The Book of Tobit (Tobias)

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- Chapter 13 -

Tobias the father praises God, exhorting all Israel to do the same. Prophesies the restoration and better state of Jerusalem.

And so, the elder Tobit, opening his mouth, blessed the Lord, and he said: “O Lord, you are great in eternity and your kingdom is with all ages.(a)

For you scourge, and you save. You lead down to the grave, and you bring up again. And there is no one who can escape from your hand.(b)

Confess to the Lord, O sons of Israel, and praise him in the sight of the nations.

For, indeed, he has dispersed you among the Gentiles, who are ignorant of him, that you may proclaim his wonders, and that you may cause them to know that there is no other almighty God, except him.

He has chastised us because of our iniquities, and he will save us because of his mercy.

Therefore, look upon what he has done for us, and, with fear and trembling, confess to him. And extol the King of all ages with your works.

But as for me, I will confess him in the land of my captivity. For he has revealed his majesty within a sinful nation.

And so, be converted, you sinners, and do justice in the presence of God, believing that he will act in his mercy toward you.

But I and my soul will rejoice in him.

Bless the Lord, all you his elect. Keep days of rejoicing, and confess to him.

O Jerusalem, the city of God, the Lord has chastised you for the works of your hands.(c)

Confess to the Lord with your good things, and bless the God of all ages, so that he may rebuild his tabernacle in you, and he may recall all the captives to you, and you may be glad in all ages and forever.

You will shine with a splendid light, and all the ends of the earth will adore by you.

Nations from far away will come to you, bringing gifts. And in you, they shall adore the Lord, and they will hold your land in sanctification.

For they will invoke the Great Name in you.

Those who despise you will be cursed, and all those who blaspheme by you will be condemned, and those who build you up will be blessed.

But you will rejoice in your sons, because they will all be blessed, and they will be gathered together for the Lord.

Blessed are all those who love you and who rejoice in your peace.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, for the Lord our God has freed Jerusalem, his city, from every one of her tribulations.

Happy will I be, if any of my offspring will be left to see the brightness of Jerusalem.

The gates of Jerusalem will be built from sapphire and emerald, and all its walls will be surrounded with precious stones.

All its streets will be paved with stones, white and clean. And ‘Alleluia’ will be sung throughout its neighborhoods.

Blessed be the Lord, who has exalted it, and may he reign over it, forever and ever. Amen.”

Footnotes

(a)13:1 Tobit and Tobias are actually called by the same name in the original Hebrew. That is why the text says ‘Tobias senior,’ to distinguish the father from the son.(Conte)

(b)13:2 The word ‘inferos’ sometimes refers to Hell, but often it merely refers to dying (going down into the grave).(Conte)

(c)13:11 Jerusalem:What is prophetically delivered here, and in the following chapter, with relation to Jerusalem, is partly to be understood of the rebuilding of the city after the captivity: and partly of the spiritual Jerusalem, which is the church of Christ, and the eternal Jerusalem in heaven.(Challoner)

Tobias the father praises God, exhorting all Israel to do the same. Prophesies the restoration and better state of Jerusalem.

And Tobit wrote a prayer for rejoicing, and said, “Blessed is God who lives forever! Blessed is his kingdom!

For he scourges, and shows mercy. He leads down to the grave,(a) and brings up again. There is no one who will escape his hand.

Give thanks to him before the Gentiles, all you children of Israel! For he has scattered us among them.

Declare his greatness, there. Extol him before all the living, because he is our Lord, and God is our Father forever.

He will scourge us for our iniquities, and will again show mercy, and will gather us out of all the nations among whom you are all scattered.

If you turn to him with your whole heart and with your whole soul, to do truth before him, then he will turn to you, and won’t hide his face from you. See what he will do with you. Give him thanks with your whole mouth. Bless the Lord of righteousness. Exalt the everlasting King. I give him thanks in the land of my captivity, and show his strength and majesty to a nation of sinners. Turn, you sinners, and do righteousness before him. Who can tell if he will accept you and have mercy on you?

I exalt my God. My soul exalts the King of heaven, and rejoices in his greatness.

Let all men speak, and let them give him thanks in Jerusalem.

O Jerusalem, the holy city, he will scourge you for the works of your sons, and will again have mercy on the sons of the righteous.

Give thanks to the Lord with goodness, and bless the everlasting King, that his tabernacle may be built in you again with joy, and that he may make glad in you those who are captives, and love in you forever those who are miserable.

Many nations will come from afar to the name of the Lord God with gifts in their hands, even gifts to the King of heaven. Generations of generations will praise you, and sing songs of rejoicing.

All those who hate you are cursed. All those who love you forever will be blessed.

Rejoice and be exceedingly glad for the sons of the righteous; for they will be gathered together and will bless the Lord of the righteous.

Oh blessed are those who love you. They will rejoice for your peace. Blessed are all those who mourned for all your scourges; because they will rejoice for you when they have seen all your glory. They will be made glad forever.

Let my soul bless God the great King.

For Jerusalem will be built with sapphires, emeralds, and precious stones; your walls and towers and battlements with pure gold.

The streets of Jerusalem will be paved with beryl, carbuncle, and stones of Ophir. All her streets will say, “Hallelujah!” and give praise, saying, “Blessed be God, who has exalted you forever!”

Footnotes

(a)13:2 Gr. Hades.