Prayer for protection and deliverance — a text attributed to Rabbi Yehuda Katzin

In worry and illness, many seek strength in Psalms and prayer. Tradition also mentions reciting verses according to the letters of a person’s name, from alphabetically arranged Psalm collections. This reading is a plea for mercy and spiritual encouragement, alongside the necessary care and practical efforts.

Below is a text attributed to Rabbi Yehuda Katzin, author of Machaneh Yehuda. Replace ‘so-and-so, son of so-and-so’ with the person’s name and their mother’s name; adapt the wording for a woman. Combinations of names and intentions that are not understood require guidance, and need not be pronounced in order to ask for mercy in understandable words.

Text of the prayer

In the name of the Lord, God of gods and Lord of lords, who created the upper and lower realms, seraphim, ofanim and their hosts. He is the mighty King, blessed, great, strong and awesome; majestic and splendid; steadfast, pure and remembering; compassionate and gracious; good and clean; upright and unique; powerful, subduing sins, clothed in righteousness; the exalted, forgiving King, awesome and sublime; supporting and sustaining, helping and answering in distress; remembering barren women, the mighty Redeemer; righteous, holy and exalted; merciful and near; perfect, guarding, blameless and upholding. May He save His people Israel, small and great, male and female, man and woman, child and infant. Among them, save [name, son/daughter of mother’s name]: benefit, rescue, guard, help and deliver this person from every evil and impure spirit, from male and female apparitions and pursuers appearing as a man, woman or flying, hovering bird; from the four companies of demons, Lilith and her company, and Agrat and her company. By the power of the hosts of Your holy, pure names, whose sign is ארגמ״ן: Uriel, Raphael, Gabriel, Michael and Nuriel. You holy angels, guard, help, preserve, deliver and save His people, the house of Israel, including [name, son/daughter of mother’s name], from every fear, panic and terror, by day or night, morning, evening or noon, in darkness or light, at home or in the field. May this person neither fear nor tremble, be alarmed nor terrified, awake or asleep, dreaming or waking. May their sleep be restful, not sorrowful; may bad dreams and thoughts neither terrify nor alarm them, by the power of the great and holy Name, blessed be He.

Please, Lord God of Israel, dwelling above and ruling below, close to all who call upon You, answering all who seek and ask You, found by those who search for You: I come to lay supplications before Your throne of glory. By the merit of Your seventy-two holy names and 216 holy, pure letters, whose sign is ויעבר — ע״ב רי״ו, save all Your people, the house of Israel, including [name, son/daughter of mother’s name], from every evil and impure spirit: morning and midday spirits, creeping, heavenly, earthly, spiritual and dust-bound beings, the various beings in houses, courtyards, markets, streets, villages, towns, deserts, mountains, hills, waters, seas, rivers, pools, baths, mire and mud. If they see this person, let them not touch them. Stop and seal their mouths and cut off their feet so they harm no member of Israel, nor this person, their offspring or descendants, from now forever. By the power of the name inscribed on King Solomon’s ring, engraved and carved upon it.

Please, through the power of that name, may Your people Israel be delivered, including [name, son/daughter of mother’s name], from male and female demons and their hosts, male and female night spirits, harmful beings, whirlwinds and every confusion. Through the holy names may this person be saved from the evil eye, like righteous Joseph over whom it held no power, and from every harsh and evil decree in the world, through Your holy names. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, Lord, my Rock and Redeemer. May the Lord bless you and guard you. May the Lord shine His face upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift His face toward you and grant you peace.

For the custom of Psalms according to a person’s name: Kaf Achat, section 5; Sansan LeYair, section 11.