When the World Turns Upside Down
It came without warning. A phone call, a message, words from a doctor, a letter that changed everything. One moment the world was one way, and now it is another. You are still standing, but the ground feels different under your feet. A prayer after bad news is not meant to change what happened. It is meant to change what carries you through.
You do not need to be strong right now. You do not need to have a plan. A prayer after bad news does not require composure; it only requires that you turn. Hashem is here, and He is closest to you at exactly this moment, when your heart is most shattered. That is the promise our mesora has carried for three thousand years.
Dovid HaMelech composed Kapitel 34 after one of the most terrifying moments of his life, when he stood before Avimelech and had to feign madness to survive. He emerged from that ordeal and wrote a tefillah for those whose world has been turned inside out. Its most famous passuk declares, “Koroiv Hashem l’nishb’rei leiv,” Hashem is close to the brokenhearted. That is not a metaphor. It is a promise that every prayer after bad news in our mesorah rests upon.
Before You Say This Kapitel
You may not feel ready to say anything right now. That is alright. If all you can do is hold this page open and read quietly, that is enough. Hashem hears silence too. But if you are able, say this tefillah:
Master of the Universe, Hashem is close to the brokenhearted, and my heart is broken now. The bad news turned the world upside down, and I do not know how to continue. Be close to me, for I am shattered. Give me the strength to trust in You. Elaha d’Meir aneini.
If giving tzedakah, add:
In the merit of the tzedakah I give in the zechus of Rabbi Meir, who strengthened the broken, so may You strengthen me. Ribbono Shel Olam, I care for Your children; please care for me.
Kapitel 34: The Full Prayer
Pronunciation guide. “Ch” is pronounced like the “ch” in “Bach,” a soft guttural from the back of the throat. “Ei” sounds like “ay” in “day.”
Dovid HaMelech composed this kapitel as an aleph-beis acrostic after escaping from Avimelech, the Philistine king. Forced to feign madness in mortal danger, he emerged alive and wrote a kapitel that moves from terror to praise, from trembling to trust. As a prayer after bad news, this tefillah offers a way forward when no other words will come.
"לְדָוִד בְּשַׁנּוֹתוֹ אֶת־טַעְמוֹ לִפְנֵי אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וַיְגָרְשֵׁהוּ וַיֵּלַךְ׃
אֲבָרְכָה אֶת־יְהֹוָה בְּכָל־עֵת תָּמִיד תְּהִלָּתוֹ בְּפִי׃
בַּיהֹוָה תִּתְהַלֵּל נַפְשִׁי יִשְׁמְעוּ עֲנָוִים וְיִשְׂמָחוּ׃
גַּדְּלוּ לַיהֹוָה אִתִּי וּנְרוֹמְמָה שְׁמוֹ יַחְדָּו׃
דָּרַשְׁתִּי אֶת־יְהֹוָה וְעָנָנִי וּמִכָּל־מְגוּרוֹתַי הִצִּילָנִי׃
הִבִּיטוּ אֵלָיו וְנָהָרוּ וּפְנֵיהֶם אַל־יֶחְפָּרוּ׃
זֶה עָנִי קָרָא וַיהֹוָה שָׁמֵעַ וּמִכָּל־צָרוֹתָיו הוֹשִׁיעוֹ׃
חֹנֶה מַלְאַךְ־יְהֹוָה סָבִיב לִירֵאָיו וַיְחַלְּצֵם׃
טַעֲמוּ וּרְאוּ כִּי־טוֹב יְהֹוָה אַשְׁרֵי הַגֶּבֶר יֶחֱסֶה־בּוֹ׃
יְראוּ אֶת־יְהֹוָה קְדֹשָׁיו כִּי־אֵין מַחְסוֹר לִירֵאָיו׃
כְּפִירִים רָשׁוּ וְרָעֵבוּ וְדֹרְשֵׁי יְהֹוָה לֹא־יַחְסְרוּ כָל־טוֹב׃
לְכוּ־בָנִים שִׁמְעוּ־לִי יִרְאַת יְהֹוָה אֲלַמֶּדְכֶם׃
מִי־הָאִישׁ הֶחָפֵץ חַיִּים אֹהֵב יָמִים לִרְאוֹת טוֹב׃
נְצֹר לְשׁוֹנְךָ מֵרָע וּשְׂפָתֶיךָ מִדַּבֵּר מִרְמָה׃
סוּר מֵרָע וַעֲשֵׂה־טוֹב בַּקֵּשׁ שָׁלוֹם וְרָדְפֵהוּ׃
עֵינֵי יְהֹוָה אֶל־צַדִּיקִים וְאָזְנָיו אֶל־שַׁוְעָתָם׃
פְּנֵי יְהֹוָה בְּעֹשֵׂי רָע לְהַכְרִית מֵאֶרֶץ זִכְרָם׃
צָעֲקוּ וַיהֹוָה שָׁמֵעַ וּמִכָּל־צָרוֹתָם הִצִּילָם׃
קָרוֹב יְהֹוָה לְנִשְׁבְּרֵי־לֵב וְאֶת־דַּכְּאֵי־רוּחַ יוֹשִׁיעַ׃
רַבּוֹת רָעוֹת צַדִּיק וּמִכֻּלָּם יַצִּילֶנּוּ יְהֹוָה׃
שֹׁמֵר כָּל־עַצְמוֹתָיו אַחַת מֵהֵנָּה לֹא נִשְׁבָּרָה׃
תְּמוֹתֵת רָשָׁע רָעָה וְשֹׂנְאֵי צַדִּיק יֶאְשָׁמוּ׃
פֹּדֶה יְהֹוָה נֶפֶשׁ עֲבָדָיו וְלֹא יֶאְשְׁמוּ כָּל־הַחֹסִים בּוֹ׃"
L'Dovid b'shannoiso es ta'amoi lifnei Avimelech, vay'gorsheihu vayeilach.
Avor'choh es Hashem b'chol eis, tomid t'hillosoi b'fi.
Ba-Hashem tishalleil nafshi, yishm'u anovim v'yismochu.
Gadd'lu la-Hashem itti, un'roim'moh sh'moi yachdov.
Dorashti es Hashem v'ononi, umikol m'guroisai hitziloni.
Hibbitu eilov v'nohoru, ufneihem al yechporu.
Zeh oni koro va-Hashem shomei'a, umikol tzoroisov hoishio.
Choineh malach Hashem soviv lireiov, vaychaltzeim.
Ta'amu ur'u ki toiv Hashem, ashrei hagever yecheseh boi.
Yir'u es Hashem k'doishov, ki ein machsoir lireiov.
K'firim roshu v'ro'eivu, v'doir'shei Hashem loi yachsru chol toiv.
L'chu vonim shim'u li, yiras Hashem alamedchem.
Mi ho'ish hechofeitz chayyim, oiheiv yomim lir'ois toiv.
N'tzoir l'shoin'cho meiro, us'fosecho middabeir mirmoh.
Sur meiro va'aseih toiv, bakkeish sholom v'rodfeihu.
Einei Hashem el tzaddikim, v'oznov el shav'osom.
P'nei Hashem b'osei ro, l'hachris mei'eretz zichrom.
Tzo'aku va-Hashem shomei'a, umikol tzoroisom hitzilom.
Koroiv Hashem l'nishb'rei leiv, v'es dak'ei ru'ach yoishi'a.
Rabbois ro'ois tzaddik, umikullom yatzilenu Hashem.
Shomeir kol atzmoisiov, achas meiheinoh loi nishboroh.
T'moisis rosho ro'oh, v'son'ei tzaddik ye'shmu.
Poideh Hashem nefesh avodov, v'loi ye'shmu kol hachoisim boi.
LeDavid beshanoto et ta'amo lifnei Avimelekh, vayegareshehu vayelakh.
Avarkhah et Hashem bekhol et, tamid tehilato befi.
BaHashem tithalel nafshi, yishme'u anavim veyismakhu.
Gadelu laHashem iti, uneromemah shemo yakhdav.
Darashti et Hashem ve'anani, umikol megurotai hitzilani.
Hibitu elav venaharu, ufeneihem al yekhparu.
Zeh ani kara vaHashem shome'a, umikol tzarotav hoshi'o.
Khoneh malakh Hashem saviv lirei'av, vayekhaltzem.
Ta'amu ur'u ki tov Hashem, ashrei hagever yekhese bo.
Yir'u et Hashem kedoshav, ki ein makhsor lirei'av.
Kefirim rashu vera'evu, vedorshei Hashem lo yakhseru khol tov.
Lekhu vanim shim'u li, yirat Hashem alamedkhem.
Mi ha'ish hekhafetz khayim, ohev yamim lir'ot tov.
Netzor leshonkha mera, usfatekha midaber mirmah.
Sur mera va'aseh tov, bakesh shalom verodefehu.
Einei Hashem el tzadikim, ve'oznav el shav'atam.
Penei Hashem be'osei ra, lehakhrit me'eretz zikhram.
Tza'aku vaHashem shome'a, umikol tzarotam hitilam.
Karov Hashem lenishberei lev, ve'et dak'ei ru'akh yoshi'a.
Rabot ra'ot tzadik, umikulam yatilenu Hashem.
Shomer kol atzmotav, akhat mehena lo nishbarah.
Temotet rasha ra'ah, veson'ei tzadik ye'ashmu.
Podeh Hashem nefesh avadav, velo ye'ashmu kol hakhosim bo.
Of David, when he feigned madness in the presence of Abimelech, who turned him out, and he left.
I bless Hashem at all times; praise is ever in my mouth.
I glory in Hashem; let the lowly hear it and rejoice.
Exalt Hashem with me; let us extol the divine name together.
I turned to Hashem, and I was answered; I was saved from all my terrors.
People look to Him and are radiant; let their faces not be downcast.
Here was a lowly man who called, Hashem listened, and delivered him from all his troubles.
The angel of Hashem camps around those who show awe, and rescues them.
Taste and see how good Hashem is; happy the one who takes refuge in Him.
Fear the Eternal, you consecrated ones, for those who fear Him lack nothing.
Lions have been reduced to starvation, but those who turn to Hashem shall not lack any good.
Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you what it is to fear Hashem.
Which of you are eager for life and desire years of good fortune?
Guard your tongue from evil, your lips from deceitful speech.
Shun evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it.
Hashem's eyes are on the righteous, the ears attentive to their cry.
Hashem's face is set against evildoers, to erase their names from the earth.
They cry out, and Hashem hears, and saves them from all their troubles.
Hashem is close to the brokenhearted; those crushed in spirit are delivered.
Though their misfortunes be many, Hashem will save the righteous from them all,
keeping all his bones intact, not one of them being broken.
One misfortune is the deathblow of the wicked; the foes of the righteous shall be ruined.
Hashem redeems the life of those who render service; no one who takes refuge in Him shall be ruined.
What These Words Mean for You
“Koroiv Hashem l’nishb’rei leiv,” Hashem is close to the brokenhearted. This passuk does not say Hashem is close to the strong or the confident. It says He is close to the shattered. The Kotzker Rebbe famously taught that there is nothing as whole as a broken heart. Right now, in this moment after bad news, you may feel that your heart is in pieces. This passuk says that is exactly when Hashem draws nearest, and it is why Kapitel 34 has become the prayer after bad news that Yidden turn to first.
“Dorashti es Hashem v’ononi,” I turned to Hashem and He answered me. Dovid did not wait until the danger had passed. He turned to Hashem while still inside it. The Mishnah Berurah (Orach Chaim 222:4) explains that we bless Hashem for the difficult just as for the good, since all yissurim serve as a kapparah and are ultimately for our benefit.
“Zeh oni koro va-Hashem shomei’a,” this poor one called and Hashem listened. After bad news, you may feel you have nothing left to offer Hashem. But Hashem listens specifically to the one who has nothing. Not despite the emptiness, but because of it. That closeness is the foundation of every prayer after bad news in our mesora.
“Ta’amu ur’u ki toiv Hashem,” taste and see that Hashem is good. Right now, tasting goodness may feel impossible. The bad news is too fresh. But Dovid wrote this passuk after he escaped death, not during. He is telling you that there will come a time when you look back on this moment and taste something you cannot taste right now. Not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But it will come.
How to Say This Tefillah
Say this prayer after bad news when you are ready. There is no rule that you must daven the moment you hear. If all you can do right now is sit and breathe, do that. When a small opening appears, say the kapitel then.
The Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 222:2 teaches that upon hearing bad news, we say the bracha “Baruch Dayan HaEmes,” Blessed is the True Judge. This bracha is said when a person receives truly painful bad news that brings real personal grief or loss, such as a death or another serious tragedy. It should not be said for ordinary disappointment, frustrating updates, or bad news that is upsetting but not a major personal loss. For borderline situations, it is better to have a rav confirm the case. This bracha is not a statement that you are at peace with what happened. It is an acknowledgment that even now, even in this, Hashem is the perfect Judge and there is a truth you cannot yet see.
After the bracha, say Kapitel 34. Say it slowly. Let the words land. You do not need to understand every phrase or feel inspired. Just say them and let Hashem do the rest. Many also say this prayer after bad news on behalf of a choleh, for almanos and yesomim, or for a family member facing a hard din.
If you are able to give tzedakah, even a small amount, do so before or after saying the kapitel. The connection between tzedakah and tefillah in a moment of crisis is deep. You are not bargaining with Hashem; you are opening a channel. When you give in the zechus of Rabbi Meir Baal Haness, you are connecting your tefillah to the merit of a tzaddik who faced danger and emerged through emunah. You are asking Hashem to be close to you in the zechus of someone who spent his entire life drawing others close to Hashem. Elokah d’Meir aneini.
Give Tzedakah in the Zechus of Rabbi Meir Baal Haness
The Gemara in Avodah Zarah 18a-18b records that Rabbi Meir went to rescue his sister-in-law, who had been condemned by the Romans. He taught a guard to call out Eloka d’Meir aneini, God of Meir, answer me, if he were ever in danger, and through these miraculous words she was rescued. Based on this incident, the phrase entered our mesorah as a cry of last resort, and it has carried Yidden through their hardest hours ever since. When you say a prayer after bad news together with this invocation, you are tying your broken moment to a chain of rescue that Chazal preserved for generations.
Rabbi Meir Baal Haness Charities was founded in 1799 and continues to support bnei Torah, almanos, yesomim, and aniyim in Teveria and throughout Eretz Yisrael. When you give, talmidei chachamim in Teveria daven for you by name at the kever of Rabbi Meir. Pairing a prayer after bad news with tzedakah to these scholars lets your name rise before Hashem through the zechus of a tzaddik whose merit is tied to miraculous rescue.
You are broken right now. But brokenness in the hands of Hashem is not the end. It is a beginning, and every prayer after bad news that a Yid has ever whispered in a dark hour is proof of that.
Give Tzedakah in the Zechus of Rabbi Meir Baal Haness
Frequently Asked Questions
Kapitel 34 is traditionally recited during times of distress. It contains the famous passuk "Koroiv Hashem l'nishb'rei leiv," Hashem is close to the brokenhearted. Dovid HaMelech wrote it after emerging from life-threatening danger, making it uniquely fitting for moments of shock. For a related tefillah, see the prayer for mercy from judges or the prayer when facing powerful opponents.
Yes, though there is no obligation to say it immediately. If you are in shock, it is alright to sit in silence first. When you are ready, even if the words come slowly, say the kapitel. Hashem receives broken tefillos with special closeness.
Rabbi Meir was a Tanna whose merit has been connected to miraculous help for centuries. When you give tzedakah in his zechus and daven after receiving bad news, you are connecting your broken heart to a chain of merit that Chazal have trusted through the darkest moments for nearly two thousand years.
Recite the kapitel slowly, letting the words settle. You can say it at home, in shul, or wherever you are. Continue saying it daily for as long as the news weighs on you. See also the broader collection of Tehillim for strength.
It means God of Meir, answer me. It is a call to Hashem in the zechus of Rabbi Meir Baal Haness. In times of distress, these words connect your tefillah to the merit of a tzaddik whose name has been a source of divine help in desperate moments throughout Jewish history.
A Blessing for Your Broken Heart
May Hashem hold you in this moment. May He be close to you and grant you comfort. May the pain that feels unbearable right now become bearable, one day at a time. May you eventually taste the goodness that Dovid promises, even though right now it is impossible to imagine. And may you know, deep in the place where the news hit hardest, that you are not alone. Hashem is near. He hears. He has not left.
You can submit a prayer request to the talmidei chachamim at the kever of Rabbi Meir in Teveria at no cost; they will daven for you by name through Rabbi Meir Baal Haness Charities. And if you would like to give tzedakah in Rabbi Meir’s zechus as well, your kindness will rise together with your tefillah.
