When Fear Will Not Let Go
You are afraid. Not the kind of afraid that passes in a few minutes, but the kind that sits on your chest and will not move. Everything feels uncertain. You do not know what is coming, and the not-knowing is the worst part.
Dovid HaMelech composed words b’ruach hakodesh for the deepest fear a neshamah can know. He turned it into a tefillah that would carry every Yid who would ever stand in that place.
Kapitel 16 is a powerful tefillah for moments of fear and vulnerability. Dovid HaMelech opens by asking Hashem for protection and refuge, and the kapitel ends with the body resting secure. It is the tefillah of a person who places themselves in Hashem’s hands and moves from fear toward trust.
Before You Say This Kapitel
Recite this short tefillah for when the fear is so heavy you can barely think straight. Say it before the kapitel. Let it be the first thing you hand to Hashem:
Master of the Universe, keep me safe O God for I take refuge in You. I am afraid. Not a small fear, but paralyzing fear. I don’t know what will be, I don’t know if I will survive. Please protect me, for I cannot protect myself. God of Meir, answer me.
If giving tzedakah, add:
In the merit of the tzedakah I give in the merit of Rabbi Meir, who chased fear away with faith, so may You chase away my fear. Ribbono Shel Olam, I care for Your children. Please care for me.
Kapitel 16: The Full Prayer
מִכְתָּם לְדָוִד שׁמְרֵנִי אֵל כִּי־חָסִיתִי בָךְ׃
אָמַרְתְּ לַיהֹוָה אֲדֹנָי אָתָּה טוֹבָתִי בַּל־עָלֶיךָ׃
לִקְדוֹשִׁים אֲשֶׁר־בָּאָרֶץ הֵמָּה וְאַדִּירֵי כּל־חֶפְצִי־בָם׃
יִרְבּוּ עַצְּבוֹתָם אַחֵר מָהָרוּ בַּל־אַסִּיךְ נִסְכֵּיהֶם מִדָּם וּבַל־אֶשָּׂא אֶת־שְׁמוֹתָם עַל־שְׂפָתָי׃
יְהֹוָה מְנָת־חֶלְקִי וְכוֹסִי אַתָּה תּוֹמִיךְ גּוֹרָלִי׃
חֲבָלִים נָפְלוּ־לִי בַּנְּעִמִים אַף־נַחֲלָת שָׁפְרָה עָלָי׃
אֲבָרֵךְ אֶת־יְהֹוָה אֲשֶׁר יְעָצָנִי אַף־לֵילוֹת יִסְּרוּנִי כִלְיוֹתָי׃
שִׁוִּיתִי יְהֹוָה לְנֶגְדִּי תָמִיד כִּי מִימִינִי בַּל־אֶמּוֹט׃
לָכֵן שָׂמַח לִבִּי וַיָּגֶל כְּבוֹדִי אַף־בְּשָׂרִי יִשְׁכֹּן לָבֶטַח׃
כִּי לֹא־תַעֲזֹב נַפְשִׁי לִשְׁאוֹל לֹא־תִתֵּן חֲסִידְךָ לִרְאוֹת שָׁחַת׃
תּוֹדִיעֵנִי אֹרַח חַיִּים שֹׂבַע שְׂמָחוֹת אֶת־פָּנֶיךָ נְעִמוֹת בִּימִינְךָ נֶצַח׃
Michtom l’Dovid shomreini Eil ki-chosisi voch.
Omart la-Hashem Adoinoy atto toivosi bal-alecho.
Likdoishim asher-bo’oretz heimmoh v’addirei kol-cheftzi-vom.
Yirbu atz’voisom acheir mohoru bal-assich niskeihem middom uval-esso es-sh’moisam al-s’fosoy.
Hashem m’nos-chelki v’choisi atto toimich goiroili.
Chavolim nof’lu-li ban’imim af-nachalos shofr’o oloy.
Avoireich es-Hashem asher y’otzoni af-leilois yiss’runi chilyoisoy.
Shivvisi Hashem l’negdi somid ki miymini bal-emmoit.
Lochein somach libbi vayyogel k’voidi af-b’sori yishkoin lovetach.
Ki loi-sa’azoiv nafshi lish’oil loi-sittein chasid’cho lir’ois shochas.
Toidi’eini oirach chayyim soiva s’mochois es-ponecho n’imois bimin’cho netzach.
Michtam le-David shomreni El ki-chasiti vach.
Amart la-Hashem Adonai atta tovati bal-alecha.
Likdoshim asher-ba’aretz hemma ve-addirei kol-cheftzi-vam.
Yirbu atzevotam acher maharu bal-asich niskeihem middam uval-esa et-shemotam al-sefatay.
Hashem menat-chelki vechosi atta tomich gorali.
Chavalim nafelu-li banne’imim af-nachalat shafra alay.
Avarech et-Hashem asher ye’atzani af-leilot yisseruni chilyotay.
Shiviti Hashem lenegdi tamid ki miymini bal-emmot.
Lachen samach libbi vayyagel kevodi af-besari yishkon lavetach.
Ki lo-ta’azov nafshi lish’ol lo-titten chasidecha lir’ot shachat.
Todi’eni orach chayyim sova semachot et-panecha ne’imot bimincha netzach.
A michtam of David. Protect me, O God, for I seek refuge in You.
I say to God, “You are my Sovereign, my benefactor; there is none above You.”
As for the holy ones who are in the land, they are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.
Their sorrows multiply who hurry to another god; I will not pour their libations of blood, nor will I take their names upon my lips.
God is my allotted share and portion; You control my fate.
Delightful country has fallen to my lot; lovely indeed is my estate.
I bless God who has guided me; my conscience admonishes me at night.
I am ever mindful of God’s presence, who is at my right hand; I shall never be shaken.
So my heart rejoices, my whole being exults, and my body rests secure.
For You will not abandon me to Sheol, or let Your faithful one see the Pit.
You will teach me the path of life. In Your presence is perfect joy; delights are ever in Your right hand.
Dovid composed this kapitel b’ruach hakodesh, and its words reach into the place where the ground feels like it could give way at any moment. And yet the kapitel does not end in fear. It ends with a declaration of trust: my heart rejoices, my body rests secure. It begins with fear and, passuk by passuk, leads to bitachon.
What These Words Mean for You
Ki chosisi voch “For I seek refuge in You.”
The shoresh of chosisi is chasah, which means to take shelter, to run under something for cover.
This is the trust of a person who has nowhere else to go and throws themselves completely onto Hashem’s protection. That is what Dovid is saying in the very first passuk. He does not pretend to be brave. He says: I am afraid and I am running to You. When you say this tefillah, you are doing exactly what Dovid did. You are taking shelter.
Hashem m’nos chelki v’choisi “Hashem is my allotted share and portion.”
The word m’nos comes from the shoresh manah, to portion out, to allot. And choisi, my cup, refers to one’s allotted portion in life.
Dovid is saying: whatever happens to me, Hashem Himself is my portion. Not what Hashem gives, but Hashem. When everything else feels like it is slipping away, this passuk holds you. You may not know what will happen, but your portion is secure. Hashem does not change.
Shivvisi Hashem l’negdi somid “I am ever mindful of Hashem’s presence.”
The Rema opens the entire Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 1:1) with this passuk. Shivvisi comes from the shoresh shavah, to set something equal, to place before you. It means: I have placed Hashem in front of me at all times.
Fear says you are alone. This passuk answers: He is right here. The next words confirm it, ki miymini bal emmoit, “He is at my right hand; I shall never be shaken.” When you are terrified and the ground feels like it is falling away, Dovid’s words say: Hashem is standing at your right side and you will not fall. You may also find comfort in the tefillah for those facing false accusations.
Af b’sori yishkoin lovetach “And my body rests secure.”
This is where Dovid arrives after the whole kapitel, and it is remarkable. Lovetach means in safety, in security. The body that was trembling with fear now rests.
Not because the danger disappeared, but because Dovid placed himself fully in Hashem’s hands. This is the core lesson of the kapitel: fear does not have the last word. Hashem does. And there is security in knowing that.
How to Say This Kapitel
Say it whenever the fear grips you. Middle of the night, middle of the day, it does not matter. Hashem is always listening. If 3 a.m. is when the dread is worst, that is when you open Tehillim. You may also draw chizuk from the tefillah for mercy in judgment.
Stand or sit, whatever feels right. If you can, find a quiet corner. But if you are shaking in a hospital hallway or whispering in a dark room, that is fine too. Hashem hears the tefillah of a frightened heart no matter where it comes from.
Before you begin, set your kavanah. You might say quietly: “Hashem, I am so scared right now. This fear is bigger than I am. I do not have the strength to carry it alone. Please protect me, calm my heart, and guide me through this difficult time. I trust that You are my portion and my protector.”
Tefillah and tzedakah rise together. When you say this kapitel and also give tzedakah in the zechus of Rabbi Meir Baal Haness, you are pairing the cry of your heart with an act of chesed for another Yid. That combination is powerful. Generations of Yidden in moments of fear have turned to the zechus of Rabbi Meir, asking Hashem to answer them in his merit. After the kapitel, say: Elokah d’Meir aneni!
Give Tzedakah in the Zechus of Rabbi Meir Baal Haness
The Gemara (Avodah Zarah 18a-18b) tells us that Bruria’s sister was condemned by the Romans to a house of shame. Rabbi Meir bribed the guard and taught him to say “Elaha d’Meir aneni!” — “God of Meir, answer me!” — if he was ever in danger. When the guard asked for proof, Rabbi Meir said the words and nearby dogs that had been ready to attack turned away. The guard was convinced and released her, ultimately using these words to save his life. This powerful phrase, asking Hashem for salvation in the merit of the great tzaddik Rabbi Meir, has brought salvation to Jews in need over the generation.
When you give tzedakah in the zechus of Rabbi Meir Baal Haness, you are asking Hashem to hear your tefillah in the combined zechus of this great tzaddik and your own act of chesed. You are saying: Hashem, just as You answered when Meir called out in a moment of danger, please answer me now.
Rabbi Meir Baal Haness Charities was founded in 1799 and supports talmidei chachamim and the poor in Eretz Yisrael. The talmidei chachamim at the kever of Rabbi Meir in Tiberias daven by name for those who reach out to them. When you give, your tzedakah sustains families in the holy land and your tefillah gains the merit of both the giving and the learning.
Give Tzedakah in the Zechus of Rabbi Meir Baal Haness K apitel 16 opens with a direct plea for protection — “Keep me safe, for I take refuge in You” — and continues in the language of trust, steadiness, and security. Paired with the RMBH prayer written for moments of fear, it offers words to lean on when your own feel far away. Yes. There is no time restriction. Dovid himself writes in this kapitel that Hashem guides him “even at night.” Fear is often worst in the dark hours. That is exactly when to open Tehillim. Rabbi Meir was one of the greatest Tannaim. When Bruria’s sister was condemned by the Romans to a house of shame, he taught the guard to say ‘Elaha d’Meir aneni!’ and the captive was freed. Giving tzedakah in his zechus is asking Hashem to hear your prayer in the combined merit of this tzaddik and your act of chesed. Rabbi Meir Baal Haness Charities, founded in 1799, supports talmidei chachamim and the poor in Eretz Yisrael. God of Meir, answer me.” Rabbi Meir said these words in a moment of danger. Saying them is a tefillah to Hashem, asking Him to answer us in our moment of need in the merit of the tzaddik Rabbi Meir who merited miracles. Tzedakah pairs an act of chesed with your tefillah. When you care for another person in a moment when you yourself feel helpless, you create a powerful zechus. Chazal teach (see Gemara) that tzedakah has the power to change a decree. Your hand reaches out to help, and Hashem’s hand reaches down to hold you.
A Brachah for the One Who Is Afraid
You brought your fear to Hashem. That is the first step toward a yeshuah.
May Hashem hear the cry of your heart and wrap you in His protection. May the fear that sits on your chest lift, slowly and gently. May you feel His presence at your right hand, so close that the trembling stops. And may the words of Dovid become true for you: your heart will rejoice, your body will rest secure, and Hashem will show you the path of life.
You can submit a prayer request to the scholars at the kever of Rabbi Meir in Tiberias 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 prayer.
