readers that God’s care is personal and reliable, even when human relationships fail.

Where else these words appear

“sustain” Hebrew H3557 · used in 36 verses

  • Genesis 45:11 And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty.
  • 1 Kings 8:27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?
  • Psalms 112:5 A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.

“moved” Hebrew H4131 · used in 36 verses

  • Leviticus 25:35 And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee.
  • Psalms 38:16 For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.
  • Psalms 104:5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.

“Cast” Hebrew H7993 · used in 121 verses

  • Genesis 21:15 And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.
  • 2 Kings 2:16 And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the LORD hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send.
  • Isaiah 19:8 The fishers also shall mourn, and all they that cast angle into the brooks shall lament, and they that spread nets upon the waters shall languish.