Chapter Reflection

Tobit’s prayer transforms the bitterness of exile into a liturgical confession of God's restorative power. He perceives that being scattered among the nations is not an abandonment, but an opportunity to declare the Divine majesty where it is unknown. The tension lies in the 'scourging'—a medicinal discipline that leads the soul down to the gates of death only to bring it back up in mercy. The human person is revealed as one who cooperates with this healing by turning with the 'whole heart' to meet the Face that no longer hides. Finally, the prayer shifts from the dust of captivity to a vision of Jerusalem built of sapphires and gold, where the very streets cry out with the joy of a humanity finally gathered into the Divine peace.

Healing disciplineReturn to the FaceGlorified JerusalemUniversal praise

Tobit 13

1Then Tobit wrote a prayer of rejoicing, and said, Blessed be God that liveth for ever, and blessed be his kingdom.

2For he doth scourge, and hath mercy: he leadeth down to hell, and bringeth up again: neither is there any that can avoid his hand.

3Confess him before the Gentiles, ye children of Israel: for he hath scattered us among them.

4There declare his greatness, and extol him before all the living: for he is our Lord, and he is the God our Father for ever.

5And he will scourge us for our iniquities, and will have mercy again, and will gather us out of all nations, among whom he hath scattered us.

6If ye turn to him with your whole heart, and with your whole mind, and deal uprightly before him, then will he turn unto you, and will not hide his face from you. Therefore see what he will do with you, and confess him with your whole mouth, and praise the Lord of might, and extol the everlasting King. In the land of my captivity do I praise him, and declare his might and majesty to a sinful nation. O ye sinners, turn and do justice before him: who can tell if he will accept you, and have mercy on you?

7I will extol my God, and my soul shall praise the King of heaven, and shall rejoice in his greatness.

8Let all men speak, and let all praise him for his righteousness.

9O Jerusalem, the holy city, he will scourge thee for thy children’s works, and will have mercy again on the sons of the righteous.

10Give praise to the Lord, for he is good: and praise the everlasting King, that his tabernacle may be builded in thee again with joy, and let him make joyful there in thee those that are captives, and love in thee for ever those that are miserable.

11Many nations shall come from far to the name of the Lord God with gifts in their hands, even gifts to the King of heaven; all generations shall praise thee with great joy.

12Cursed are all they which hate thee, and blessed shall all be which love thee for ever.

13Rejoice and be glad for the children of the just: for they shall be gathered together, and shall bless the Lord of the just.

14O blessed are they which love thee, for they shall rejoice in thy peace: blessed are they which have been sorrowful for all thy scourges; for they shall rejoice for thee, when they have seen all thy glory, and shall be glad for ever.

15Let my soul bless God the great King.

16For Jerusalem shall be built up with sapphires and emeralds, and precious stone: thy walls and towers and battlements with pure gold.

17And the streets of Jerusalem shall be paved with beryl and carbuncle and stones of Ophir.

18And all her streets shall say, Alleluia; and they shall praise him, saying, Blessed be God, which hath extolled it for ever.

Who God is

How do you perceive the hand that both scourges for healing and leads you back up from the depths of the grave?

The condition of man

What does it mean for your own internal 'Jerusalem' to be rebuilt with precious stones when you turn toward God with your whole heart?