1  Tobit was from the tribe and city of Naphtali (which is in the upper parts of Galilee above Asher, after the way, which leads to the west, that has on its left the city of Sephet).

1  The book of the words of Tobit, son of Tobiel, the son of Ananiel, the son of Aduel, the son of Gabael, of the seed of Asael, of the tribe of Nephthali;

2  Although he had been taken captive in the days of Shalmaneser, the king of the Assyrians, even in such a situation as captivity, he did not desert the way of truth.

2  Who in the time of Enemessar king of the Assyrians was led captive out of Thisbe, which is at the right hand of that city, which is called properly Nephthali in Galilee above Aser.

3  So then, every day, all that he was able to obtain, he bestowed on his fellow captive brothers, who were from his kindred.

3  I Tobit have walked all the days of my life in the ways of truth and justice, and I did many almsdeeds to my brethren, and my nation, who came with me to Nineve, into the land of the Assyrians.

4  And, when he was among the youngest of any in the tribe of Naphtali, he showed not so much as any childish behavior in his work.

4  And when I was in mine own country, in the land of Israel being but young, all the tribe of Nephthali my father fell from the house of Jerusalem, which was chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, that all the tribes should sacrifice there, where the temple of the habitation of the most High was consecrated and built for all ages.

5  And then, when all went to the golden calves which Jeroboam, king of Israel, had made, he alone fled from the company of them all.

5  Now all the tribes which together revolted, and the house of my father Nephthali, sacrificed unto the heifer Baal.

6  Yet he continued on to Jerusalem, to the temple of the Lord, and there he adored the Lord God of Israel, offering faithfully all his first-fruits and his tithes.

6  But I alone went often to Jerusalem at the feasts, as it was ordained unto all the people of Israel by an everlasting decree, having the firstfruits and tenths of increase, with that which was first shorn; and them gave I at the altar to the priests the children of Aaron.

7  So then, in the third year, he administered all his tithes to new converts and to new arrivals.

7  The first tenth part of all increase I gave to the sons of Aaron, who ministered at Jerusalem: another tenth part I sold away, and went, and spent it every year at Jerusalem

8  These and similar such things, even as a boy, he observed according to the law of God.

8  And the third I gave unto them to whom it was meet, as Debora my father’s mother had commanded me, because I was left an orphan by my father.

9  Truly, when he had become a man, he received as wife Anna of his own tribe, and he conceived a son by her, to whom he assigned his own name.

9  Furthermore, when I was come to the age of a man, I married Anna of mine own kindred, and of her I begat Tobias.

10  From his infancy, he taught him to fear God and to abstain from all sin.

11  Therefore, when, during the captivity, he had arrived with his wife and son at the city of Nineveh, with all his tribe,

10  And when we were carried away captives to Nineve, all my brethren and those that were of my kindred did eat of the bread of the Gentiles.

11  (even though they all ate from the foods of the Gentiles,) he guarded his soul and never was contaminated with their foods.

11  But I kept myself from eating;

12  And because he was mindful of the Lord with his whole heart, God gave him favor in the sight of Shalmaneser the king.

13  Because I remembered God with all my heart.

14  And the most High gave me grace and favour before Enemessar, so that I was his purveyor.

13  And he gave him the power to go wherever he would want, having the freedom to do whatever he wished.

14  Therefore, he continued on to all who were in captivity, and he gave them helpful advice.

15  But when he had arrived at Rages, a city of the Medes, he had ten talents of silver, from that which he had been given in honor by the king.

15  And I went into Media, and left in trust with Gabael, the brother of Gabrias, at Rages a city of Media ten talents of silver.

16  And when, in the midst of the great tumult of his kindred, he saw the destitution of Gabael, who was from his tribe, he loaned him, under a written agreement, the aforementioned weight of silver.

17  In truth, after a long time, Shalmaneser the king died, while Sennacherib his son reigned in his place, and he held a hatred for the sons of Israel.

17  Now when Enemessar was dead, Sennacherib his son reigned in his stead; whose estate was troubled, that I could not go into Media.

18  Every day, Tobit traveled though all his own people, and he consoled them, and he distributed to each one as much as he could from his resources.

18  And in the time of Enemessar I gave many alms to my brethren, and gave my bread to the hungry,

19  He nourished the hungry, and he supplied clothes to the naked, and he showed concern for the burial of the dead and of the slain.

19  And my clothes to the naked: and if I saw any of my nation dead, or cast about the walls of Nineve, I buried him.

20  And then, when king Sennacherib had returned from Judea, fleeing the scourge which God had caused all around him because of his blasphemy, and, being angry, he was slaughtering many from the sons of Israel, Tobit buried their bodies.

20  And if the king Sennacherib had slain any, when he was come, and fled from Judea, I buried them privily; for in his wrath he killed many; but the bodies were not found, when they were sought for of the king.

21  And when it was reported to the king, he ordered him to be slain, and he took away all his belongings.

21  And when one of the Ninevites went and complained of me to the king, that I buried them, and hid myself; understanding that I was sought for to be put to death, I withdrew myself for fear.

22  In truth, Tobit, fleeing with nothing but his son and his wife, was able to remain hidden because many loved him.

22  Then all my goods were forcibly taken away, neither was there any thing left me, beside my wife Anna and my son Tobias.

23  In truth, after forty-five days, the king was slain by his own sons,

23  And there passed not five and fifty days, before two of his sons killed him, and they fled into the mountains of Ararath; and Sarchedonus his son reigned in his stead; who appointed over his father’s accounts, and over all his affairs, Achiacharus my brother Anael’s son.

24  and Tobit was able to return to his house, and all his resources were restored to him.

24  And Achiacharus intreating for me, I returned to Nineve. Now Achiacharus was cupbearer, and keeper of the signet, and steward, and overseer of the accounts: and Sarchedonus appointed him next unto him: and he was my brother’s son.

2:2  he said to his son: “Go, and bring some others who fear God from our tribe to feast with us.”

2  And when I saw abundance of meat, I said to my son, Go and bring what poor man soever thou shalt find out of our brethren, who is mindful of the Lord; and, lo, I tarry for thee.

2:3  And after he had gone, returning, he reported to him that one of the sons of Israel, with his throat cut, was lying in the street. And immediately, he leapt from his place reclining at table, left behind his dinner, and went forth with fasting to the body.

3  But he came again, and said, Father, one of our nation is strangled, and is cast out in the marketplace.

2:4  And taking it up, he carried it in secret to his house, so that, after the sun had set, he might bury him cautiously.

4  Then before I had tasted of any meat, I started up, and took him up into a room until the going down of the sun.

2:5  And after he had hidden the body, he chewed his bread with mourning and fear,

5  Then I returned, and washed myself, and ate my meat in heaviness,

2:6  remembering the word that the Lord spoke through the prophet Amos: “Your feast days shall be turned into lamentation and mourning.”

6  Remembering that prophecy of Amos, as he said, Your feasts shall be turned into mourning, and all your mirth into lamentation.

2:7  Truly, when the sun had set, he went out, and he buried him.

7  Therefore I wept: and after the going down of the sun I went and made a grave, and buried him.

2:8  Yet all his neighbors argued with him, saying: “Now, an order was given to execute you because of this matter, and you barely escaped a death sentence, and again you are burying the dead?”

8  But my neighbours mocked me, and said, This man is not yet afraid to be put to death for this matter: who fled away; and yet, lo, he burieth the dead again.

2:9  But Tobit, fearing God more than the king, stole away the bodies of the slain and concealed them in his house, and in the middle of the night, he buried them.

2:10  But it happened one day, being tired from burying the dead, he came into his house, and he threw himself down next to the wall, and he slept.

10  The same night also I returned from the burial, and slept by the wall of my courtyard, being polluted and my face was uncovered

2:11  And, as he was sleeping, warm droppings from a swallow’s nest fell upon his eyes, and he was made blind.

11  And I knew not that there were sparrows in the wall, and mine eyes being open, the sparrows muted warm dung into mine eyes, and a whiteness came in mine eyes: and I went to the physicians, but they helped me not: moreover Achiacharus did nourish me, until I went into Elymais.

2:12  And so the Lord permitted this trial to befall him, in order that an example might be given to posterity of his patience, which is even like that of holy Job.

2:13  For, even from his infancy, he had always feared God and kept his commandments, so he was not discouraged before God because of the scourge of blindness that had befallen him.

2:14  But he remained immoveable in the fear of God, giving thanks to God all the days of his life.

2:15  For just as kings have mocked blessed Job, so also his relatives and acquaintances ridiculed his life, saying

2:16  “Where is your hope, on behalf of which you gave alms and buried the dead?”

2:17  In truth, Tobit corrected them, saying: “Do not speak in this way,

2:18  for we are the sons of the holy ones, and we look forward to that life which God will give to those who never change in their faith before him.”

2:19  In truth, his wife Anna went out to weaving work daily, and she brought back the provisions that she was able to obtain by the labor of her hands.

19  And my wife Anna did take women’s works to do.

2:20  Whereupon it happened that, having received a young goat, she brought it home.

20  And when she had sent them home to the owners, they paid her wages, and gave her also besides a kid.

2:21  When her husband heard the sound of its bleating, he said, “Look, so that it might not be stolen, return it to its owners, for it is not lawful for us either to eat, or to touch, anything stolen.”

21  And when it was in my house, and began to cry, I said unto her, From whence is this kid? is it not stolen? render it to the owners; for it is not lawful to eat any thing that is stolen.

2:22  At this, his wife, being angry, answered, “Clearly, your hope has become vanity, and the manner of your almsgiving has become apparent.”

23  And with these and other similar such words, she reproached him.

22  But she replied upon me, It was given for a gift more than the wages. Howbeit I did not believe her, but bade her render it to the owners: and I was abashed at her. But she replied upon me, Where are thine alms and thy righteous deeds? behold, thou and all thy works are known.

3:2  saying, “O Lord, you are just and all your judgments are just, and all your ways are mercy, and truth, and judgment.

2  O Lord, thou art just, and all thy works and all thy ways are mercy and truth, and thou judgest truly and justly for ever.

3:3  And now, O Lord, remember me, and do not take vengeance for my sins, and do not call to mind my offenses, nor those of my parents.

3  Remember me, and look on me, punish me not for my sins and ignorances, and the sins of my fathers, who have sinned before thee

3:4  For we have not obeyed your precepts, and so we have been handed over to plundering and to captivity, and to death, and to mockery, and as a disgrace before all the nations, among which you have dispersed us.

4  For they obeyed not thy commandments: wherefore thou hast delivered us for a spoil, and unto captivity, and unto death, and for a proverb of reproach to all the nations among whom we are dispersed.

3:5  And now, O Lord, great are your judgments. For we have not acted according to your precepts, and we have not walked sincerely before you.

5  And now thy judgements are many and true: deal with me according to my sins and my fathers’: because we have not kept thy commandments, neither have walked in truth before thee.

3:6  And now, O Lord, do with me according to your will, and order my spirit to be received in peace. For it is more expedient for me to die, than to live.”

6  Now therefore deal with me as seemeth best unto thee, and command my spirit to be taken from me, that I may be dissolved, and become earth: for it is profitable for me to die rather 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: turn not thy face away from me.

3:7  And so, on the same day, it happened that Sarah, the daughter of Raguel, in Rages, a city of the Medes, also heard a reproach from one of her father’s servant maids.

7  It came to pass the same day, that in Ecbatane a city of Media Sara the daughter of Raguel was also reproached by her father’s maids;

3:8  For she had been given to seven husbands, and a demon named Asmodeus had killed them, as soon as they had approached her.

8  Because that she had been married to seven husbands, whom Asmodeus the evil spirit had killed, before they had lain with her. Dost thou not know, said they, that thou hast strangled thine husbands? thou hast had already seven husbands, neither wast thou named after any of them.

3:9  Therefore, when she corrected the maid for her fault, she answered her, saying, “May we never see son or daughter from you upon the earth, you murderess of your husbands.

9  Wherefore dost thou beat us for them? if they be dead, go thy ways after them, let us never see of thee either son or daughter.

3:10  Would you also kill me, just as you have already killed seven husbands?” At these words, she proceeded to an upper room of her house. And for three days and three nights, she did not eat or drink.

10  When she heard these things, she was very sorrowful, so that she thought to have strangled herself; and she said, I am the only daughter of my father, and if I do this, it shall be a reproach unto him, and I shall bring his old age with sorrow unto the grave.

3:11  But, continuing in prayer with tears, she beseeched God, so that he would liberate her from this reproach.

11  Then she prayed toward the window, and said, Blessed art thou, O Lord my God, and thine holy and glorious name is blessed and honourable for ever: let all thy works praise thee for ever.

3:12  And it happened on the third day, while she was completing her prayer, blessing the Lord,

12  And now, O Lord, I set I mine eyes and my face toward thee,

3:13  that she said: “Blessed is your name, O God of our fathers, who, though you had been angry, will show mercy. And in time of tribulation, you dismiss the sins of those who call upon you.

13  And say, Take me out of the earth, that I may hear no more the reproach.

3:14  To you, O Lord, I turn my face; to you, I direct my eyes.

14  Thou knowest, Lord, that I am pure from all sin with man,

3:15  I beg you, O Lord, that you may absolve me from the chains of this reproach, or at least take me away from the earth.

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, neither hath he any child to be his heir, neither any near kinsman, nor any son of his alive, to whom I may keep myself for a wife: my seven husbands are already dead; and why should I live? but if it please not thee that I should die, command some regard to be had of me, and pity taken of me, that I hear no more reproach.

3:16  You know, O Lord, that I have never coveted a husband, and I have preserved my soul clean from all impure desire.

3:17  I have never mingled myself with those who play. And I have not presented myself as a participant with those who walk with levity.

3:18  But I consented to accept a husband, in your fear, not in my lust.

3:19  And, either I was unworthy of them, or they perhaps were not worthy of me. For perhaps you have preserved me for another husband.

3:20  For your counsel is not within the ability of man.

3:21  But all who worship you are certain of this: that one’s life, if it should be tested, shall be crowned, and if it should be in tribulation, shall be delivered, and if it should be corrected, shall be permitted to approach your mercy.

3:22  For you are not delighted with our perdition. For, after a storm, you create tranquility, and after tears and weeping, you pour out exultation.

3:23  May your name, O God of Israel, be blessed forever.”

3:24  At that time, the prayers of them both were heard in the sight of the glory of the most high God.

24  So the prayers of them both were heard before the majesty of the great God.

3:25  And the holy Angel of the Lord, Raphael, was sent to care for both of them, whose prayers were recited at the same time in the sight of the Lord.

25  And Raphael was sent to heal them both, that is, to scale away the whiteness of Tobit’s eyes, and to give Sara the daughter of Raguel for a wife to Tobias the son of Tobit; and to bind Asmodeus the evil spirit; because she belonged to Tobias by right of inheritance. The selfsame time came Tobit home, and entered into his house, and Sara the daughter of Raguel came down from her upper chamber.