Single lesson
Tobit's Song of Thanksgiving
Tobit 13:1–18
This song in Tobit blesses God for his lasting rule, his justice, and his mercy. It calls God’s people to thank him openly, to turn to him wholeheartedly, and to rejoice in a hoped-for future for Jerusalem.
Before you teach
Tobit writes “a prayer for rejoicing” in this Catholic additional book. The hymn begins with praise to God, speaks about Israel being scattered among the nations, urges a wholehearted turning to God, and then addresses Jerusalem with words about mercy, gathering, blessing, and praise.
Describe the central teaching of Tobit's Song of Thanksgiving, using two details from the reading. This hymn calls people to bless God for his just rule and mercy, to thank him openly, and to hope in his gathering and restoration.
Welcome: Tobit's Song of Thanksgiving
4 minIntroduce “Tobit's Song of Thanksgiving” and locate Tobit 13:1–18. This hymn calls people to bless God for his just rule and mercy, to thank him openly, and to hope in his gathering and restoration. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
Tobit 13:1, Tobit 13:10, Tobit 13:18
Read and explain the passage
8 minThe song opens by blessing God and his kingdom. Tobit says God lives forever, so his rule is not temporary. He also says God scourges and shows mercy, leads down to the grave and brings up again. The prayer begins with God’s authority, justice, and mercy held together.
The hymn says God will scourge for iniquities and again show mercy, gathering the scattered from the nations. Tobit urges people to turn to God with their whole heart and whole soul, to do truth before him, and to give thanks fully. He also personally exalts God and calls sinners to do righteousness.
The closing picture is poetic and radiant. Jerusalem is described with sapphires, emeralds, precious stones, and pure gold. Its streets are paved with costly stones, and all the streets speak praise, saying “Hallelujah!” The final note is not merely beauty, but a city full of blessing to God who has exalted it forever.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “Tobit's Song of Thanksgiving”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Tobit 13:1, Tobit 13:2, Tobit 13:5, Tobit 13:6, Tobit 13:7, Tobit 13:16, Tobit 13:17, Tobit 13:18
Discuss the details and their meaning
6 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “Which words at the start of the song show both God’s power and his mercy?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. This hymn calls people to bless God for his just rule and mercy, to thank him openly, and to hope in his gathering and restoration. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Tobit 13:1, Tobit 13:2, Tobit 13:3, Tobit 13:4, Tobit 13:6, Tobit 13:10, Tobit 13:11, Tobit 13:13, Tobit 13:14, Tobit 13:16, Tobit 13:17, Tobit 13:18
Make and respond: Words and images response sheet
9 minWork on “Tobit's Song of Thanksgiving: Words and images response sheet”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “Tobit's Song of Thanksgiving” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Tobit 13:1, Tobit 13:10, Tobit 13:18
Closing: return to Tobit's Song of Thanksgiving
3 minRevisit Tobit 13:1–18. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about Tobit's Song of Thanksgiving and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Tobit 13:1, Tobit 13:10, Tobit 13:18
Questions to explore
Which words at the start of the song show both God’s power and his mercy?
Look for the phrases about God living forever, his kingdom, scourging, showing mercy, leading down to the grave, and bringing up again.
Tobit 13:1, Tobit 13:2
What does Tobit ask the scattered people to do among the Gentiles?
Notice the commands to give thanks, declare God’s greatness, extol him before all the living, and the call to turn with whole heart and soul.
Tobit 13:3, Tobit 13:4, Tobit 13:6
How does the song describe Jerusalem’s hoped-for future?
Collect the details about mercy, captives made glad, nations coming with gifts, blessing and rejoicing, precious stones, and streets full of praise.
Tobit 13:10, Tobit 13:11, Tobit 13:13, Tobit 13:14, Tobit 13:16, Tobit 13:17, Tobit 13:18
Make, think or respond
Tobit's Song of Thanksgiving: Words and images response sheet
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- coloured pencils or crayons
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “A repeated word or image”, “Its verse reference”, “What it expresses”.
- Read Tobit 13:1–18. Use “Tobit's Song of Thanksgiving” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Talk through your notes with an adult. Add a word, drawing or short quotation that helps you remember each part.
- Choose one image and add a short written response or a simple drawing. Explain how it connects with the passage.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Tobit's Song of Thanksgiving connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, read the selected verses aloud, prepare the three panels and let them respond with drawings or a few words. Use Tobit's Song of Thanksgiving as the retelling prompt.
- For older children, add verse references to the response sheet and explain a connection between Tobit's Song of Thanksgiving and the final part of the reading.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Tobit 13:1–18. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Tobit 13
1 And Tobit wrote a prayer for rejoicing, and said, “Blessed is God who lives forever! Blessed is his kingdom!
2 For he scourges, and shows mercy. He leads down to the grave, and brings up again. There is no one who will escape his hand.
3 Give thanks to him before the Gentiles, all you children of Israel! For he has scattered us among them.
4 Declare his greatness, there. Extol him before all the living, because he is our Lord, and God is our Father forever.
5 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.
6 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?
7 I exalt my God. My soul exalts the King of heaven, and rejoices in his greatness.
8 Let all men speak, and let them give him thanks in Jerusalem.
9 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.
10 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.
11 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.
12 All those who hate you are cursed. All those who love you forever will be blessed.
13 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.
14 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.
15 Let my soul bless God the great King.
16 For Jerusalem will be built with sapphires, emeralds, and precious stones; your walls and towers and battlements with pure gold.
17 The streets of Jerusalem will be paved with beryl, carbuncle, and stones of Ophir.
18 All her streets will say, “Hallelujah!” and give praise, saying, “Blessed be God, who has exalted you forever!”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.