Tobit 13
Commentary from 4 fathers
For he doth scourge, and hath mercy: he leadeth down to hell, and bringeth up again: neither is there any that can avoid his hand.
ὅτι αὐτὸς μαστιγοῖ καὶ ἐλεεῖ, κατάγει εἰς ᾅδην καὶ ἀνάγει, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ὃς ἐκφεύξεται τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ.
занѐ ѻ҆́нъ наказꙋ́етъ и҆ ми́лꙋетъ, низво́дитъ во а҆́дъ и҆ возво́дитъ, и҆ нѣ́сть и҆́же и҆збѣжи́тъ рꙋкѝ є҆гѡ̀:
Confess him before the Gentiles, ye children of Israel: for he hath scattered us among them.
ἐξομολογεῖσθε αὐτῷ οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ ἐνώπιον τῶν ἐθνῶν, ὅτι αὐτὸς διέσπειρεν ἡμᾶς ἐν αὐτοῖς·
и҆сповѣ́дайтесѧ є҆мꙋ̀, сы́нове і҆и҃левы, пред̾ ꙗ҆зы̑ки, занѐ то́й разсѣ́ѧ на́съ въ ни́хъ,
There declare his greatness, and extol him before all the living: for he is our Lord, and he is the God our Father for ever.
ἐκεῖ ὑποδείξατε τὴν μεγαλωσύνην αὐτοῦ, ὑψοῦτε αὐτὸν ἐνώπιον παντὸς ζῶντος, καθότι αὐτὸς Κύριος ἡμῶν καὶ Θεός, αὐτὸς πατὴρ ἡμῶν εἰς πάντας τοὺς αἰῶνας.
та́мѡ ꙗ҆влѧ́йте вели́чїе є҆гѡ̀, возноси́те є҆го̀ пред̾ всѧ́кимъ живꙋ́щимъ, ꙗ҆́кѡ то́й гдⷭ҇ь на́шъ и҆ бг҃ъ, то́й ѻ҆ц҃ъ на́шъ во всѧ̑ вѣ́ки,
And 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.
καὶ μαστιγώσει ἡμᾶς ἐν ταῖς ἀδικίαις ἡμῶν καὶ πάλιν ἐλεήσει καὶ συνάξει ἡμᾶς ἐκ πάντων τῶν ἐθνῶν, οὗ ἐὰν σκορπισθῆτε ἐν αὐτοῖς.
и҆ нака́зовати и҆́мать на́съ въ непра́вдахъ на́шихъ, и҆ па́ки поми́лꙋетъ и҆ собере́тъ ны̀ ѿ всѣ́хъ ꙗ҆зы́кѡвъ, и҆дѣ́же а҆́ще расточе́ни бꙋ́дете въ ни́хъ:
If 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?
ἐὰν ἐπιστρέψητε πρὸς αὐτὸν ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ καρδίᾳ ὑμῶν καὶ ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ ψυχῇ ὑμῶν ποιῆσαι ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ ἀλήθειαν, τότε ἐπιστρέψει πρὸς ὑμᾶς καὶ οὐ μὴ κρύψῃ τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ἀφ᾿ ὑμῶν. καὶ θεάσασθε ἃ ποιήσει μεθ᾿ ὑμῶν, καὶ ἐξομολογήσασθε αὐτῷ ἐν ὅλῳ τῷ στόματι ὑμῶν· καὶ εὐλογήσατε τὸν Κύριον τῆς δικαιοσύνης καὶ ὑψώσατε τὸν βασιλέα τῶν αἰώνων. ἐγὼ ἐν τῇ γῇ τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας μου ἐξομολογοῦμαι αὐτῷ καὶ δεικνύω τὴν ἰσχὺν καὶ τὴν μεγαλωσύνην αὐτοῦ ἔθνει ἁμαρτωλῶν. ἐπιστρέψατε, ἁμαρτωλοί, καὶ ποιήσατε δικαιοσύνην ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ· τίς γινώσκει εἰ θελήσει ὑμᾶς καὶ ποιήσει ἐλεημοσύνην ὑμῖν;
а҆́ще ѡ҆братите́сѧ къ немꙋ̀ всѣ́мъ се́рдцемъ ва́шимъ и҆ все́ю дꙋше́ю ва́шею твори́ти пред̾ ни́мъ и҆́стинꙋ, тогда̀ ѡ҆брати́тсѧ къ ва́мъ и҆ не скры́етъ лица̀ своегѡ̀ ѿ ва́съ, и҆ ᲂу҆́зрите, ꙗ҆̀же сотвори́тъ съ ва́ми: и҆ и҆сповѣ́дайтесѧ є҆мꙋ̀ всѣ́ми ᲂу҆сты̑ ва́шими, и҆ благослови́те гдⷭ҇а пра́вды и҆ возноси́те цр҃ѧ̀ вѣкѡ́въ: а҆́зъ въ землѝ плѣне́нїѧ моегѡ̀ и҆сповѣ́даюсѧ є҆мꙋ̀ и҆ сказꙋ́ю крѣ́пость и҆ вели́чїе є҆гѡ̀ ꙗ҆зы́кꙋ грѣ́шникѡвъ: ѡ҆брати́тесѧ, грѣ̑шницы, и҆ твори́те пра́вдꙋ пред̾ ни́мъ: кто̀ вѣ́сть, а҆́ще бл҃говоли́тъ ѡ҆ ва́съ и҆ сотвори́тъ млⷭ҇ть ва́мъ;
I will extol my God, and my soul shall praise the King of heaven, and shall rejoice in his greatness.
τὸν Θεόν μου ὑψῶ καὶ ἡ ψυχή μου τὸν βασιλέα τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ ἀγαλλιάσεται τὴν μεγαλωσύνην αὐτοῦ.
бг҃а моего̀ возношꙋ̀, и҆ дꙋша̀ моѧ̀ цр҃ѧ̀ нбⷭ҇наго, и҆ возвесели́тсѧ ѡ҆ вели́чїи є҆гѡ̀:
Let all men speak, and let all praise him for his righteousness.
λεγέτωσαν πάντες καὶ ἐξομολογείσθωσαν αὐτῷ ἐν ῾Ιεροσολύμοις·
да возглаго́лютъ всѝ и҆ да и҆сповѣ́дѧтсѧ є҆мꙋ̀ во і҆ерⷭ҇ли́мѣ:
O Jerusalem, the holy city, he will scourge thee for thy children’s works, and will have mercy again on the sons of the righteous.
῾Ιεροσόλυμα πόλις ἁγία, μαστιγώσει ἐπὶ τὰ ἔργα τῶν υἱῶν σου καὶ πάλιν ἐλεήσει τοὺς υἱοὺς τῶν δικαίων.
і҆ерⷭ҇ли́ме, гра́де ст҃ы́й, нака́жетъ тѧ̀ за дѣла̀ сынѡ́въ твои́хъ и҆ па́ки поми́лꙋетъ сы́ны првⷣныхъ:
Give 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.
ἐξομολογοῦ τῷ Κυρίῳ ἀγαθῶς καὶ εὐλόγει τὸν βασιλέα τῶν αἰώνων, ἵνα πάλιν ἡ σκηνὴ αὐτοῦ οἰκοδομηθῇ ἐν σοὶ μετὰ χαρᾶς, καὶ εὐφράναι ἐν σοὶ τοὺς αἰχμαλώτους καὶ ἀγαπῆσαι ἐν σοὶ τοὺς ταλαιπώρους εἰς πάσας τὰς γενεὰς τοῦ αἰῶνος.
и҆сповѣ́дайсѧ гдⷭ҇еви бла́гѡ и҆ блгⷭ҇вѝ цр҃ѧ̀ вѣкѡ́въ, да па́ки ски́нїѧ є҆гѡ̀ сози́ждетсѧ въ тебѣ̀ съ ра́достїю, и҆ да возвесели́тъ въ тебѣ̀ плѣнє́нныѧ, и҆ да возлю́битъ въ тебѣ̀ бѣ̑дныѧ во всѧ̑ ро́ды вѣ́ка:
Many 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.
ἔθνη πολλὰ μακρόθεν ἥξει πρὸς τὸ ὄνομα Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ δῶρα ἐν χερσὶν ἔχοντες καὶ δῶρα τῷ βασιλεῖ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, γενεαὶ γενεῶν δώσουσί σοι ἀγαλλίαμα.
ꙗ҆зы́цы мно́зи ѿдале́ча прїи́дꙋтъ ко и҆́мени гдⷭ҇а бг҃а, да́ры въ рꙋка́хъ и҆мꙋ́ще и҆ да́ры цр҃ю̀ нб҃сѐ, ро́дове родѡ́въ восхва́лѧтъ тѧ̀ и҆ дадꙋ́тъ ра́дованїе:
Cursed are all they which hate thee, and blessed shall all be which love thee for ever.
ἐπικατάρατοι πάντες οἱ μισοῦντές σε, εὐλογημένοι ἔσονται πάντες οἱ ἀγαπῶντές σε εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.
про́клѧти всѝ ненави́дѧщїи тѧ̀, блгⷭ҇ве́ни бꙋ́дꙋтъ всѝ лю́бѧщїи тѧ̀ во вѣ́къ:
Rejoice and be glad for the children of the just: for they shall be gathered together, and shall bless the Lord of the just.
χάρηθι καὶ ἀγαλλίασαι ἐπὶ τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν δικαίων, ὅτι συναχθήσονται καὶ εὐλογήσουσι τὸν Κύριον τῶν δικαίων.
ра́дꙋйсѧ и҆ весели́сѧ ѡ҆ сынѣ́хъ првⷣныхъ, занѐ соберꙋ́тсѧ и҆ возблгⷭ҇вѧ́тъ гдⷭ҇а првⷣныхъ:
O 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.
ὦ μακάριοι οἱ ἀγαπῶντές σε, χαρήσονται ἐπὶ τῇ εἰρήνῃ σου. μακάριοι ὅσοι ἐλυπήθησαν ἐπὶ πάσαις ταῖς μάστιξί σου, ὅτι ἐπὶ σοὶ χαρήσονται θεασάμενοι πᾶσαν τὴν δόξαν σου καὶ εὐφρανθήσονται εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.
ѽ, бл҃же́ни лю́бѧщїи тѧ̀, возра́дꙋютсѧ ѡ҆ ми́рѣ твое́мъ: бл҃же́ни, є҆ли́цы скорбѣ́ша ѡ҆ всѣ́хъ наказа́нїихъ твои́хъ, занѐ ѡ҆ тебѣ̀ возра́дꙋютсѧ, ви́дѧще всю̀ сла́вꙋ твою̀, и҆ возвеселѧ́тсѧ во вѣ́къ:
Everything is loved among friends, and it is so loved that the human conscience feels guilty before itself if it does not love one who returns the love and if it does not give love for love, seeking nothing in a bodily way beyond the signs of good will. From this comes that lamentation, if someone dies, the darkness of sorrow and the heart steeped in tears, by sweetness turned to bitterness, and the death of the living arising from the lost life of the dead. Happy is one who loves God and his friend in God and his enemy because of God. He alone loses no dear one, since all people are dear in God who is never lost. And who is this but our God, the God who is the maker of heaven and earth and who fills them up because he makes them by filling them? No one loses God unless he leaves God. And, because he leaves God, where can he go or flee except from your pleasure into your ire? For where does he not find your law in his punishment? And “your law is the truth” and “you are the truth.”
Confessions 4.9.14
Let my soul bless God the great King.
ἡ ψυχή μου εὐλογείτω τὸν Θεὸν τὸν βασιλέα τὸν μέγαν,
дꙋша̀ моѧ̀ да блгⷭ҇ви́тъ бг҃а цр҃ѧ̀ вели́каго,
For Jerusalem shall be built up with sapphires and emeralds, and precious stone: thy walls and towers and battlements with pure gold.
ὅτι οἰκοδομηθήσεται ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ σαπφείρῳ καὶ σμαράγδῳ καὶ λίθῳ ἐντίμῳ τὰ τείχη σου καὶ οἱ πύργοι καὶ οἱ προμαχῶνες ἐν χρυσίῳ καθαρῷ,
ꙗ҆́кѡ назда́нъ бꙋ́детъ і҆ерⷭ҇ли́мъ сапфі́ромъ и҆ смара́гдомъ и҆ ка́менемъ честны́мъ, стѣ́ны твоѧ̑ и҆ столпѝ и҆ забра̑ла зла́томъ чи́стымъ,
And the streets of Jerusalem shall be paved with beryl and carbuncle and stones of Ophir.
καὶ αἱ πλατεῖαι ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ ἐν βηρύλλῳ καὶ ἄνθρακι καὶ λίθῳ ἐκ Σουφεὶρ ψηφολογηθήσονται.
и҆ стѡ́гны і҆ерⷭ҇ли́мскїѧ вирѵ́лломъ и҆ а҆нѳра́ѯомъ и҆ ка́менїемъ ѿ сꙋфі́ра ᲂу҆сте́лютсѧ,
But that you may rejoice in the promise of following joy, learn the songs of eternal praise written in this volume: "Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord, they shall praise you forever and ever." And as it is said by a certain wise man concerning the heavenly Jerusalem: "And all its streets shall be paved with precious and pure stone, and through all its lanes alleluia shall be sung." The citizens of the heavenly homeland had come to announce this song to us, who cried out in harmony: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will."
Homilies on Ezekiel, Book 1, Homily 9
Thus our custom is to chant “Alleluia” more frequently and happily during these fifty days in memory of this, our most peaceful and blissful action. Alleluia is a Hebrew word, and in Latin it means “praise the Lord!” Accordingly, where we chant in the psalms, “Praise the Lord,” in place of this expression among the Jews “Alleluia” is always chanted. In his book of Revelation, John the Evangelist mentions that he had heard the throngs of heavenly virtues singing it. And when the venerable father Tobit had understood from an angelic vision what the glory of the citizens on high is, and the great brightness of the heavenly Jerusalem, he said the following with mystical voice, “All its streets are paved with precious and shining stones, and throughout all its districts ‘Alleluia’ will be sung.”It is most proper and beautiful that a general custom has prevailed in holy church of all the faithful throughout the world singing this word of praise in the Hebrew language, out of reverence for the primitive practice. This has come about so that, through the harmony of such a devotion, the whole church may be admonished that now it ought to consist in one faith, confession and love of Christ, and in the future it ought to hurry to that land in which there is no discord of minds, no disharmony of speech. For just as once in Jerusalem the heart and soul of the multitude of the believers was one and all things were theirs in common, so in the “vision of supreme peace” the heart and soul of the entire multitude of those who see God will be one, loving and praising him by whose grace they see that they have been saved. There everything will truly be theirs in common, for, as the apostle says, “God will be all in all.”
Homilies on the Gospels 2:16
Will I ever be able to see what is so desirable, what the angels long to gaze on, so I can say, “Look, now I see what I have so longed for, what I wanted I now possess!”? When will I come and appear before the face of the Lord, to contemplate him in the blessedness of his elect, to know the joy of his people and to glory in his inheritance? When will I see that city of which it is said, “Your squares, Jerusalem, will be paved with pure gold, and in you will resound a hymn of exultation, and in all your streets they will say, ‘Alleluia!’ ”? O holy city, O splendid city! I salute you from afar, I invoke you, I seek you. I desire to see you and to rest in you, but the flesh that holds me back does not let me do so. O desirable city! Your walls are a single stone, your guardian will be God, your citizens will always be glad, since they enjoy forever the vision of God. There is no corruption in you, or defect, or old age or anger—but perennial peace, unchanging glory, eternal joy, continual celebration. Truly there is only joy and exultation, the flower and confidence of youth and of complete salvation. In you there is neither yesterday nor past, but all is today, since yesterday is your tomorrow and the past is everlasting and the same. Health is in you, life is in you, to you belongs infinite peace, and for you God is everything. “Of you they say marvelous things, O city of God.” “All make their dwelling in you with joy.” In you there is no fear or sadness. Every desire is turned into joy, since everything that can be desired is within reach, and everything one could want is there in abundance. All your inhabitants will receive a full measure of happiness, so that all might visibly rejoice together, without end. All will rejoice together, because the brothers and sisters will live together when all will gather in a single place. Finally, all will be one, as he who was worthy of his prayer being heard deigned to pray for his family, “As you, Father, are in me and I in you, may they also be one in us.”
Book on the Spirit and the Soul 60
And all her streets shall say, Alleluia; and they shall praise him, saying, Blessed be God, which hath extolled it for ever.
καὶ ἐροῦσι πᾶσαι αἱ ῥύμαι αὐτῆς, ἀλληλούϊα καὶ αἰνέσουσι λέγοντες· εὐλογητὸς ὁ Θεός, ὃς ὕψωσε πάντας τοὺς αἰῶνας».
и҆ рекꙋ́тъ всѧ̑ стѡ́гны є҆гѡ̀: а҆ллилꙋ́їа и҆ восхва́лѧтъ, глаго́люще: блгⷭ҇ве́нъ бг҃ъ, и҆́же вознесѐ во всѧ̑ вѣ́ки.
Then Tobit wrote a prayer of rejoicing, and said, Blessed be God that liveth for ever, and blessed be his kingdom.
ΚΑΙ Τωβὶτ ἔγραψε προσευχὴν εἰς ἀγαλλίασιν καὶ εἶπεν· «Εὐλογητὸς ὁ Θεὸς ὁ ζῶν εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας καὶ ἡ βασιλεία αὐτοῦ,
И҆ тѡві́тъ написа̀ моли́твꙋ въ ра́дость и҆ речѐ: блгⷭ҇ве́нъ бг҃ъ живы́й во вѣ́ки и҆ црⷭ҇тво є҆гѡ̀,