
The Book of Tobit

    {1:1} The book of the words of Tobit, son of Tobiel, the son of
Ananiel, the son of Aduel, the son of Gabael, a descendent of Asael, of
the tribe of Naphtali, {1:2} who, in the time of Shalmaneser king of
the Assyrians, was led captive out of Thisbe, which is at the right
hand of that city, which is properly called Naphtali, in Galilee above
Asher.

   {1:3} I, Tobit, have walked all the days of my life in the ways of
truth and justice, and I performed many charitable deeds for my
brethren and my nation, who came with me to Nineveh into the land of
the Assyrians. {1:4} And when I was in my own country, in the land of
Israel, in my youth, with all the tribe of Naphtali, my father fell
away from the house of Jerusalem, which was chosen out of all the
tribes of Israel so that all the tribes should sacrifice there, where
the Temple of the dwelling place of the most High was consecrated and
built for all ages. {1:5} Now all the tribes which revolted together,
and the house of my father Naphtali, sacrificed to the heifer Baal.
{1:6} But I alone went often to Jerusalem at the feasts, as it was
ordained for all the people of Israel by an everlasting decree,
bringing the first fruits and tenths of increase, with the first-shorn
sheep, and these I gave at the altar to the priests, the children of
Aaron. {1:7} The first tenth part of all increase I gave to the sons of
Aaron, who ministered at Jerusalem; another tenth part I sold, and
went, and spent it every year at Jerusalem; {1:8} and the third I gave
to those who were in need, as Deborah my father's mother had commanded
me, because I was left an orphan by my father. {1:9} Furthermore, when
I had reached the age of a man, I married Anna of my own kindred, and
of her, I fathered Tobias.

   {1:10} And when we were carried away captives to Nineveh, all my
brethren and those who were of my kindred ate of the bread of the
Gentiles. {1:11} But I kept myself from eating, {1:12} because I
remembered God with all my heart. {1:13} And the most High gave me
grace and favor before Shalmaneser, so that I was his purveyor. {1:14}
And I went into Media, and I left in trust with Gabael, the brother of
Gabrias, at Rages a city of Media, ten talents of silver. {1:15} Now
when Shalmaneser was dead, Sennacherib his son reigned in his place;
but his reign was troubled so that I could not go into Media. {1:16}
And in the time of Shalmaneser I gave many alms to my brethren and gave
my bread to the hungry, {1:17} and my clothes to the naked; and if I
saw any of my nation dead, or cast out around the walls of Nineveh, I
buried him. {1:18} And if the king Sennacherib had slain anyone, when
he arrived and fled from Judea, I buried them privately; for in his
wrath he killed many, but the bodies were not found when they were
sought by the king.

   {1:19} And when one of the Ninevites went and complained to the king
about me, that I buried them and hid myself, I understood that I was
sought to be put to death, so I withdrew myself out of fear. {1:20}
Then all my goods were forcibly taken away, neither was there anything
left for me, except my wife Anna and my son Tobias. {1:21} And before
fifty-five days had passed, two of his sons killed him and they fled
into the mountains of Ararath; and Sarchedonus his son reigned in his
place; he appointed, over his father's accounts and over all his
affairs, Achiacharus, my brother Anael's son. {1:22} And since
Achiacharus petitioned for me, I returned to Nineveh. Now Achiacharus
was cupbearer and keeper of the signet and steward and overseer of the
accounts; and Sarchedonus appointed him next to him; and he was my
brother's son.

   {2:1} Now when I arrived home again, and my wife Anna was restored
to me with my son Tobias, at the feast of Pentecost, which is the holy
feast of the seven weeks, a good dinner was prepared for me, which I
sat down to eat. {2:2} And when I saw the abundance of meat, I said to
my son, "Go and bring whatsoever poor man you find among our brethren,
who is mindful of the Lord, and, see, I will wait for you." {2:3} But
he returned and said, "Father, one of our nation was strangled and cast
out in the marketplace." {2:4} Then, before I had tasted any of the
meat, I went out, and took him up into a room until sundown. {2:5} Then
I returned, and washed myself, and ate my meat in sadness, {2:6}
remembering the prophecy of Amos, as he said, "Your feasts shall be
turned into mourning and all your mirth into lamentation." {2:7}
Therefore I wept, and after sundown I went and made a grave and buried
him. {2:8} But my neighbors mocked me and said, "This man is still not
afraid to be put to death for this matter; and, see, though he fled
away before, he now buries the dead again."

   {2:9} That same night, I returned from the burial and slept by the
wall of my courtyard, because I was polluted. And my face was
uncovered, {2:10} and I didn't know that there were sparrows in the
wall. And, since my eyes were open, the sparrows emitted warm dung into
my eyes, and a whiteness fell into my eyes. And I went to the
physicians, but they didn't help me. Moreover, Achiacharus had to
nourish me, until I went into Elymais. {2:11} And my wife Anna took in
women's work. {2:12} And when she had sent these home again to the
owners, they paid her her wages and gave her in addition a young goat.
{2:13} And when it was in my house, and began to call out, I said to
her, "Where did this young goat come from? Is it not stolen? Return it
to the owners, for it is not lawful to eat anything which is stolen."
{2:14} But she replied to me, "It was given as a gift, over and above
my wages." However, I did not believe her, but directed her to return
it to the owners, and I was ashamed at her. But she replied to me,
"Where are your alms and your righteous deeds? See now, you and all
your works are known."

   {3:1} Then I was grieved and I wept, and in my sorrow I prayed,
saying, {3:2} "O Lord, you are just, and all your works and all your
ways are mercy and truth, and you judge truly and justly for ever.
{3:3} Remember me and look upon me, do not punish me for my sins and my
ignorance, nor for the sins of my fathers, who sinned before you, {3:4}
for they did not obey your commandments. Therefore you have delivered
us as spoil, and into captivity, and to death, and as a proverb of
reproach to all the nations among whom we are dispersed. {3:5} And now
your judgments are many and true. Deal with me according to my sins and
my fathers' sins, because we have not kept your commandments, nor have
we walked in truth before you. {3:6} Now therefore deal with me as it
seems best to you, and command my spirit to be taken from me, so that I
may be dissolved and become earth; for it is better for me to die than
to live, because I have heard false reproaches and have much sorrow.
Command therefore that I may now be delivered out of this distress and
go into the everlasting place. Do not turn your face away from me."

   {3:7} It happened the same day, in Ecbatane a city of Media, that
Sarah the daughter of Raguel was also reproached by her father's maids;
{3:8} because she had been married to seven husbands, whom Asmodeus the
evil spirit had killed, before they had lain with her. "Do you not
know," they said, "that you have strangled your husbands? You have
already had seven husbands, yet you have not taken the name of any of
them. {3:9} So then, do you beat us because of them? If they are dead,
go your way after them; let us never see either son or daughter from
you." {3:10} When she heard these things, she was very sorrowful, so
that she thought about strangling herself; but she said, "I am the only
daughter of my father, and if I do this, it shall be a reproach to him,
and I shall bring his old age with sorrow to the grave." {3:11} Then
she prayed toward the window and said, "Blessed are you, O Lord my God,
and your holy and glorious name is blessed and honorable for ever; let
all your works praise you for ever. {3:12} And now, O Lord, I set my
eyes and my face toward you, {3:13} and say, 'Take me out of the earth,
so that I may no longer hear this reproach. {3:14} You know, Lord, that
I am pure, free from all sin with man, {3:15} and that I never polluted
my name, nor the name of my father, in the land of my captivity. I am
the only daughter of my father, and he has no child to be his heir; nor
does he have any near kinsman, nor any son of a near kinsman alive, to
whom I might give myself as a wife. My seven husbands are already dead
and so why should I live? But if it does not please you that I should
die, then command some regard to be given to me and pity to be taken on
me, so that I will no longer hear reproach.'"

   {3:16} So both of their prayers were heard before the majesty of the
great God. {3:17} And Raphael was sent to heal them both, that is, to
scale away the whiteness of Tobit's eyes, and to give Sarah the
daughter of Raguel as a wife to Tobias the son of Tobit; and to bind
Asmodeus the evil spirit, because she belonged to Tobias by right of
inheritance. At the very same time, Tobit came home and entered into
his house, and Sarah the daughter of Raguel came down from her upper
room.

   {4:1} On that day Tobit remembered the money which he had committed
to Gabael in Rages of Media, {4:2} and he said to himself, "I have
wished for death; therefore should I not call for my son Tobias so that
I may transfer the money to him before I die?" {4:3} And when he had
called him, he said, "My son, when I am dead, bury me; and do not
despise your mother, but honor her all the days of your life, and do
what pleases her, and do not grieve her. {4:4} Remember, my son, that
she endured many dangers for you, when you were in her womb; and when
she is dead, bury her next to me in one grave. {4:5} My son, be mindful
of the Lord our God all your days, and do not let your will be set to
sin, nor to transgress his commandments; act uprightly all your life
long, and do not follow the ways of the unrighteousness. {4:6} For if
you deal truly, your actions shall bring prosperity to you and to all
those who live justly.

   {4:7} "Give alms from your resources; and when you give alms, do not
let your eye be envious, nor turn your face from any of the poor, and
then the face of God shall not be turned away from you. {4:8} If you
have abundance, give alms accordingly; if you have only a little, do
not be afraid to give according to that little; {4:9} for you will
store up a good treasure for yourself against the day of necessity,
{4:10} because alms deliver from death and preserve from falling into
darkness. {4:11} For alms is a good gift, for all those who give it, in
the sight of the most High. {4:12} Beware of all whoredom, my son, and
prefer to take a wife from the posterity of your forefathers, and do
not take a strange woman to wife, who is not of your father's tribe;
for we are the children of the prophets, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob. Remember, my son, that our fathers from the beginning, all of
them married wives of their own kindred, and were blessed in their
children, and their posterity shall inherit the land. {4:13} Now
therefore, my son, love your brethren, and do not despise in your heart
your brethren, the sons and daughters of your people, by not taking a
wife from among them; for in pride is destruction and much trouble, and
in lewdness is decay and great want; for lewdness is the mother of
famine.

   {4:14} "Do not let the wages of any man, who has worked for you, be
delayed by you, but give it to him promptly; for if you serve God, he
will also repay you. Be prudent, my son, in all things you do, and be
wise in all your conversation. {4:15} Do not do to any man the things
which you yourself hate. Do not drink wine to make you drunken; neither
let drunkenness go with you on your journey. {4:16} Give of your bread
to the hungry, and of your garments to those who are naked; and
according to your abundance give alms; and do not let your eye be
envious, when you give alms. {4:17} Pour out your bread on the burial
of the just, but give nothing to the wicked. {4:18} Ask counsel of all
who are wise, and despise not any counsel which is beneficial.

   {4:19} "Bless the Lord your God always, and desire of him that your
ways may be purposeful, and that all your paths and counsels may
prosper; for not every nation has counsel; but the Lord himself gives
all good things, and he humbles whom he will, as he will; now
therefore, my son, remember my commandments, neither let them be put
out of your mind. {4:20} And now I signify this to those who I
committed ten talents, to Gabael the son of Gabrias at Rages in Media.
{4:21} And do not be afraid, my son, that we might become poor; for you
have much wealth, if you fear God and depart from all sin and do what
is pleasing in his sight."

   {5:1} Tobias then answered and said, "Father, I will do all things
which you have commanded me; {5:2} but how can I receive the money,
since I do not know him?" {5:3} Then he gave him the handwriting, and
said to him, "Seek a man to go with you, while I yet live, and I will
give him wages; then go and receive the money." {5:4} Therefore when he
went to seek a man, he found Raphael who was an angel, {5:5} but he did
not know it; and so he said to him, "Can you go with me to Rages? And
do you know those places well?" {5:6} The angel said to him, "I will go
with you, and I know the way well, for I have stayed with our brother
Gabael." {5:7} Then Tobias said to him, "Wait for me, while I tell my
father." {5:8} Then he said to him, "Go and do not delay." So he went
in and said to his father, "See now, I have found one who will go with
me." Then he said, "Call him to me, so that I may learn what tribe he
is from and whether he is a trustworthy man to go with you."

   {5:9} So he called him, and he came in, and they greeted one
another. {5:10} Then Tobit said to him, "Brother, tell me what tribe
and family you are from." {5:11} He said to him, "Do you seek for a
tribe or family, or for a hired man to go with your son?" Then Tobit
said to him, "I would know, brother, your kindred and name." {5:12}
Then he said, "I am Azariah, the son of Ananiah the great and of your
brethren." {5:13} Then Tobit said, "You are welcome, brother; do not be
angry with me now, because I asked about your tribe and your family;
for you are my brother, of an honest and good stock. For I know Ananiah
and Jonathan, sons of that great Samaiah, because we went together to
Jerusalem to worship, and offered the firstborn, and the tenths of the
fruits; and they were not seduced with the error of our brethren. My
brother, you are of good stock. {5:14} But tell me, what wages shall I
give you? Will you accept a drachma a day, plus whatever is needed for
my own son? {5:15} Fine, but moreover, if you return safe, I will add
something to your wages."

   {5:16} So they were well pleased. Then he said to Tobias, "Prepare
yourself for the journey, and may God give you a good journey." And
when his son had prepared everything for the journey, his father said,
"Go with this man; and may God who dwells in heaven prosper your
journey, and may the angel of God keep you company." So they both went
forth, and the young man's dog with them. {5:17} But Anna his mother
wept and said to Tobit, "Why have you sent our son away? Is he not the
staff of our hand, in going in and out before us? {5:18} Do not be
greedy to add money to money, but consider it as refuse compared to our
child. {5:19} For what the Lord has given us to live on should be
sufficient for us." {5:20} Then Tobit said to her, "Do not worry, my
sister; he will return in safety, and your eyes will see him. {5:21}
For the good angel will keep him company, and his journey will be
prosperous, and he will return safe." {5:22} Then she ended her weeping.

   {6:1} And as they went on their journey, they arrived in the evening
at the river Tigris, and they lodged there. {6:2} And when the young
man went down to wash himself, a fish leaped out of the river and would
have devoured him. {6:3} Then the angel said to him, "Take the fish."
And the young man took hold of the fish, and drew it to land. {6:4} The
angel said to him, "Open the fish, and take the heart and the liver and
the gall, and store them well." {6:5} So the young man did as the angel
commanded him. And when they had roasted the fish, they ate it. Then
they both went on their way, until they drew near to Ecbatane. {6:6}
Then the young man said to the angel, "Brother Azariah, of what use is
the heart and the liver and the gall of the fish?" {6:7} And he said to
him, "Concerning the heart and the liver, if a devil or an evil spirit
troubles anyone, we must make a smoke of these in front of the man or
the woman, and then the person will no longer be troubled. {6:8} As for
the gall, it is used to anoint a man who has whiteness in his eyes, so
he shall be healed."

   {6:9} And when they had arrived near Rages, {6:10} the angel said to
the young man, "Brother, today we will stay with Raguel, who is your
cousin; he also has only one daughter, named Sarah; I will speak on her
behalf, so that she may be given to you as a wife, {6:11} for the
rights concerning her belong to you, because you are her only kindred.
{6:12} And the maiden is fair and wise; therefore listen to me now, and
I will speak to her father. And when we return from Rages, we will
celebrate the marriage, for I know that Raguel cannot give her in
marriage to another, according to the Law of Moses, or he would be
liable to death, because the right of inheritance belongs to you more
than to any other." {6:13} Then the young man answered the angel, "I
have heard, brother Azariah, that this maiden has been given to seven
men, who each died in the marriage room. {6:14} And now, I am the only
son of my father and I am afraid that if I go in to her, I may die, as
the others before me, for a wicked spirit loves her, and he hurts no
one except those who come to her. Therefore I also fear that I may die,
and bring my father's life and my mother's life because of me to the
grave with sorrow; for they have no other son to bury them." {6:15}
Then the angel said to him, "Do you not remember the precepts which
your father gave you, that you should marry a wife of your own kindred?
Therefore hear me, O my brother; for she shall be given to you as a
wife; and have no regard for the evil spirit; for this same night she
shall be given to you in marriage. {6:16} And when you come into the
marriage room, you shall take the ashes of perfume, and shall lay upon
them some of the heart and liver of the fish, and shall make a smoke
with it. {6:17} And the devil will smell it, and flee away, and never
again return. But when you come to her, rise up both of you and pray to
God, who is merciful, who will have pity on you and save you. Fear not,
for she is appointed to you from the beginning; and you will keep her,
and she will accompany you. Moreover, I suppose that she will bear you
children." Now, when Tobias had heard these things, he loved her, and
his heart was ready to be joined to her.

   {7:1} And when they arrived at Ecbatane, they came to the house of
Raguel, and Sarah met them. And after they had greeted one another, she
brought them into the house. {7:2} Then Raguel said to Edna his wife,
"How much this young man is like Tobit my kinsman!" {7:3} And Raguel
asked them, "Where do you come from, brethren?" They said to him, "We
are of the sons of Naphtali, who are captives in Nineveh." {7:4} Then
he said to them, "Do you know Tobit our kinsman?" And they said, "We
know him." Then he said, "Is he in good health?" {7:5} And they said,
"He is both alive and in good health." And Tobias said, "He is my
father." {7:6} Then Raguel leaped up and kissed him and wept. {7:7} And
he blessed him and said to him, "You are the son of an honest and good
man." But when he heard that Tobit was blind, he was sorrowful and
wept. {7:8} And likewise Edna his wife and Sarah his daughter wept. Yet
still they entertained them cheerfully, and afterwards they had a ram
of the flock killed, and they set a supply of meat on the table. Then
Tobias said to Raphael, "Brother Azariah, speak about those things
which you spoke about on the way here, and let this matter be
completed."

   {7:9} So he communicated the matter to Raguel. And Raguel said to
Tobias, "Eat and drink, and make merry, {7:10} for it is fitting that
you should marry my daughter. Nevertheless I will declare to you the
truth. {7:11} I have given my daughter in marriage to seven men, who
each died on the night that they came in to her. Nevertheless be merry
for now." But Tobias said, "I will eat nothing here until we agree and
swear one to another." {7:12} Raguel said, "Then take her from this
time forward, according to the custom, for you are her kinsman, and she
is yours, and may the merciful God give you good success in all
things." {7:13} Then he called his daughter Sarah, and she came to her
father, and he took her by the hand and gave her to be wife to Tobias,
saying, "Behold, take her after the Law of Moses, and lead her away to
your father." And he blessed them. {7:14} And he called Edna his wife,
and took paper and wrote an instrument of covenants and sealed it.
{7:15} Then they began to eat.

   {7:16} Afterwards Raguel called his wife Edna and said to her,
"Sister, prepare another room and bring her into it." {7:17} Then, when
she had done as he had asked her, she brought her into it. And she wept
and received the tears of her daughter, and she said to her, {7:18} "Be
of good comfort, my daughter. May the Lord of heaven and earth give you
joy in place of this your sorrow. Be of good comfort, my daughter."

   {8:1} And when they had dined, they brought Tobias in to her. {8:2}
And as he went, he remembered the words of Raphael. And he took the
ashes of the perfumes, and put the heart and the liver of the fish on
them, and made a smoke with them. {8:3} When the evil spirit had
smelled this odor, he fled into the utmost parts of Egypt, and the
angel bound him. {8:4} And afterwards, when they were both secluded
together, Tobias rose out of the bed and said, "Sister, arise, and let
us pray that God will have pity on us." {8:5} Then Tobias began to say,
"Blessed are you, O God of our fathers, and blessed is your holy and
glorious name for ever; let the heavens bless you, and all your
creatures. {8:6} You made Adam, and gave him Eve his wife as a helper
and support; of them came mankind, for you have said, 'It is not good
that man should be alone; let us make him a helper like himself.' {8:7}
And now, O Lord, I take not this my sister for pleasure, but in
righteousness; therefore mercifully ordain that we may grow old
together." {8:8} And she said with him, "Amen."

   {8:9} So they both slept that night. And Raguel arose, and went and
made a grave, {8:10} saying, "I am afraid that he too is dead." {8:11}
But when Raguel returned to his house, {8:12} he said to his wife Edna,
"Send one of the maids, and let her see if he is alive. If he is not,
then we can bury him, and no one will know of it." {8:13} So the maid
opened the door and went in and found them both asleep. {8:14} And she
came forth and told them that he was alive.

   {8:15} Then Raguel praised God and said, "O God, you are worthy to
be praised with all pure and holy praise; therefore let your saints
praise you with all your creatures, and let all your angels and your
elect praise you for ever. {8:16} You are to be praised, for you have
made me joyful; and what I feared has not happened, but you have dealt
with us according to your great mercy. {8:17} You are to be praised
because you had mercy on two who were each the only begotten children
of their fathers; grant them mercy, O Lord, and finish their life in
health with joy and mercy." {8:18} Then Raguel directed his servants to
fill the grave. {8:19} And he kept the wedding feast for fourteen days.
{8:20} For before the days of the marriage were finished, Raguel had
said to him by an oath, that he should not depart until the fourteen
days of the marriage were fulfilled, {8:21} and that then he should
take half of his goods and go in safety to his father, and that he
would have the rest "when I and my wife are dead."

   {9:1} Then Tobias called Raphael and said to him, {9:2} "Brother
Azariah, take a servant and two camels with you, and go to Rages of
Media to Gabael, and bring me the money and bring him to the wedding.
{9:3} For Raguel has sworn that I shall not depart, {9:4} but my father
counts the days, and if I delay for long, he will be very sorrowful."
{9:5} So Raphael went out and lodged with Gabael and gave him the
handwriting, so he brought out bags which were sealed up and gave them
to him. {9:6} And early in the morning they both went forth together,
and they arrived at the wedding; and Tobias blessed his wife.

   {10:1} Now Tobit his father counted every day; and when the days for
the journey were completed, and they had not returned, {10:2} then
Tobit said, "Are they detained? Or is Gabael dead and there is no man
to give him the money?" {10:3} Therefore he was very sorrowful. {10:4}
Then his wife said to him, "My son must be dead, since he has been gone
so long." And she began to wail him and said, {10:5} "Now I care for
nothing, my son, since I have let go of you, who is the light of my
eyes." {10:6} Tobit said to her, "Hold your peace; do not worry, for he
is safe." {10:7} But she said, "Hold your peace and deceive me not; my
son is dead." And she went out every day into the way, by which they
had departed, and she ate no meat in the daytime, and she didn't cease
throughout the nights to bewail her son Tobias, until the fourteen days
of the wedding were completed, which Raguel had sworn that he should
spend there. Then Tobias said to Raguel, "Let me go, for my father and
my mother must have stopped looking for me." {10:8} But his
father-in-law said to him, "Remain with me, and I will send messengers
to your father, and they will declare to him how things go with you."
{10:9} But Tobias said, "No. But let me go to my father."

   {10:10} Then Raguel arose, and gave him Sarah his wife, and half his
goods, servants, and cattle, and money. {10:11} And he blessed them and
sent them away, saying, "May the God of heaven give you a prosperous
journey, my children." {10:12} And he said to his daughter, "Honor your
father and your mother-in-law, who are now your parents, so that I may
hear a good report about you." And he kissed her. Edna also said to
Tobias, "May the Lord of heaven return you, my dear brother, and grant
that I may see your children of my daughter Sarah before I die, so that
I may rejoice before the Lord. See now, I commit my daughter to you
with a special trust; therefore do not lead her into evil."

   {11:1} After these things Tobias went his way praising God because
he had given him a prosperous journey, and he blessed Raguel and Edna
his wife, and went on his way until they drew near to Nineveh. {11:2}
Then Raphael said to Tobias, "You know, brother, how you left your
father; {11:3} let us hurry ahead, before your wife, and prepare the
house; {11:4} and you should carry in your hand the gall of the fish."
So they went their way, and the dog went after them. {11:5} Now Anna
sat looking around, toward the way, for her son. {11:6} And when she
spotted him arriving, she said to his father, "See now, your son
arrives, and the man who went with him." {11:7} Then Raphael said, "I
know, Tobias, that your father will open his eyes. {11:8} Therefore
anoint his eyes with the gall, and being irritated by it, he will rub
his eyes and the whiteness will fall away, and then he will see you."
{11:9} Then Anna ran forth, and fell upon the neck of her son, and said
to him, "Since I have seen you, my son, from now on I am content to
die." And they both wept.

   {11:10} Tobit also went forth toward the door, and stumbled, but his
son ran to him. {11:11} And he took hold of his father and struck his
fathers' eyes with the gall, saying, "Be of good hope, my father."
{11:12} And when his eyes began to sting, he rubbed them; {11:13} and
the whiteness pealed away from the corners of his eyes; and when he saw
his son, he fell upon his neck. {11:14} And he wept and said, "Blessed
are you, O God, and blessed is your name for ever; and blessed are all
your holy angels. {11:15} For you have scourged me, and have taken pity
on me; for, behold, I see my son Tobias." And his son went in
rejoicing, and he told his father the great things which had happened
to him in Media. {11:16} Then Tobit went out to meet his
daughter-in-law at the gate of Nineveh, rejoicing and praising God; and
those who saw him go marveled because he had received his sight.
{11:17} But Tobit gave thanks before them, because God had mercy on
him. And when he came near to Sarah his daughter-in-law, he blessed
her, saying, "You are welcome, daughter. May God be blessed, who
brought you to us, and blessed be your father and your mother." And
there was joy among all his brethren who were at Nineveh. {11:18} And
Achiacharus, and Nasbas his brother's son, came. {11:19} And Tobias'
wedding was kept for seven days with great joy.

   {12:1} Then Tobit called his son Tobias and said to him, "My son,
see that the man who went with you has his wages and you must give him
more." {12:2} And Tobias said to him, "O father, it is no harm to me to
give him half of those things which I have brought, {12:3} for he has
returned me to you in safety, and made my wife whole, and brought me
the money, and likewise healed you."

   {12:4} Then the old man said, "It is due to him."

   {12:5} So he called the angel and he said to him, "Take half of all
that you have brought and go away in safety."

   {12:6} Then the angel took them both aside and said to them, "Bless
God, praise him, and magnify him, and praise him for all the things
which he has done for you in the sight of all who live. It is good to
praise God and exalt his name and to honorably show forth the works of
God; therefore do not be negligent in praising him. {12:7} It is good
to keep close the secret of a king, but it is honorable to reveal the
works of God. Do what is good and no evil shall touch you. {12:8}
Prayer is good with fasting and alms and righteousness. A little with
righteousness is better than much with unrighteousness. It is better to
give alms than to store up gold, {12:9} for alms can deliver from death
and will purge away all sin. Those who practice almsgiving and
righteousness shall be filled with life; {12:10} but those who sin are
enemies to their own life. {12:11} Surely I will withhold nothing from
you, for I said that it is good to keep close the secret of a king, but
that it is honorable to reveal the works of God. {12:12} Now therefore,
when you pray, and when Sarah your daughter-in-law prays, I will bring
the remembrance of your prayers before the Holy One. And when you
buried the dead, I was with you likewise. {12:13} And when you didn't
delay to rise up and leave your dinner, to go and cover the dead, your
good deed was not hidden from me, but I was with you. {12:14} And now
God has sent me to heal you and Sarah your daughter-in-law. {12:15} I
am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels, who present the prayers of
the saints, and who go in and out before the glory of the Holy One."
{12:16} Then they were both troubled and fell upon their faces, for
they were afraid. {12:17} But he said to them, "Fear not, for it shall
go well with you; therefore praise God. {12:18} For I came, not by any
favor of mine, but by the will of our God; therefore praise him for
ever. {12:19} All these days I appeared to you, yet I neither ate nor
drank, but you saw a vision. {12:20} Now therefore give God thanks, for
I go up to him who sent me; but write all these things which have
happened in a book." {12:21} And when they arose, they saw him no more.
{12:22} Then they confessed the great and wonderful works of God, and
how the angel of the Lord had appeared to them.

   {13:1} Then Tobit wrote a prayer of rejoicing and said, "Blessed be
God who lives for ever and blessed be his kingdom. {13:2} For he
scourges and has mercy; he leads down to hell and brings up again;
neither is there any who can avoid his hand. {13:3} Confess him before
the Gentiles, you children of Israel, for he has scattered us among
them. {13:4} 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.
{13:5} And he will scourge us for our iniquities, and will have mercy
again, and will gather us out of all the nations among whom he has
scattered us. {13:6} If you turn to him with your whole heart and with
your whole mind and deal uprightly before him, then he will turn to 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, I
praise him and declare his might and majesty to a sinful nation. O you
sinners, turn and do justice before him; who can tell if he will accept
you and have mercy on you?

   {13:7} "I will extol my God and my soul shall praise the King of
heaven and shall rejoice in his greatness. {13:8} Let all men speak and
let all praise him for his righteousness. {13:9} O Jerusalem, the holy
city, he will scourge you for your children's works and will have mercy
again on the sons of the righteous. {13:10} Give praise to the Lord,
for he is good, and praise the everlasting King, so that his tabernacle
may be built in you again with joy; and there let him make joyful in
you those who are captives, and love in you for ever those who are
miserable. {13:11} Many nations shall come from far to the name of the
Lord God with gifts in their hands, with gifts to the King of heaven;
all generations shall praise you with great joy. {13:12} Cursed are all
those who hate you and blessed shall be all those who love you for
ever. {13:13} Rejoice and be glad for the children of the just, for
they shall be gathered together and shall bless the Lord of the just.
{13:14} O blessed are those who love you, for they shall rejoice in
your peace. Blessed are those who have been sorrowful for all your
scourges, for they shall rejoice for you, when they have seen all your
glory, and shall be glad for ever. {13:15} Let my soul bless God the
great King. {13:16} For Jerusalem shall be built up with sapphires and
emeralds and precious stone, your walls and towers and battlements with
pure gold. {13:17} And the streets of Jerusalem shall be paved with
beryl and carbuncle and stones of Ophir. {13:18} And all her streets
shall say, 'Alleluia,' and they shall praise him, saying, 'Blessed be
God, who has extolled it for ever.'"

   {14:1} So Tobit ended his prayer praising God. {14:2} And he was
fifty-eight years old when he lost his sight, which was restored to him
after eight years; and he gave alms, and he increased in the fear of
the Lord God and praised him. {14:3} And when he was very aged, he
called his son, and the sons of his son, and said to him, "My son, take
your children, for see now I am aged and ready to depart out of this
life. {14:4} Go into Media, my son, for I surely believe those things
which Jonah the prophet spoke about Nineveh, that it shall be
overthrown, and that for a time peace shall rest in Media instead, and
that our brethren shall lie scattered across the earth from that good
land, and Jerusalem shall be desolate, and God's house in it shall be
burned and shall be desolate for a time. {14:5} And again God will have
mercy on them and bring them again into the land, where they shall
build a temple, but not like the first, until the time of that age is
fulfilled; and afterward they shall return from all the places of their
captivity and build up Jerusalem gloriously, and God's house shall be
built in it for ever with a glorious building, just as the prophets
have spoken. {14:6} And all nations shall turn and fear the Lord God
truly, and shall bury their idols. {14:7} So shall all nations praise
the Lord, and his people shall confess God, and the Lord will exalt his
people; and all those who love the Lord God in truth and justice shall
rejoice, showing mercy to our brethren.

   {14:8} "And now, my son, depart out of Nineveh, because those things
of which the prophet Jonah spoke will surely come to pass. {14:9} But
you, keep the law and the commandments and show yourself to be merciful
and just, so that it may go well with you. {14:10} And bury me
decently, and your mother with me; but delay no longer at Nineveh.
Remember, my son, how Aman handled Achiacharus, who brought him up; how
out of light he brought him into darkness, and how he took notice of
him again; yet Achiacharus was saved, but the other had his just
reward, for he went down into darkness. Manasseh gave alms and escaped
the snares of death which they had set for him, but Aman fell into the
snare and perished. {14:11} Therefore now, my son, consider what alms
can do and how righteousness can deliver." When he had said these
things, he gave up his spirit in the bed, when he was one hundred
fifty-eight years old; and he buried him honorably. {14:12} And when
Anna his mother was dead, he buried her with his father. But Tobias
departed with his wife and children to Ecbatane, to Raguel his
father-in-law. {14:13} There he became old with honor, and he buried
his father-in-law and mother-in-law honorably, and he inherited their
belongings and his father Tobit's belongings. {14:14} And he died at
Ecbatane in Media, when he was one hundred twenty-seven years old.
{14:15} But before he died, he heard of the destruction of Nineveh,
which was taken by Nebuchadnezzar and Ahasuerus; and before his death
he rejoiced over Nineveh.


