Psalm 55:22 - Printer Friendly

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

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

NASB: Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

CSB: Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

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

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

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

David wisely advises anyone hearing or reading this song to put all their trust in the Lord. To "cast your burden" means to fully entrust it to God, rather than trying to carry it yourself. Regardless of the situation, God is more capable than any human being ever could be. David understood what happens when a believer releases his worries and fears into the care of the Lord: God takes on that weight. That does not make believers immune to tragedy or hardship (Proverbs 24:1–2; John 16:33). It means nothing can happen to God's people which is not for ultimate good and His glory (Romans 8:28).

The apostle Peter offers the same counsel in 1 Peter 5:7, saying, "[cast] all your anxieties on [God], because he cares for you." Paul gave similar advice; he recommended prayer as the remedy for whatever concerns the Christian. He writes: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6–7).

Psalm 55:22–23 concludes the song by advising all men to rely entirely on God. David trusted the Lord to "sustain" him, even in hard times, such as those described in this psalm. David knew that good people could experience violence and persecution, but in the end, their place with God was secure. In contrast, evil men like those attacking David were assured of swift destruction.

David begins this song with a prayer for rescue, likely from his rebelling son, Absalom (2 Samuel 15:1–12). David is pained because of a close ally's betrayal; this would refer to Ahithophel, who sided with the rebels (2 Samuel 15:31). This situation creates intense fear. However, David is confident God will rescue him. He is fully assured that those who attack him will be humbled and judged by the Lord.

This is among the psalms recording David's plea for divine help in a time of persecution (Psalms 3; 6; 35). He was betrayed by a close friend, likely Ahithophel (2 Samuel 15:31). This was probably written in response to the rebellion of Absalom (2 Samuel 15:1–12). Despite his trouble, David was confident God would protect him and punish his enemies.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.