Psalms 55:22

“Cast upon YHWH your burden, and he will sustain you; he will never allow the righteous to be moved.”
Psalms 55:22 · direct translation from the Hebrew

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David urges us to cast our burden on YHWH, who sustainsPeace and Anxiety

With the Hebrew beneath

Castהַשְׁלֵךְupon YHWHעַל יְהוָהyour burden,יְהָבְךָand heוְהוּאwill sustain you;יְכַלְכְּלֶךָhe will neverלֹא לְעוֹלָםallowיִתֵּןthe righteousלַצַּדִּיקto be moved.מוֹט

Allusion · 1 Peter 5:7

Go to 1 Peter 5:7

Both texts, in Greek, say “cast your care on him” (merimna): 1 Peter 5:7 and Psalm 55:22 (54:23 in the Septuagint).

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

Words of the Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation of the OT (Psalms 54:23 in the Septuagint numbering; Swete's text, CC BY-SA 4.0):

Psalms 55:22, word by word

Castהַשְׁלֵךְhashlech

throw

To throw something with force, far off or down.

Where else “hashlech” appears

upon YHWHיְהוָהyehva

YHWH

The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

Where else “yehva” appears

your burdenיְהָבְyehav

burden, lot

What has been given to someone or fallen to him in life; from this, a burden, a care. It appears only once in the Bible.

Where else “yehav” appears

will sustain youיְכַלְכְּלֶyechalkle

provide for

To feed someone, keep them alive.

Where else “yechalkle” appears

he will neverעוֹלָםolam

never

With "not": at no time.

Where else “olam” appears

allowיִתֵּןyiten

let

To let something happen.

Where else “yiten” appears

the righteousצַּדִּיקtsadik

righteous

Someone who lives uprightly; also YHWH.

Where else “tsadik” appears

to be movedמוֹטmot

totter, slip

Totter, slip, lose one's footing.

Where else “mot” appears

Translation note

“Your burden”: the Hebrew word appears only here; literally, “what has fallen to you.” Compare 1 Peter 5:7.

The context

21Smoother than butter is his mouth, but battle is in his heart; softer than oil are his words, but they are drawn swords.

22 · This verse (above)

23But you, Elohim, will bring them down to the well of the pit; men of blood and deceit will not reach half their days; but I will trust in you.

Read all of Psalms 55

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