הַשְׁלֵ֤ךְ עַל־יְהוָ֨ה יְהָבְךָ֮ וְה֪וּא יְכַ֫לְכְּלֶ֥ךָ לֹא־יִתֵּ֖ן לְעֹולָ֥ם מֹ֗וט לַצַּדִּֽיק׃
Cast upon YHWH your burden, and He will sustain you; He will not give forever shaking to the righteous one.
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | הַשְׁלֵךְ | hashlekh | “cast” | Hiphil imperative 2ms |
| 2 | עַל־יְהוָה | ʿal-YHWH | “upon YHWH” | Prep עַל + PN |
| 3 | יְהָבְךָ | yehavkha | “your burden” | N(ms) + suff 2ms |
| 4 | וְהוּא | ve-hu | “and he” | Conj + Pron 3ms |
| 5 | יְכַלְכְּלֶךָ | yekhalkelkha | “he will sustain you” | Pilpel imperfect 3ms + suff 2ms |
| 6 | לֹא־יִתֵּן | lo-yitten | “he will not give” | Neg + Qal imperfect 3ms |
| 7 | לְעֹולָם | le-ʿolam | “forever” | Prep לְ + N(ms) |
| 8 | מֹוט | mot | “shaking” | Qal infinitive construct |
| 9 | לַצַּדִּיק | la-ṣaddiq | “to the righteous one” | Prep לְ + Def. art. הַ + Adj/N(ms) |
Morphology
- הַשְׁלֵךְ (hashlekh) – Root: שלך (š-l-k); Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Hiphil; Form: Hiphil imperative 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “Cast”; Notes: Commands the hearer to throw or place the burden upon YHWH. The verb הַשְׁלֵךְ is an intensive “throwing.” It implies a decisive movement—not just placing a burden down, but “hurling” it away from oneself. “Cast” is the most accurate literal equivalent for this Hiphil action.
- עַל־יְהוָה (ʿal-YHWH) – Root: —; Root Type: Proper noun with preposition; Form: Preposition עַל + proper name; Translation: “upon YHWH”; Notes: Indicates the one upon whom the burden is to be placed.
- יְהָבְךָ (yehavkha) – Root: יהב (y-h-b); Root Type: I-Yod (weak); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “your burden”; Notes: Refers to what is given or laid upon a person, here the burden or care of the addressee. This word is a hapax legomenon (appearing only here in the Tanakh). It is likely derived from יהב (to give). It essentially means “that which is given to you”—your lot, your portion, or the burden assigned to you by providence. “Your burden” is a classic and reliable literalism here.
- וְהוּא (ve-hu) – Root: —; Root Type: Pronoun; Form: Conjunction וְ + independent pronoun 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and He”; Notes: Refers back to YHWH as the one who acts in response.
- יְכַלְכְּלֶךָ (yekhalkelkha) – Root: כול (k-w-l); Root Type: Hollow (weak); Binyan: Pilpel; Form: Piel imperfect 3rd person masculine singular + suffix 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “he will sustain you”; Notes: Means to support, provide for, or maintain. The verb יְכַלְכְּלֶךָ is a Pilpel stem of כול (“to contain, hold”). The Pilpel stem expresses an intensive or sustained action, indicating ongoing support or provision. It conveys the sense of “holding up” or “containing” so that collapse does not occur. Elsewhere it is used for providing food or nourishment. Rendered as “sustain,” the nuance is captured: God becomes the container, the support system for the one who has cast weight upon Him.
- לֹא־יִתֵּן (lo-yitten) – Root: נתן (n-t-n); Root Type: I-Nun (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Negative particle לֹא + Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “He will not give”; Notes: Denies that God will permit the stated condition.
- לְעֹולָם (le-ʿolam) – Root: עלם (ʿ-l-m); Root Type: I-Guttural (ע) (weak); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “forever”; Notes: Functions adverbially to express enduring duration. The Hebrew syntax לֹא־יִתֵּ֖ן לְעֹולָ֥ם מֹ֗וט suggests that while a righteous person might stumble temporarily, God will not allow that “shaking” to be their permanent, eternal state.
- מֹוט (mot) – Root: מוט (m-w-ṭ); Root Type: Hollow (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “shaking”; Notes: Refers to instability, tottering, or being moved from security. The word מֹוט refers to slipping, staggering, or the shaking of a foundation. Many render it “be moved,” but “shaking” preserves the physical image of insecure footing. It stands in deliberate contrast to the sustaining action of the previous clause: upheld by God, one does not stagger.
- לַצַּדִּיק (la-ṣaddiq) – Root: צדק (ṣ-d-q); Root Type: Strong; Form: Preposition לְ + definite article הַ + adjective/noun masculine singular; Translation: “to the righteous one”; Notes: Refers to the person characterized by righteousness, the one whom God preserves from permanent collapse.