Tobit’s thanksgiving song

¹Then Tobit spoke and wrote down a psalm in praise, saying,[#13.1 LXX omits and … saying.]

Bless the God who lives forever,

and bless his kingdom,

²because he punishes and shows mercy.

He brings people down to the underworld below the earth,

and he himself raises people

up from great destruction.

What is there that escapes

from his hand?

³Bear witness to him, Israelites,

in the presence of the nations,

because he has scattered you

among them,

⁴and he has shown you

his greatness there.

Bring him honor in the presence

of everything that lives,

because he is our Lord:

⁵He will punish you for your unjust acts,

but he will also show all of you mercy and gather you together

⁶When you turn to him

with all your heart and your all being

to act sincerely before him,

then he will turn to you and never

hide his face from you again.

And now, look at what

he has done for you,

and acknowledge him

in everything you say.

Praise the Lord of righteousness,

and exalt the king of the ages!

I will acknowledge him in the land where I am a captive

So turn around, you sinners,

and act justly before him.

Who knows?

Perhaps he will want you back

and show you mercy.

⁷My soul exalts my God,

the king of heaven,

and my soul will rejoice

all the days of my life.

⁸Praise the Lord, all you chosen ones,

and let everyone

praise his greatness.

Let them speak through psalms,

use your days for rejoicing,

and acknowledge him.

⁹He has punished you, Jerusalem, holy city,

because of the deeds of your hands.

¹⁰Acknowledge the Lord in goodness,

and praise the Lord of ages!

Then your dwelling will be rebuilt

for you with joy.

He will bring joy to

all the captives among you,

and he will love for all eternity

all those who have been subjugated.

¹¹A bright light will shine forth

into the farthest corners of the earth.

Many nations will come to you

from afar,

and inhabitants from all the ends

of the earth will come

to your holy name.

They will bear gifts in their hands

for the king of heaven.

Generation after generation

will give joyful worship to you

and honor your name forever and always.

¹²May all who have despised you

and slandered you be cursed!

Cursed are all who hate you and all who speak a harsh word against you.

But all who revere you

will be blessed for eternity.

¹³Rejoice then and be glad[#13.13 DSS Heb, OL, LXX ; LXX Go then]

for the children of the righteous,

for all will be gathered together

and praise the eternal Lord.

¹⁴Favored by God are those who love you,

favored are those who rejoice

when you are at peace,

and favored are all the people

who grieve when you are afflicted,

¹⁵I praise the Lord, the great king!

¹⁶Jerusalem will be built as a city,

I will be greatly favored

when the few remaining from

my offspring see your glory

and acknowledge the king of heaven!

The gates of Jerusalem will be built

with sapphire and emerald,

and all your walls

will be made of precious stone.

The towers of Jerusalem

will be built with gold,

and their fortifications will be made of pure gold.

¹⁷The streets of Jerusalem will be paved with garnet and stone from Ophir.

¹⁸And the gates of Jerusalem will burst into song with joyful hymns,

and all her houses will shout out,

“Hallelujah!

May the God of Israel be praised,

and may those who bless the holy name be blessed forever and always!”