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.

4:1  Therefore, when Tobit considered that his prayer was heard, so that he might be able to die, he called his son Tobias to him.

1  In that day Tobit remembered the money which he had committed to Gabael in Rages of Media,

4:2  And he said to him: “My son, hear the words of my mouth, and set them, like a foundation, in your heart.

2  And said with himself, I have wished for death; wherefore do I not call for my son Tobias that I may signify to him of the money before I die?

4:3  When God will receive my soul, bury my body. And you shall honor your mother, all the days of her life.

3  And when he had called him, he said, My son, when I am dead, bury me; and despise not thy mother, but honour her all the days of thy life, and do that which shall please her, and grieve her not.

4:4  For you are obliged to be mindful of what great perils she suffered because of you in her womb.

5  But when she too will have completed the time of her life, bury her near me.

4  Remember, my son, that she saw many dangers for thee, when thou wast in her womb: and when she is dead, bury her by me in one grave.

4:5  Yet, for all the days of your life, have God in your mind. And be careful that you never consent to sin, nor overlook the precepts of the Lord our God.

5  My son, be mindful of the Lord our God all thy days, and let not thy will be set to sin, or to transgress his commandments: do uprightly all thy life long, and follow not the ways of unrighteousness.

4:6  Give alms from your substance, and do not turn away your face from any pauper. For so it shall be that neither will the face of the Lord be turned away from you.

6  Give alms of thy substance; and when thou givest alms, let not thine eye be envious, neither turn thy face from any poor, and the face of God shall not be turned away from thee.

4:7  For if thou deal truly, thy doings shall prosperously succeed to thee, and to all them that live justly.

4:8  If you have much, distribute abundantly. If you have little, nevertheless strive to bestow a little freely.

8  If thou hast abundance give alms accordingly: if thou have but a little, be not afraid to give according to that little

4:9  For you store up for yourself a good reward for the day of necessity.

9  For thou layest up a good treasure for thyself against the day of necessity.

4:10  For almsgiving liberates from every sin and from death, and it will not suffer the soul to go into darkness.

10  Because that alms do deliver from death, and suffereth not to come into darkness.

4:11  Almsgiving will be a great act of faith before the most high God, for all those who practice it.

11  For alms is a good gift unto all that give it in the sight of the most High.

4:12  Take care to keep yourself, my son, from all fornication, and, except for your wife, never permit yourself to know such an offense.

12  Beware of all whoredom, my son, and chiefly take a wife of the seed of thy fathers, and take not a strange woman to wife, which is not of thy father’s tribe: for we are the children of the prophets, Noe, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: remember, my son, that our fathers from the beginning, even that they all married wives of their own kindred, and were blessed in their children, and their seed shall inherit the land.

4:13  Never permit arrogance to rule in your mind or in your words. For in it, all perdition had its beginning.

13  Now therefore, my son, love thy brethren, and despise not in thy heart thy brethren, the sons and daughters of thy people, in not taking a wife of 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  And whoever has done any kind of work for you, immediately pay him his wages, and do not let the wages of your hired hand remain with you at all.

14  Let not the wages of any man, which hath wrought for thee, tarry with thee, but give him it out of hand: for if thou serve God, he will also repay thee: be circumspect my son, in all things thou doest, and be wise in all thy conversation.

4:15  Whatever you would hate to have done to you by another, see that you never do so to another.

15  Do that to no man which thou hatest: drink not wine to make thee drunken: neither let drunkenness go with thee in thy journey.

4:16  Eat your bread with the hungry and the needy, and cover the naked with your own garments.

16  Give of thy bread to the hungry, and of thy garments to them that are naked; and according to thine abundance give alms: and let not thine eye be envious, when thou givest alms.

4:17  Set out your bread and your wine at the burial of a just man, and do not eat and drink from it with sinners.

17  Pour out thy bread on the burial of the just, but give nothing to the wicked.

4:18  Always seek the counsel of a wise man.

18  Ask counsel of all that are wise, and despise not any counsel that is profitable.

4:19  Bless God at all times. And petition him that he direct your ways and that all your counsels may remain in him.

19  Bless the Lord thy God alway, and desire of him that thy ways may be directed, and that all thy paths and counsels may prosper: for every nation hath not counsel; but the Lord himself giveth all good things, and he humbleth whom he will, as he will; now therefore, my son, remember my commandments, neither let them be put out of thy mind.

4:20  And now, I reveal to you, my son, that I lent ten talents of silver, while you were still a young child, to Gabael, in Rages, a city of the Medes, and I have his written agreement with me.

20  And now I signify this to they that I committed ten talents to Gabael the son of Gabrias at Rages in Media.

4:21  And so, inquire how you may travel to him and receive from him the aforementioned weight of silver, and return to him the written agreement.

4:22  Do not be afraid, my son. We do indeed lead a poor life, but we will have many good things: if we fear God, and withdraw from all sin, and do what is good.”

22  And fear not, my son, that we are made poor: for thou hast much wealth, if thou fear God, and depart from all sin, and do that which is pleasing in his sight.

5:2  But I do not know how to obtain this money. He does not know me, and I do not know him. What proof shall I give to him? And I do not know any part of the way, which leads to that place.”

2  But how can I receive the money, seeing I know him not?

5:3  Then his father answered him, and he said: “Indeed, I have a written agreement about that in my possession, which, when you show it to him, he will immediately repay it.

5:4  But go out now, and inquire after some faithful man, who would go with you to keep you safe in return for his wages, so that you may receive it while I am still alive.”

4  Then he gave him the handwriting, and said unto him, Seek thee a man which may go with thee, whiles I yet live, and I will give him wages: and go and receive the money.

5:5  Then Tobias, departing, found a splendid young man, standing girded and seemingly ready for travel.

5  Therefore when he went to seek a man, he found Raphael that was an angel.

5:6  And not knowing that he was an Angel of God, he greeted him, and he said, “Where are you from, good young man?”

6  But he knew not; and he said unto him, Canst thou go with me to Rages? and knowest thou those places well?

5:7  And so he answered, “From the sons of Israel.” And Tobias said to him, “Do you know the way that leads to the region of the Medes?”

5:8  And he answered: “I know it. And I have frequently walked through all its paths, and I stayed with Gabael, our brother, who lives in Rages, a city of the Medes, which is situated at the mount of Ecbatana.”

8  To whom the angel said, I will go with thee, and I know the way well: for I have lodged with our brother Gabael.

5:9  Tobias said to him, “I implore you, wait here for me, until I tell these same things to my father.”

9  Then Tobias said unto him, Tarry for me, till I tell my father.

5:10  Then Tobias, entering, revealed all these things to his father. Upon which, his father, in admiration, asked that he would enter to him.

10  Then he said unto him, Go and tarry not. So he went in and said to his father, Behold, I have found one which will go with me. Then he said, Call him unto me, that I may know of what tribe he is, and whether he be a trusty man to go with thee.

5:11  And so, entering, he greeted him, and he said, “May gladness be always with you.”

11  So he called him, and he came in, and they saluted one another.

5:12  And Tobit said, “What kind of gladness will be for me, since I sit in darkness and do not see the light of heaven?”

12  Then Tobit said unto him, Brother, shew me of what tribe and family thou art.

5:13  And the young man said to him, “Be steadfast in soul. Your cure from God is near.”

13  To whom he said, Dost thou seek for a tribe or family, or an hired man to go with thy son? Then Tobit said unto him, I would know, brother, thy kindred and name.

5:14  And so Tobit said to him, “Are you able to lead my son to Gabael in Rages, a city of the Medes? And when you return, I will pay you your wages.”

5:15  And the Angel said to him, “I will lead him, and I will bring him back to you.”

5:16  And Tobit responded to him, “I ask you to tell me: which family or which tribe are you from?”

5:17  And Raphael the Angel said, “Do you seek the family of the one you hire, or else the hired hand himself, to go with your son?

5:18  But, lest perhaps I cause you to worry: I am Azariah, the son of Hananiah the great.”

18  Then he said, I am Azarias, the son of Ananias the great, and of thy brethren.

5:19  And Tobit responded, “You are from a great family. But I ask you, do not be angry that I wanted to know your family.”

19  Then Tobit said, Thou art welcome, brother; be not now angry with me, because I have enquired to know thy tribe and thy family; for thou art my brother, of an honest and good stock: for I know Ananias and Jonathas, sons of that great Samaias, as 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, thou art of a good stock.

5:20  But the Angel said to him, “I will lead your son safely, and I will bring him back safely to you.”

20  But tell me, what wages shall I give thee? wilt thou a drachm a day, and things necessary, as to mine own son?

5:21  And so Tobit, answering, said, “May you walk well, and may God be with you on your journey, and may his Angel accompany you.”

21  Yea, moreover, if ye return safe, I will add something to thy wages.

5:22  Then, when all things were ready which were to be carried on their journey, Tobias said farewell to his father, and to his mother, and the two of them walked together.

22  So they were well pleased. Then said he to Tobias, Prepare thyself for the journey, and God send you a good journey. And when his son had prepared all things far the journey, his father said, Go thou with this man, and God, which dwelleth in heaven, prosper your journey, and the angel of God keep you company. So they went forth both, and the young man’s dog with them.

5:23  And when they had set out, his mother began to weep, and to say: “You have taken the staff of our old age, and you have sent him away from us.

23  But Anna his mother wept, and said to Tobit, Why hast thou sent away our son? is he not the staff of our hand, in going in and out before us?

5:24  I wish that the money, for which you sent him, had never been.

24  Be not greedy to add money to money: but let it be as refuse in respect of our child.

5:25  For our poverty has been sufficient for us, so that we might count it as riches that we saw our son.”

25  For that which the Lord hath given us to live with doth suffice us.

5:26  And Tobit said to her: “Do not weep. Our son will arrive safely, and he will return safely to us, and your eyes shall see him.

26  Then said Tobit to her, Take no care, my sister; he shall return in safety, and thine eyes shall see him.

5:27  For I believe that the good Angel of God accompanies him and that he orders all things well which occur around him, such that he will be returned to us with gladness.”

27  For the good angel will keep him company, and his journey shall be prosperous, and he shall return safe.

5:28  At these words, his mother ceased weeping, and she was silent.

28  Then she made an end of weeping.

6:1  And so Tobias continued on, and the dog was following him, and he stayed at the first stopping point, near the river Tigris.

1  And as they went on their journey, they came in the evening to the river Tigris, and they lodged there.

6:2  And he went out to wash his feet, and behold, an immense fish came out to devour him.

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  And Tobias, being frightened of it, cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Sir, it is attacking me!”

6:4  And the Angel said to him, “Catch it by the gills, and draw it to you.” And when he had done so, he pulled it onto dry land, and it began to thrash before his feet.

4  Then the angel said unto him, Take the fish. And the young man laid hold of the fish, and drew it to land.

6:5  Then the Angel said to him: “Disembowel this fish, and put aside his heart, and his gall, and his liver for yourself. For these things are necessary as useful medicines.”

5  To whom the angel said, Open the fish, and take the heart and the liver and the gall, and put them up safely.

6:6  And when he had done so, he roasted its flesh, and they took it with them on the way. The rest they salted, so that it might be sufficient for them, until they would arrive at Rages, a city of the Medes.

6  So the young man did as the angel commanded him; and when they had roasted the fish, they did eat it: then they both went on their way, till they drew near to Ecbatane.

6:7  Then Tobias questioned the Angel, and he said to him, “I implore you, brother Azariah, to tell me what remedies these things hold, which you have told me to retain from the fish?”

7  Then the young man said to the angel, Brother Azarias, to what use is the heart and the liver and the gal of the fish?

6:8  And the Angel, answering, said to him: “If you put a little piece of its heart on burning coals, its smoke will drive away all kind of demons, whether from a man or from a woman, so that they will no longer approach them.

8  And he said unto him, Touching the heart and the liver, if a devil or an evil spirit trouble any, we must make a smoke thereof before the man or the woman, and the party shall be no more vexed.

6:9  And the gall is useful for anointing the eyes, in which there may be a white speck, and they will be cured.”

9  As for the gall, it is good to anoint a man that hath whiteness in his eyes, and he shall be healed.

6:10  And Tobias said to him, “Where do you prefer that we stay?”

10  And when they were come near to Rages,

6:11  And the Angel, responding, said: “Here is one named Raguel, a man closely related to you from your tribe, and he has a daughter named Sarah, but he has no other male or female, except her.

11  The angel said to the young man, Brother, to day we shall lodge with Raguel, who is thy cousin; he also hath one only daughter, named Sara; I will speak for her, that she may be given thee for a wife.

6:12  All his livelihood is dependent upon you, and you ought to take her to yourself in marriage.

12  For to thee doth the right of her appertain, seeing thou only art of her kindred.

6:13  Therefore, ask for her from her father, and he will give her to you as wife.”

13  And the maid is fair and wise: now therefore hear me, and I will speak to her father; and when we return from Rages we will celebrate the marriage: for I know that Raguel cannot marry her to another according to the law of Moses, but he shall be guilty of death, because the right of inheritance doth rather appertain to thee than to any other.

6:14  Then Tobias responded, and he said: “I hear that she has been given to seven husbands, and they passed away. But I have even heard this: that a demon killed them.

14  Then the young man answered the angel, I have heard, brother Azarias that this maid hath been given to seven men, who all died in the marriage chamber.

6:15  Therefore, I am afraid, lest this may happen to me also. And since I am the only child of my parents, I might send their old age with sorrow to the grave.”

15  And now I am the only son of my father, and I am afraid, lest if I go in unto her, I die, as the other before: for a wicked spirit loveth her, which hurteth no body, but those which come unto her; wherefore I also fear lest I die, and bring my father’s and my mother’s life because of me to the grave with sorrow: for they have no other son to bury them.

6:16  Then the Angel Raphael said to him: “Listen to me, and I will reveal to you who they are, over whom the demon can prevail.

16  Then the angel said unto him, Dost thou not remember the precepts which thy father gave thee, that thou shouldest marry a wife of thine own kindred? wherefore hear me, O my brother; for she shall be given thee to wife; and make thou no reckoning of the evil spirit; for this same night shall she be given thee in marriage.

6:17  For example, those who receive marriage in such manner as to exclude God from themselves and from their mind, and in such a manner as to empty themselves to their lust, like the horse and mule, which have no understanding, over them the demon has power.

6:18  But you, when you will have accepted her, enter the bedroom and for three days keep yourself continent from her, and empty yourself to nothing other than prayers with her.

6:19  Moreover, on that night, burn the liver of the fish like incense, and the demon will be put to flight.

19  And when thou shalt come into the marriage chamber, thou shalt take the ashes of perfume, and shalt lay upon them some of the heart and liver of the fish, and shalt make a smoke with it

6:20  In truth, on the second night, you will become ready to receive a physical union like that of the holy Patriarchs.

20  And the devil shall smell it, and flee away, and never come again any more: but when thou shalt come to her, rise up both of you, and pray to God which is merciful, who will have pity on you, and save you: fear not, for she is appointed unto thee from the beginning; and thou shalt preserve her, and she shall go with thee. Moreover I suppose that she shall bear thee children. Now when Tobias had heard these things, he loved her, and his heart was effectually joined to her.

6:21  And then, on the third night, you will obtain a blessing, so that healthy children may be procreated from you both.

6:22  And so, the third night having been accomplished, you will receive the virgin with the fear of the Lord, led more by love of children than by physical desire, so that, as the offspring of Abraham, you will then obtain a blessing in children.

7:1  And so they went to Raguel, and Raguel received them with gladness.

1  And when they were come to Ecbatane, they came to the house of Raguel, and Sara met them: and after they had saluted one another, she brought them into the house.

7:2  And Raguel, gazing upon Tobias, said to Anna his wife, “How much like my cousin is this young man!”

2  Then said Raguel to Edna his wife, How like is this young man to Tobit my cousin!

7:3  And when he had spoken this, he said, “Which of our brethren are you from, young men?”

4  But they said, “We are from the tribe of Naphtali, from the captivity of Nineveh.”

3  And Raguel asked them, From whence are ye, brethren? To whom they said, We are of the sons of Nephthalim, which are captives in Nineve.

7:4  And Raguel said to them, “Do you know my brother Tobit?” They said to him, “We know him.”

4  Then he said to them, Do ye know Tobit our kinsman? And they said, We know him. Then said he, Is he in good health?

7:5  And since he was saying many good things about him, the Angel said to Raguel, “The Tobit about whom you inquire is the father of this young man.”

5  And they said, He is both alive, and in good health: and Tobias said, He is my father.

7:6  And Raguel threw himself towards him and kissed him with tears and weeping upon his neck, saying, “May a blessing be upon you, my son, because you are the son of a good and most noble man.”

6  Then Raguel leaped up, and kissed him, and wept,

7:7  And his wife Anna, and their daughter Sarah, were weeping.

7  And blessed him, and said unto him, Thou art the son of an honest and good man. But when he had heard that Tobit was blind, he was sorrowful, and wept.

7:8  And so, after they had spoken, Raguel instructed a sheep to be killed, and a feast to be prepared. And when he exhorted them to recline for dinner,

8  And likewise Edna his wife and Sara his daughter wept. Moreover they entertained them cheerfully; and after that they had killed a ram of the flock, they set store of meat on the table. Then said Tobias to Raphael, Brother Azarias, speak of those things of which thou didst talk in the way, and let this business be dispatched.

7:9  Tobias said, “Here, today, I will not eat or drink, unless you first confirm my petition, and promise to give Sarah your daughter to me.”

9  So he communicated the matter with Raguel: and Raguel said to Tobias, Eat and drink, and make merry

7:10  When Raguel heard this word, he became afraid, knowing what had befallen those seven men, who had approached her. And he began to fear, lest it might happen to him also in the same way. And, since he wavered and gave no further response to the petition,

10  For it is meet that thou shouldest marry my daughter: nevertheless I will declare unto thee the truth.

7:11  the Angel said to him: “Do not be afraid to give her to this one, because this one fears God. He is obliged to be joined to your daughter. Because of this, no other one could have her.”

11  I have given my daughter in marriage to seven men, who died that night they came in unto her: nevertheless for the present be merry. But Tobias said, I will eat nothing here, till we agree and swear one to another.

7:12  Then Raguel said: “I do not doubt that God has admitted my prayers and tears before his sight.

12  Raguel said, Then take her from henceforth according to the manner, for thou art her cousin, and she is thine, and the merciful God give you good success in all things.

7:13  And I believe, therefore, that he has caused you to come to me, so that this one might be joined in marriage to one of her own kindred, according to the law of Moses. And now, do not continue to doubt that I will give her to you.”

13  Then he called his daughter Sara, 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 thy father. And he blessed them;

7:14  And taking the right hand of his daughter, he gave it into the right hand of Tobias, saying, “May the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob be with you. And may he join you together in marriage and fulfill his blessing in you.”

7:15  And taking paper, they made a written record of the marriage.

15  And called Edna his wife, and took paper, and did write an instrument of covenants, and sealed it.

7:16  And after this, they feasted, blessing God.

16  Then they began to eat.

7:17  And Raguel called his wife Anna to him, and he instructed her to prepare another bedroom.

17  After Raguel called his wife Edna, and said unto her, Sister, prepare another chamber, and bring her in thither.

7:18  And she brought her daughter Sarah into it, and she was weeping.

18  Which when she had done as he had bidden her, she brought her thither: and she wept, and she received the tears of her daughter, and said unto her,

7:19  And she said to her, “Be steadfast in spirit, my daughter. May the Lord of heaven give you gladness in place of the grief that you have had to endure.”

19  Be of good comfort, my daughter; the Lord of heaven and earth give thee joy for this thy sorrow: be of good comfort, my daughter.

8:2  And so, Tobias, remembering the word of the Angel, took part of the liver from his bag, and he placed it over the live coals.

2  And as he went, he remembered the words of Raphael, and took the ashes of the perfumes, and put the heart and the liver of the fish thereupon, and made a smoke therewith.

8:3  Then the Angel Raphael caught the demon, and bound him in the desert of upper Egypt.

3  The which smell when the evil spirit had smelled, he fled into the utmost parts of Egypt, and the angel bound him.

8:4  Then Tobias exhorted the virgin, and he said to her: “Sarah, get up and let us pray to God this day, and tomorrow, and the following day. For, during these three nights, we are being joined to God. And then, when the third night has passed, we ourselves will be joined together.

4  And after that they were both shut in together, Tobias rose out of the bed, and said, Sister, arise, and let us pray that God would have pity on us.

8:5  For certainly, we are the children of the saints, and we must not be joined together in such a manner as the heathens, who are ignorant of God.”

8:6  And so, rising up together, they both prayed earnestly, at the same time, that health might be given to them.

8:7  And Tobias said: “Lord, the God of our fathers, may the heavens and the earth bless you, and the sea, and the fountains, and the rivers, and all your creatures that are in them.

7  Then began Tobias to say, Blessed art thou, O God of our fathers, and blessed is thy holy and glorious name for ever; let the heavens bless thee, and all thy creatures.

8:8  You formed Adam from the mud of the earth, and you gave Eve to him as a helper.

8  Thou madest Adam, and gavest him Eve his wife for an helper and stay: of them came mankind: thou hast said, It is not good that man should be alone; let us make unto him an aid like unto himself.

8:9  And now, O Lord, you know that I take my sister in conjugal union, not by reason of worldly pleasure, but solely for the love of posterity, in which your name may be blessed forever and ever.”

9  And now, O Lord, I take not this my sister for lush but uprightly: therefore mercifully ordain that we may become aged together.

8:10  Sarah likewise said, “Be merciful to us, O Lord, be merciful to us. And let us both grow old together in health.”

10  And she said with him, Amen.

8:11  And it happened, about the time of the rooster’s crowing, that Raguel ordered his servants to be summoned, and they went out with him together to dig a grave.

11  So they slept both that night. And Raguel arose, and went and made a grave,

8:12  For he said, “Lest perhaps, in the same way, it may have happened to him, as it did also to the other seven men who approached her.”

12  Saying, I fear lest he also be dead.

8:13  And when they had prepared the pit, Raguel returned to his wife, and he said to her,

13  But when Raguel was come into his house,

8:14  “Send one of your maids, and let her see if he is dead, so that I may bury him before the dawn of day.”

14  He said unto his wife Edna. Send one of the maids, and let her see whether he be alive: if he be not, that we may bury him, and no man know it.

8:15  And so, she sent one of her maidservants, who entered the bedroom and discovered them safe and unharmed, sleeping both together.

15  So the maid opened the door, and went in, and found them both asleep,

8:16  And returning, she reported the good news. And they blessed the Lord: Raguel, especially, and his wife Anna.

16  And came forth, and told them that he was alive.

8:17  And they said: “We bless you, Lord God of Israel, because it has not happened in the way that we thought it might.

17  Then Raguel praised God, and said, O God, thou art worthy to be praised with all pure and holy praise; therefore let thy saints praise thee with all thy creatures; and let all thine angels and thine elect praise thee for ever.

8:18  For you have acted in your mercy toward us, and you have excluded from us the enemy who pursued us.

18  Thou art to be praised, for thou hast made me joyful; and that is not come to me which I suspected; but thou hast dealt with us according to thy great mercy.

8:19  Moreover, you have had compassion on two only children. Make them, O Lord, able to bless you more fully and to offer you a sacrifice of your praise and of their health, so that all peoples everywhere may know that you alone are God in all the earth.”

19  Thou art to be praised because thou hast had mercy of two that were the only begotten children of their fathers: grant them mercy, O Lord, and finish their life in health with joy and mercy.

8:20  And immediately Raguel instructed his servants to refill the pit, which they had made, before daylight.

20  Then Raguel bade his servants to fill the grave.

8:21  And then he told his wife to make ready a feast, and to prepare all the provisions that are necessary for those who undertake a journey.

21  And he kept the wedding feast fourteen days.

8:22  Likewise, he caused two fat cows and four rams to be killed, and a banquet to be prepared for all his neighbors and every one of his friends.

22  For before the days of the marriage were finished, Raguel had said unto him by an oath, that he should not depart till the fourteen days of the marriage were expired;

8:23  And Raguel pleaded with Tobias to delay with him for two weeks.

23  And then he should take the half of his goods, and go in safety to his father; and should have the rest when I and my wife be dead.

8:24  Moreover, of all the things that Raguel possessed, he gave one half part to Tobias, and he made a writing, so that the half that remained should also pass into the ownership of Tobias, after their deaths.

9:1  Then Tobias called the Angel to him, whom he indeed considered to be a man, and he said to him: “Brother Azariah, I implore you to listen to my words

2  If I should give myself to be your servant, I would not be equally worthy of your providence.

3  Even so, I beg you to take with you beasts or even servants, and to go to Gabael in Rages, the city of the Medes, and restore to him his handwritten note, and receive from him the money, and petition him to come to my wedding celebration.

1  Then Tobias called Raphael, and said unto him,

2  Brother Azarias, take with thee a servant, and two camels, and go to Rages of Media to Gabael, and bring me the money, and bring him to the wedding.

9:2  For you know that my father numbers the days. And if I delay one day more, his soul will be afflicted.

2  For Raguel hath sworn that I shall not depart.

9:3  And surely you see how Raguel has obtained my oath, an oath that I am not able to spurn.”

3  But my father counteth the days; and if I tarry long, he will be very sorry.

9:4  Then Raphael borrowed four of the servants of Raguel, and two camels, and he traveled to Rages, the city of the Medes. And upon finding Gabael, he gave him his handwritten note, and he received from him all the money.

4  So Raphael went out, and lodged with Gabael, and gave him the handwriting: who brought forth bags which were sealed up, and gave them to him.

9:5  And he revealed to him, concerning Tobias the son of Tobit, all that had been done. And he made him come with him to the wedding celebration.

5  And early in the morning they went forth both together, and came to the wedding: and Tobias blessed his wife.

9:6  And when he had entered into the house of Raguel, he discovered Tobias reclining at table. And leaping up, they kissed each other. And Gabael wept, and he blessed God.

9:7  And he said: “May the God of Israel bless you, for you are the son of a man most noble and just, fearing God and performing almsgiving.

9:8  And may a blessing be spoken over your wife and over your parents.

9:9  And may you see your sons, and the sons of your sons, even to the third and fourth generation. And may your offspring be blessed by the God of Israel, who reigns forever and ever.”

9:10  And when all had said, “Amen,” they approached the feast. But they also celebrated the marriage feast with the fear of the Lord.

10:2  Do you think that Gabael has died, and that no one will repay him the money?”

2  Then Tobit said, Are they detained? or is Gabael dead, and there is no man to give him the money?

10:3  And so he began to be exceedingly sad, both he and his wife Anna with him. And they both began to weep together, because their son did not at least return to them on the appointed day.

3  Therefore he was very sorry.

10:4  But his mother wept inconsolable tears, and also said: “Woe, woe to me, O my son. Why did we send you to journey far away, you: the light of our eyes, the staff of our old age, the solace of our life, the hope of our posterity?

4  Then his wife said unto him, My son is dead, seeing he stayeth long; and she began to wail him, and said,

10:5  Having all things together as one in you, we ought not to have dismissed you from us.”

5  Now I care for nothing, my son, since I have let thee go, the light of mine eyes.

10:6  And Tobit was saying to her: “Be calm, and do not be troubled. Our son is safe. That man, with whom we sent him, is faithful enough.”

6  To whom Tobit said, Hold thy peace, take no care, for he is safe.

10:7  Yet she was by no means able to be consoled. But, leaping up every day, she looked all round, and traveled around all the ways, by which there seemed any hope that he might return, so that she might possibly see him coming from afar.

7  But she said, Hold thy peace, and deceive me not; my son is dead. And she went out every day into the way which they went, and did eat no meat on the daytime, and ceased not whole nights to bewail her son Tobias, until the fourteen days of the wedding were expired, which Raguel had sworn that he should spend there. Then Tobias said to Raguel,

10:8  Let me go, for my father and my mother look no more to see me.

10:9  And Tobias said to him, “I know that my father and my mother have now counted the days, and their spirit must be tortured within them.”

9  But Tobias said, No; but let me go to my father.

10:10  And when Raguel had repeatedly petitioned Tobias, and he was by no means willing to listen to him, he delivered Sarah to him, and half of all his substance: with men and women servants, with sheep, camels, and cows, and with much money. And he dismissed him away, in safety and gladness, from him,

10  Then Raguel arose, and gave him Sara his wife, and half his goods, servants, and cattle, and money

10:11  saying: “May the holy Angel of the Lord be with your journey, and may he lead you through unharmed, and may you discover that all is right concerning your parents, and may my eyes see your sons before I die.”

11  And he blessed them, and sent them away, saying, The God of heaven give you a prosperous journey, my children.

10:12  saying: “May the holy Angel of the Lord be with your journey, and may he lead you through unharmed, and may you discover that all is right concerning your parents, and may my eyes see your sons before I die.”

13  admonishing her to honor her father-in-law, to love her husband, to guide the family, to govern the household, and to behave irreproachably herself.

12  And he said to his daughter, Honour thy father and thy mother in law, which are now thy parents, that I may hear good report of thee. And he kissed her. Edna also said to Tobias, The Lord of heaven restore thee, my dear brother, and grant that I may see thy children of my daughter Sara before I die, that I may rejoice before the Lord: behold, I commit my daughter unto thee of special trust; where are do not entreat her evil.

11:2  And the Angel said: “Brother Tobias, you know how you left behind your father.

2  Then Raphael said to Tobias, Thou knowest, brother, how thou didst leave thy father

11:3  And so, if it pleases you, let us go on ahead, and let the family follow after us with a slower step, together with your bride, and with the animals.”

3  Let us haste before thy wife, and prepare the house.

11:4  And since it pleased him to go on in this way, Raphael said to Tobias, “Take with you from the gall of the fish, for it will be necessary.” And so, Tobias took from its gall, and he went ahead.

4  And take in thine hand the gall of the fish. So they went their way, and the dog went after them.

11:5  But Anna sat beside the way every day, on the top of a hill, from where she would be able to see for a long distance.

5  Now Anna sat looking about toward the way for her son.

11:6  And while she was watching for his arrival from that place, she looked far off, and soon she realized that her son was approaching. And running, she reported it to her husband, saying: “Behold, your son arrives.”

6  And when she espied him coming, she said to his father, Behold, thy son cometh, and the man that went with him.

11:7  And Raphael said to Tobias: “As soon as you enter into your house, immediately adore the Lord your God. And, giving thanks to him, approach your father, and kiss him.

7  Then said Raphael, I know, Tobias, that thy father will open his eyes.

11:8  And immediately anoint his eyes from this gall of the fish, which you carry with you. For you should know that his eyes will soon be opened, and your father will see the light of heaven, and he will rejoice at the sight of you.”

8  Therefore anoint thou his eyes with the gall, and being pricked therewith, he shall rub, and the whiteness shall fall away, and he shall see thee.

11:9  Then the dog, which had been with them in the way, ran ahead, and, arriving like a messenger, he showed his joy by fawning and wagging his tail.

9  Then Anna ran forth, and fell upon the neck of her son, and said unto him, Seeing I have seen thee, my son, from henceforth I am content to die. And they wept both.

11:10  And rising up, his blind father began to run, stumbling with his feet. And giving his hand to a servant, he ran on to meet his son.

10  Tobit also went forth toward the door, and stumbled: but his son ran unto him,

11:11  And receiving him, he kissed him, as did his wife, and they both began to weep for joy.

11:12  And when they had adored God and had given thanks, they sat down together.

11:13  Then Tobias, taking from the gall of the fish, anointed his father’s eyes.

13  And took hold of his father: and he strake of the gall on his fathers’ eyes, saying, Be of good hope, my father.

11:14  And about half an hour passed, and then a white film began to come out of his eyes, like the membrane of an egg.

14  And when his eyes began to smart, he rubbed them;

11:15  So, taking hold of it, Tobias pulled it away from his eyes, and immediately he received his sight.

15  And the whiteness pilled away from the corners of his eyes: and when he saw his son, he fell upon his neck.

11:16  And they glorified God: Tobit especially, and his wife, and all those who knew him.

16  And he wept, and said, Blessed art thou, O God, and blessed is thy name for ever; and blessed are all thine holy angels

11:17  And Tobit said, “I bless you, O Lord God of Israel, because you have chastised me, and you have saved me, and behold, I see my son Tobias.”

17  For thou hast scourged, and hast taken pity on me: for, behold, I see my son Tobias. And his son went in rejoicing, and told his father the great things that had happened to him in Media.

11:18  And then, after seven days, Sarah, the wife of his son, and all the family arrived safely, along with the sheep, and the camels, and much money from his wife, but also with that money which he had received from Gabael.

18  Then Tobit went out to meet his daughter in law at the gate of Nineve, rejoicing and praising God: and they which saw him go marvelled, because he had received his sight.

11:19  And he explained to his parents all the benefits from God, which he had produced all around him, by means of the man who had led him.

19  But Tobias gave thanks before them, because God had mercy on him. And when he came near to Sara his daughter in law, he blessed her, saying, Thou art welcome, daughter: God be blessed, which hath brought thee unto us, and blessed be thy father and thy mother. And there was joy among all his brethren which were at Nineve.

11:20  And then Ahikar and Nadab arrived, the maternal first cousins of Tobias, rejoicing for Tobias, and congratulating with him for all the good things that God had revealed all around him.

20  And Achiacharus, and Nasbas his brother’s son, came

11:21  And for seven days they feasted, and all were rejoicing with great joy.

21  And Tobias’ wedding was kept seven days with great joy.

12:1  Then Tobit called his son to him, and he said to him, “What are we able to give to this holy man, who accompanied you?”

12:2  Tobias, answering, said to his father: “Father, what wages shall we give him? And what could be worthy of his benefits?

2  And Tobias said unto him, O father, it is no harm to me to give him half of those things which I have brought

12:3  He led me and he brought me back safely. He received the money from Gabael. He caused me to have my wife. And he confined the demon away from her. He caused joy to her parents. Myself, he rescued from being devoured by the fish. As for you, he also caused you to see the light of heaven. And so, we have been filled with all good things through him. What could we possibly give to him that would be worthy of these things?

3  For he hath brought me again to thee in safety, and made whole my wife, and brought me the money, and likewise healed thee.

12:4  But I implore you, my father, to ask him if he would perhaps deign to take for himself half of all the things that have been brought.”

4  Then the old man said, It is due unto him.

12:5  And calling him, the father especially, and the son, they took him aside. And they began to petition him, so that he would deign to accept ownership of one half part of all things that they had brought.

5  So he called the angel, and he said unto him, Take half of all that ye have brought and go away in safety.

12:6  Then he said to them privately: “Bless the God of heaven, and confess to him in the sight of all who live, for he has acted in his mercy toward you.

6  Then he took them both apart, and said unto them, Bless God, praise him, and magnify him, and praise him for the things which he hath done unto you in the sight of all that live. It is good to praise God, and exalt his name, and honourably to shew forth the works of God; therefore be not slack to praise him.

12:7  For it is good to conceal the secret of a king, just as it is also honorable to reveal and to confess the works of God.

7  It is good to keep close the secret of a king, but it is honourable to reveal the works of God. Do that which is good, and no evil shall touch you.

12:8  Prayer with fasting is good, and almsgiving is better than hiding away gold in storage.

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 lay up gold

12:9  For almsgiving delivers from death, and the same is what purges sins and makes one able to find mercy and everlasting life.

12:10  But those who commit sin and iniquity are enemies to their own soul.

10  But they that sin are enemies to their own life.

12:11  Therefore, I reveal the truth to you, and I will not hide the explanation from you.

11  Surely I will keep close nothing from you. For I said, It was good to keep close the secret of a king, but that it was honourable to reveal the works of God.

12:12  When you prayed with tears, and buried the dead, and left behind your dinner, and hid the dead by day in your house, and buried them by night: I offered your prayer to the Lord.

12  Now therefore, when thou didst pray, and Sara thy daughter in law, I did bring the remembrance of your prayers before the Holy One: and when thou didst bury the dead, I was with thee likewise.

12:13  And because you were acceptable to God, it was necessary for you to be tested by trials.

13  And when thou didst not delay to rise up, and leave thy dinner, to go and cover the dead, thy good deed was not hid from me: but I was with thee.

12:14  And now, the Lord has sent me to cure you, and to free Sarah, your son’s wife, from the demon.

14  And now God hath sent me to heal thee and Sara thy daughter in law.

12:15  For I am the Angel Raphael, one of seven, who stand before the Lord.”

15  I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels, which present the prayers of the saints, and which go in and out before the glory of the Holy One.

12:16  And when they had heard these things, they were troubled, and being seized with fear, they fell upon the ground on their face.

16  Then they were both troubled, and fell upon their faces: for they feared.

12:17  And the Angel said to them: “Peace be to you. Fear not.

17  But he said unto them, Fear not, for it shall go well with you; praise God therefore.

12:18  For when I was with you, I was there by the will of God. Bless him, and sing to him.

18  For not of any favour of mine, but by the will of our God I came; wherefore praise him for ever.

12:19  Indeed, I seemed to eat and drink with you, but I make use of an invisible food and drink, which cannot be seen by men.

19  All these days I did appear unto you; but I did neither eat nor drink, but ye did see a vision.

12:20  Therefore, it is time that I return to him who sent me. But as for you, bless God, and describe all his wonders.”

20  Now therefore give God thanks: for I go up to him that sent me; but write all things which are done in a book.

12:21  And when he had said these things, he was taken from their sight, and they were not able to see him any longer.

21  And when they arose, they saw him no more.

12:22  Then, lying prostrate for three hours upon their face, they blessed God. And rising up, they described all his wonders.

22  Then they confessed the great and wonderful works of God, and how the angel of the Lord had appeared unto them.

13:1  And so, the elder Tobit, opening his mouth, blessed the Lord, and he said: “O Lord, you are great in eternity and your kingdom is with all ages.

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

13:2  For you scourge, and you save. You lead down to the grave, and you bring up again. And there is no one who can escape from your hand.

2  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.

13:3  Confess to the Lord, O sons of Israel, and praise him in the sight of the nations.

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

13:4  For, indeed, he has dispersed you among the Gentiles, who are ignorant of him, that you may proclaim his wonders, and that you may cause them to know that there is no other almighty God, except him.

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  He has chastised us because of our iniquities, and he will save us because of his mercy.

5  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.

13:6  Therefore, look upon what he has done for us, and, with fear and trembling, confess to him. And extol the King of all ages with your works.

6  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?

13:7  But as for me, I will confess him in the land of my captivity. For he has revealed his majesty within a sinful nation.

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

13:8  And so, be converted, you sinners, and do justice in the presence of God, believing that he will act in his mercy toward you.

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

13:9  But I and my soul will rejoice in him.

13:10  Bless the Lord, all you his elect. Keep days of rejoicing, and confess to him.

13:11  O Jerusalem, the city of God, the Lord has chastised you for the works of your hands.

11  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.

13:12  Confess to the Lord with your good things, and bless the God of all ages, so that he may rebuild his tabernacle in you, and he may recall all the captives to you, and you may be glad in all ages and forever.

12  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.

13:13  You will shine with a splendid light, and all the ends of the earth will adore by you.

13:14  Nations from far away will come to you, bringing gifts. And in you, they shall adore the Lord, and they will hold your land in sanctification.

14  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.

13:15  For they will invoke the Great Name in you.

13:16  Those who despise you will be cursed, and all those who blaspheme by you will be condemned, and those who build you up will be blessed.

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

13:17  But you will rejoice in your sons, because they will all be blessed, and they will be gathered together for the Lord.

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

13:18  Blessed are all those who love you and who rejoice in your peace.

18  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.

13:19  Bless the Lord, O my soul, for the Lord our God has freed Jerusalem, his city, from every one of her tribulations.

19  Let my soul bless God the great King.

13:20  Happy will I be, if any of my offspring will be left to see the brightness of Jerusalem.

13:21  The gates of Jerusalem will be built from sapphire and emerald, and all its walls will be surrounded with precious stones.

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

13:22  All its streets will be paved with stones, white and clean. And ‘Alleluia’ will be sung throughout its neighborhoods.

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

13:23  Blessed be the Lord, who has exalted it, and may he reign over it, forever and ever. Amen.”

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

14:1  And the sermon of Tobit was completed. And after Tobit received his sight, he lived forty-two years, and he saw the sons of his grandchildren.

2  And so, having completed one hundred and two years, he was buried honorably at Nineveh.

1  So Tobit made an end of praising God.

14:2  For he was fifty-six years old, when he lost the light of his eyes, and he was sixty years old, when he truly received it again.

2  And he was eight and fifty 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, in truth, the remainder of his life was in gladness. And so, with the good accomplishment of the fear of God, he departed in peace.

3  And when he was very aged he called his son, and the sons of his son, and said to him, My son, take thy children; for, behold, I am aged, and am ready to depart out of this life.

14:4  But, in the hour of his death, he called to himself his son Tobias, along with his sons, the seven youths who were his grandsons, and he said to them

4  Go into Media my son, for I surely believe those things which Jonas the prophet spake of Nineve, that it shall be overthrown; and that for a time peace shall rather be in Media; and that our brethren shall lie scattered in the earth from that good land: and Jerusalem shall be desolate, and the house of God in it shall be burned, and shall be desolate for a time;

14:5  “Nineveh will pass away soon. For the word of the Lord goes forward, and our brothers, who have been dispersed away from the land of Israel, shall return to it.

5  And that again God will have mercy on them, and bring them again into the land, where they shall build a temple, but not like to the first, until the time of that age be fulfilled; and afterward they shall return from all places of their captivity, and build up Jerusalem gloriously, and the house of God shall be built in it for ever with a glorious building, as the prophets have spoken thereof.

14:6  Thus its deserted land will be entirely filled again. And the house of God, which was burned like incense within it, will be rebuilt again. And all those who fear God will return there.

14:7  And the Gentiles will relinquish their idols, and they will enter into Jerusalem, and they will dwell in it.

7  And all nations shall turn, and fear the Lord God truly, and shall bury their idols.

14:8  And all the kings of the earth will rejoice in it, adoring the King of Israel.

8  So shall all nations praise the Lord, and his people shall confess God, and the Lord shall exalt his people; and all those which love the Lord God in truth and justice shall rejoice, shewing mercy to our brethren.

14:9  Therefore, my sons, listen to your father. Serve the Lord in truth, and seek to do the things that please him.

9  And now, my son, depart out of Nineve, because that those things which the prophet Jonas spake shall surely come to pass.

14:10  And command your sons, so that they may accomplish justice and almsgiving, and so that they may be mindful of God and may bless him at all times, in truth and with all their strength.

10  But keep thou the law and the commandments, and shew thyself merciful and just, that it may go well with thee.

14:11  And now, sons, listen to me, and do not remain here. But, on whatever day you will bury your mother near me in one sepulcher, from that time, direct your steps to leave this place.

11  And bury me decently, and thy mother with me; but tarry no longer at Nineve. Remember, my son, how Aman handled Achiacharus that brought him up, how out of light he brought him into darkness, and how he rewarded him again: yet Achiacharus was saved, but the other had his reward: for he went down into darkness. Manasses gave alms, and escaped the snares of death which they had set for him: but Aman fell into the snare, and perished.

14:12  For I see that its iniquity will bring about its end.”

12  Wherefore now, my son, consider what alms doeth, and how righteousness doth deliver. When he had said these things, he gave up the ghost in the bed, being an hundred and eight and fifty years old; and he buried him honourably.

14:13  And it happened that, after the death of his mother, Tobias withdrew from Nineveh, with his wife, and sons, and sons of sons, and he was returned to his father-in-law.

13  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,

14:14  And he found them unharmed in a good old age. And he took care of them, and he closed their eyes. And all the inheritance of the house of Raguel passed to him. And he saw the sons of his sons to the fifth generation.

14  Where he became old with honour, and he buried his father and mother in law honourably, and he inherited their substance, and his father Tobit’s.

14:15  And, having completed ninety-nine years in the fear of the Lord, with joy, they buried him.

15  And he died at Ecbatane in Media, being an hundred and seven and twenty years old.

14:16  But all his family and all his lineage continued with a good life and in holy conversation, so that they were acceptable both to God and to men, as well as to everyone who dwelt in the land.

16  But before he died he heard of the destruction of Nineve, which was taken by Nabuchodonosor and Assuerus: and before his death he rejoiced over Nineve.