To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that trust in God isn't about avoiding hardship, but about the assurance of rescue and avoiding ultimate shame, even in the midst of crying out for help. It's a powerful contrast to the suffering that immediately follows in the psalm, reminding us that faith offers a guarantee beyond present circumstances.
To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse appears in the midst of the Psalmist lamenting deep suffering and abandonment, contrasting their dire circumstances with the historical faithfulness of God to His people. It’s a reflection on how those who have cried out to God in the past and trusted in Him have always experienced rescue and vindicated hope, setting up the poignant question of why their own situation feels so different.
This verse speaks of a powerful connection between sincere cries for help and divine rescue. It also assures us that trusting God leads to a profound lack of shame. What's the deep meaning here?
The verse highlights two pivotal actions: crying out (prayer) and trusting. When God's people "cried unto thee," it wasn't just a casual request, but an earnest plea born from deep distress. The immediate result was "delivered." This shows that our heartfelt prayers, even in desperation, are heard.
Paired with this is "trusted in thee, and were not put to shame." This isn't about avoiding embarrassment in a social sense. Rather, it speaks to a fundamental validation of faith. When you place your ultimate hope and reliance in God, you will not be disappointed or proven foolish. Your confidence in Him is met with His faithfulness, leaving you vindicated, not shamed.
The psalmist looks back to the experiences of "our fathers." Why is remembering past acts of God so crucial for present faith and hope?
The verse is steeped in history. "Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them." This isn't just a historical note; it's a theological anchor. The psalmist (and the suffering speaker) reminds himself and us that God's character hasn't changed. He has a proven track record of faithfulness with His people.
By recalling how God rescued and validated those who trusted Him in the past, the psalmist builds a bridge of hope to his own desperate situation. It's an argument: "You were faithful then, so You will be faithful now." This perspective combats despair by grounding present faith in God's consistent, historical action.
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Understand the original words
hovishu · Hebrew Verb
To be disgraced or humbled through disappointment. In a biblical context, it refers to the experience of being let down by someone or something trusted, an experience the faithful do not encounter when they rely on God.
This verse is a comforting assurance from God to His people, calling them a 'worm' but also promising His help and deliverance, echoing the sentiment of trust in Psalm 22:5 despite feelings of weakness.
Jeremiah 14:3This passage describes a similar experience of seeking water (help) and finding none, leading to shame and confusion, which directly contrasts with the outcome for those who trust in God as stated in Psalm 22:5.
Luke 18:7Jesus speaks of God crying out for justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him. This highlights the theme of God hearing and answering the cries of those who trust in Him, paralleling the deliverance mentioned in Psalm 22:5.
Romans 10:11This New Testament verse directly quotes and expands on the idea that whoever believes in Christ will not be put to shame, directly connecting to and affirming the promise in Psalm 22:5 for those who trust in God.
1 Peter 2:6This verse also references Isaiah and speaks of Christ as a 'stone' who will not be put to shame. It connects the experience of suffering and trust with ultimate vindication, reflecting the foundational principle of Psalm 22:5.
pulpitPsalms 22:5: "They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded."
Verse 5. - They cried unto thee, and were delivered. If they were delivered because they cried, the Sufferer who cries "day and night" (vex. 2) can scarcely remain unheard for ever. They trusted in thee, and were not confounded; or, were not put to shame (οὐ κατησχύνθησαν, LXX.).
ellicottPsalms 22:5: "They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded."
(5) Confounded — i.e. , ashamed.
The verse highlights that trust in God isn't about avoiding hardship, but about the assurance of rescue and avoiding ultimate shame, even in the midst of crying out for help. It's a powerful contrast to the suffering that immediately follows in the psalm, reminding us that faith offers a guarantee beyond present circumstances.
This verse appears in the midst of the Psalmist lamenting deep suffering and abandonment, contrasting their dire circumstances with the historical faithfulness of God to His people. It’s a reflection on how those who have cried out to God in the past and trusted in Him have always experienced rescue and vindicated hope, setting up the poignant question of why their own situation feels so different.
This verse appears in the midst of the Psalmist lamenting deep suffering and abandonment, contrasting their dire circumstances with the historical faithfulness of God to His people. It’s a reflection on how those who have cried out to God in the past and trusted in Him have always experienced rescue and vindicated hope, setting up the poignant question of why their own situation feels so different.
"To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame." — The verse highlights that trust in God isn't about avoiding hardship, but about the assurance of rescue and avoiding ultimate shame, even in the midst of crying out for help. It's a powerful contrast…
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Last reviewed October 2026