Tobit 13

1Then Tobit wrote a prayer of rejoicing and said, “Blessed is the living God forever, and his kingdom.”

2For he afflicts and shows mercy; he brings down to Hades and brings up, and there is no one who will escape his hand.

3Give thanks to him, O sons of Israel, before the nations, because he himself has scattered us among them.

4There declare his greatness, and exalt him before every living being; for he is our Lord, and he is our God and our Father forever.

5And he will scourge us for our injustices, and again he will show mercy and gather us from all the nations among which you were scattered.

6If you turn to him with all your heart and with all your soul, to do what is true before him, then he will turn to you and will certainly not hide his face from you. See what he will do with you, and give thanks to him with your whole being; bless the Lord of righteousness, and exalt the King of the ages.

7I exalt my God, and my soul rejoices in the King of heaven, and it will exult in his greatness.

8Let them all speak and give thanks to him in Jerusalem.

9Jerusalem, city of the Holy One: he will scourge you for the works of your children, and again he will show mercy to the children of the righteous.

10Give thanks well to the Lord, and bless the King of the ages, so that his tent may again be built for you with joy; and so that he may gladden within you the captives and love within you the afflicted for all the generations of the age.

11Many nations will come from far away to the name of the Lord God, carrying gifts in their hands, gifts for the King of heaven; generations of generations will give you exultation.

12All who hate you are accursed; all who love you will be blessed forever.

13Rejoice and exult over the sons of the righteous, because they will be gathered together and will bless the Lord of the righteous.

14Oh, blessed are those who love you; they will rejoice over your peace. Blessed are all who were grieved over your afflictions, because they will rejoice over you when they see all your glory; and my soul will rejoice forever.

15Bless God, the great King,

16For Jerusalem will be built with sapphire and emerald, and your walls with precious stones, and the towers and battlements with pure gold,

17And the streets of Jerusalem will be paved with beryl and carbuncle and stones from Suphir.

18And all her streets will say, ‘Hallelujah and praise!’ saying, ‘Blessed is God, who has exalted all the ages.’