Psalms 55: Cast Your Burden on Yahweh

The title of Psalm 55 calls it a contemplation by David. He is troubled because a close friend has turned against him. He wishes he had wings like a dove to fly away. But he calls on God evening, morning and noon. He says, Cast your burden on Yahweh and he will sustain you.

Go to worksheets ↓

Bible:

Read Psalms 55

World English Bible · 23 verses

¹ For the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A contemplation by David. Listen to my prayer, God. Don’t hide yourself from my supplication.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² Attend to me, and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and moanThis verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring suffering on me. In anger they hold a grudge against me.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ My heart is severely pained within me. The terrors of death have fallen on me.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ Fearfulness and trembling have come on me. Horror has overwhelmed me.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ I said, “Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then I would fly away, and be at rest.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ Behold, then I would wander far off. I would lodge in the wilderness.” Selah.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ “I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and storm.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ Confuse them, Lord, and confound their language, for I have seen violence and strife in the city.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ Day and night they prowl around on its walls. Malice and abuse are also within her.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ Destructive forces are within her. Threats and lies don’t depart from her streets.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² For it was not an enemy who insulted me, then I could have endured it. Neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me, then I would have hidden myself from him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ But it was you, a man like me, my companion, and my familiar friend.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ We took sweet fellowship together. We walked in God’s house with company.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ Let death come suddenly on them. Let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is among them, in their dwelling.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ As for me, I will call on God. Yahweh will save me.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress. He will hear my voice.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, although there are many who oppose me.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ God, who is enthroned forever, will hear and answer them. Selah. They never change and don’t fear God.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ He raises his hands against his friends. He has violated his covenant.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²¹ His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²² Cast your burden on Yahweh and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²³ But you, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days, but I will trust in you.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

1Pick a grade below
2Look over the worksheet
3Tap Print worksheet. Print the answer key separately.

Pick a grade:

Answer key (print separately)More print options ↓

Open Preschool on its own page

Psalms 55 · Preschool

Wings Like a Dove

Name Date

Color the dove and the sky. We can give our worries to God.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“Cast your burden on Yahweh and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved.”

Psalms 55:22 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: A burden is something heavy. When we feel sad or worried, we can give it to God. Let's pretend to hand God our heavy box!

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Psalms 55 · Grade 4

When a Friend Lets You Down

Name Date

Read and Think

The title of Psalm 55 calls it a contemplation by David. He is restless and in pain. Fearfulness and trembling have come on him. He longs to escape: Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then I would fly away, and be at rest. He sees violence and strife in the city.

What hurts most is who has turned against him. It was not an enemy, but a man like him, his companion and familiar friend. They had taken sweet fellowship together and walked in God's house. His friend's words were softer than oil, but they were like drawn swords.

David chooses to pray. As for me, I will call on God. Yahweh will save me. He prays evening, morning, and at noon, and God hears. David asks God to deal with the wicked, and then offers this promise: Cast your burden on Yahweh and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved.

Show What You Know

Why does David want wings like a dove?
Why does the betrayal hurt so much?
What were the friend's words like?
What promise does David give?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

restdoveGodburdenevening

He longs to escape: Oh that I had wings like a !
Then I would fly away, and be at .
As for me, I will call on .
He prays , morning, and at noon, and God hears.
David asks God to deal with the wicked, and then offers this promise: Cast your on Yahweh and he will sustain you.

Think About It

What do you do when you wish you could fly away from a problem?
How can you bring a heavy feeling to God in prayer?

Memory Verse

“Cast your burden on Yahweh and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved.”

Psalms 55:22 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for carrying my burdens. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

What can you do when someone close lets you down?
How can you forgive someone who hurt you?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Psalms 55 · Grade 5

Cast Your Burden

Name Date

Read and Think

The title of Psalm 55 calls it a contemplation by David on stringed instruments. It is honest about pain: My heart is severely pained within me. The terrors of death have fallen on me. David's first wish is to escape. Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then I would fly away, and be at rest. He would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind.

The deepest wound is betrayal. It was not an enemy who insulted him. But it was you, a man like me, my companion, and my familiar friend. They had shared sweet fellowship and walked in God's house together. This friend violated his covenant; his mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war. David asks God to bring judgment, leaving justice to God rather than taking it himself.

Instead of flying away, David calls on God evening, morning, and at noon, and he is confident God will hear. He turns to everyone who reads: Cast your burden on Yahweh and he will sustain you. In the New Testament, Peter echoes this when he tells believers to cast all their worries on God, because he cares for them (1 Peter 5:7). David ends simply: I will trust in you.

Show What You Know

What escape does David first wish for?
How is the friend's speech described?
What does David do instead of escaping?
How does the New Testament echo verse 22?

Crossword

Across

Cast your ____ on Yahweh and he will sustain you.
And be at ____.

Down

But I will ____ in you.
Oh that I had ____ like a dove.
Oh that I had wings like a ____.

Think About It

David did not pretend he was fine. Why is honest prayer important?
What is one burden you could cast on Yahweh this week?

Memory Verse

“Cast your burden on Yahweh and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved.”

Psalms 55:22 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for carrying my burdens. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How does 1 Peter 5:7 echo Psalm 55:22?
Why is it better to pray than to run from a problem?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

More print options

Student sheets have no answers on them. The answer key is a separate document for teachers and parents.

This gradeOnly the Preschool sheet

Whole chapterEvery verse of the chapter, in the translation you pickOpen & print

All student sheetsEvery grade, preschool to grade 5Open & print

Answer keyAll grades in one, each grade labeledOpen & print

‹ All Psalms chapters · All books

Psalms 55: Cast Your Burden on Yahweh

Read Psalms 55

Worksheets

Wings Like a Dove

Prayer

Take It Home

Give It to God

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

God Holds Me Up

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Cast Your Burden

Prayer

Take It Home

Give God Your Burden

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

Wings Like a Dove

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

Cast Your Burden

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

When a Friend Lets You Down

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

Cast Your Burden

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

More print options