Tobit
chapter 1
1:1 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;
1:2 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.
1:3 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.
1:4 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.
1:5 Now all the tribes
which together revolted, and the house of my father Nephthali, sacrificed unto
the heifer Baal.
1:6 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.
1:7 The first tenth part
of all increase I gave to the sons of Aaron, who ministered at Jerusalem: another
tenth part I sold away, and went, and spent it every year at Jerusalem:
1:8 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.
1:9 Furthermore, when
I was come to the age of a man, I married Anna of mine own kindred, and of her
I begat Tobias.
1:10 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.
1:11 But I kept myself
from eating;
1:12 Because I remembered
God with all my heart.
1:13 And the most High
gave me grace and favour before Enemessar, so that I was his purveyor.
1:14 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.
1:15 Now when Enemessar
was dead, Sennacherib his son reigned in his stead; whose estate was troubled,
that I could not go into Media.
1:16 And in the time
of Enemessar I gave many alms to my brethren, and gave my bread to the hungry,
1:17 And my clothes to
the naked: and if I saw any of my nation dead, or cast about the walls of Nineve,
I buried him.
1:18 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.
1:19 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.
1:20 Then all my goods
were forcibly taken away, neither was there any thing left me, beside my wife
Anna and my son Tobias.
1:21 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.
1:22 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.
chapter 2
2:1 Now when I was come
home again, and my wife Anna was restored unto me, with my son Tobias, in the
feast of Pentecost, which is the holy feast of the seven weeks, there was a
good dinner prepared me, in the which I sat down to eat.
2:2 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 But he came again,
and said, Father, one of our nation is strangled, and is cast out in the marketplace.
2:4 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 Then I returned, and
washed myself, and ate my meat in heaviness,
2:6 Remembering that prophecy
of Amos, as he said, Your feasts shall be turned into mourning, and all your
mirth into lamentation.
2:7 Therefore I wept:
and after the going down of the sun I went and made a grave, and buried him.
2:8 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 The same night also
I returned from the burial, and slept by the wall of my courtyard, being polluted
and my face was uncovered:
2:10 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.
2:11 And my wife Anna
did take women's works to do.
2:12 And when she had
sent them home to the owners, they paid her wages, and gave her also besides
a kid.
2:13 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.
2:14 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.
chapter 3
3:1 Then I being grieved
did weep, and in my sorrow prayed, saying,
3:2 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 Remember me, and look
on me, punish me not for my sins and ignorances, and the sins of mg fathers,
who have sinned before thee:
3:4 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 thy judgments
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 now, O Lord,
I set I mine eyes and my face toward thee,
3:13 And say, Take me
out of the earth, that I may hear no more the reproach.
3:14 Thou knowest, Lord,
that I am pure from all sin with man,
3:15 And that I never
polluted my name, nor the name of my father, in the land of my captivity: I
am the only daughter of my father, 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 So the prayers of
them both were heard before the majesty of the great God.
3:17 And Raphael was
sent to heal them both, that is, to scale away the whiteness of Tobit's eyes,
and to give 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.
chapter 4
4:1 In that day Tobit remembered
the money which he had committed to Gabael in Rages of Media,
4:2 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 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 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 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 For if thou deal truly,
thy doings shall prosperously succeed to thee, and to all them that live justly.
4:7 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.
4:8 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 thou layest up
a good treasure for thyself against the day of necessity.
4:10 Because that alms
do deliver from death, and suffereth not to come into darkness.
4:11 For alms is a good
gift unto all that give it in the sight of the most High.
4:12 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 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 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 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 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 Pour out thy bread
on the burial of the just, but give nothing to the wicked.
4:18 Ask counsel of all
that are wise, and despise not any counsel that is profitable.
4:19 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 signify
this to they that I committed ten talents to Gabael the son of Gabrias at Rages
in Media.
4:21 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.
chapter 5
5:1 Tobias then answered
and said, Father, I will do all things which thou hast commanded me:
5:2 But how can I receive
the money, seeing I know him not?
5:3 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.
5:4 Therefore when he
went to seek a man, he found Raphael that was an angel.
5:5 But he knew not; and
he said unto him, Canst thou go with me to Rages? and knowest thou those places
well?
5:6 To whom the angel
said, I will go with thee, and I know the way well: for I have lodged with our
brother Gabael.
5:7 Then Tobias said unto
him, Tarry for me, till I tell my father.
5:8 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.
5:9 So he called him,
and he came in, and they saluted one another.
5:10 Then Tobit said
unto him, Brother, shew me of what tribe and family thou art.
5:11 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.
5:12 Then he said, I
am Azarias, the son of Ananias the great, and of thy brethren.
5:13 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.
5:14 But tell me, what
wages shall I give thee? wilt thou a drachm a day, and things necessary, as
to mine own son?
5:15 Yea, moreover, if
ye return safe, I will add something to thy wages.
5:16 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.
5:17 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?
5:18 Be not greedy to
add money to money: but let it be as refuse in respect of our child.
5:19 For that which the
Lord hath given us to live with doth suffice us.
5:20 Then said Tobit
to her, Take no care, my sister; he shall return in safety, and thine eyes shall
see him.
5:21 For the good angel
will keep him company, and his journey shall be prosperous, and he shall return
safe.
5:22 Then she made an
end of weeping.
chapter 6
6:1 And as they went on
their journey, they came in the evening to the river Tigris, and they lodged
there.
6:2 And when the young
man went down to wash himself, a fish leaped out of the river, and would have
devoured him.
6:3 Then the angel said
unto him, Take the fish. And the young man laid hold of the fish, and drew it
to land.
6:4 To whom the angel
said, Open the fish, and take the heart and the liver and the gall, and put
them up safely.
6:5 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.
6:6 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?
6:7 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.
6:8 As for the gall, it
is good to anoint a man that hath whiteness in his eyes, and he shall be healed.
6:9 And when they were
come near to Rages,
6:10 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.
6:11 For to thee doth
the right of her appertain, seeing thou only art of her kindred.
6:12 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.
6:13 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.
6:14 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.
6:15 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.
6:16 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:
6:17 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.
chapter 7
7:1 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 Then said Raguel to
Edna his wife, How like is this young man to Tobit my cousin!
7:3 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 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 they said, He
is both alive, and in good health: and Tobias said, He is my father.
7:6 Then Raguel leaped
up, and kissed him, and wept,
7:7 And 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 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 So he communicated
the matter with Raguel: and Raguel said to Tobias, Eat and drink, and make merry:
7:10 For it is meet that
thou shouldest marry my daughter: nevertheless I will declare unto thee the
truth.
7:11 I have given my
daughter in marriage te 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 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 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 called Edna
his wife, and took paper, and did write an instrument of covenants, and sealed
it.
7:15 Then they began
to eat.
7:16 After Raguel called
his wife Edna, and said unto her, Sister, prepare another chamber, and bring
her in thither.
7:17 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,
7:18 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.
chapter 8
8:1 And when they had supped,
they brought Tobias in unto her.
8:2 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 The which smell when
the evil spirit had smelled, he fled into the utmost parts of Egypt, and the
angel bound him.
8:4 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 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.
8:6 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.
8:7 And now, O Lord, I
take not this my sister for lush but uprightly: therefore mercifully ordain
that we may become aged together.
8:8 And she said with
him, Amen.
8:9 So they slept both
that night. And Raguel arose, and went and made a grave,
8:10 Saying, I fear lest
he also be dead.
8:11 But when Raguel
was come into his house,
8:12 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.
8:13 So the maid opened
the door, and went in, and found them both asleep,
8:14 And came forth,
and told them that he was alive.
8:15 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.
8:16 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.
8:17 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.
8:18 Then Raguel bade
his servants to fill the grave.
8:19 And he kept the
wedding feast fourteen days.
8:20 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;
8:21 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.
chapter 9
9:1 Then Tobias called Raphael,
and said unto him,
9:2 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.
9:3 For Raguel hath sworn
that I shall not depart.
9:4 But my father counteth
the days; and if I tarry long, he will be very sorry.
9:5 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.
9:6 And early in the morning
they went forth both together, and came to the wedding: and Tobias blessed his
wife.
chapter 10
10:1 Now Tobit his father
counted every day: and when the days of the journey were expired, and they came
not,
10:2 Then Tobit said,
Are they detained? or is Gabael dead, and there is no man to give him the money?
10:3 Therefore he was
very sorry.
10:4 Then his wife said
unto him, My son is dead, seeing he stayeth long; and she began to wail him,
and said,
10:5 Now I care for nothing,
my son, since I have let thee go, the light of mine eyes.
10:6 To whom Tobit said,
Hold thy peace, take no care, for he is safe.
10:7 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, Let me go, for my father and my mother look no more to see me.
10:8 But his father in
law said unto him, Tarry with me, and I will send to thy father, and they shall
declare unto him how things go with thee.
10:9 But Tobias said,
No; but let me go to my father.
10:10 Then Raguel arose,
and gave him Sara his wife, and half his goods, servants, and cattle, and money:
10:11 And he blessed
them, and sent them away, saying, The God of heaven give you a prosperous journey,
my children.
10:12 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.
chapter 11
11:1 After these things
Tobias went his way, praising God that he had given him a prosperous journey,
and blessed Raguel and Edna his wife, and went on his way till they drew near
unto Nineve.
11:2 Then Raphael said
to Tobias, Thou knowest, brother, how thou didst leave thy father:
11:3 Let us haste before
thy wife, and prepare the house.
11:4 And take in thine
hand the gall of the fish. So they went their way, and the dog went after them.
11:5 Now Anna sat looking
about toward the way for her son.
11:6 And when she espied
him coming, she said to his father, Behold, thy son cometh, and the man that
went with him.
11:7 Then said Raphael,
I know, Tobias, that thy father will open his eyes.
11:8 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 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 Tobit also went
forth toward the door, and stumbled: but his son ran unto him,
11:11 And took hold
of his father: and he strake of the gall on his fathers' eyes, saying, Be of
good hope, my father.
11:12 And when his eyes
began to smart, he rubbed them;
11:13 And the whiteness
pilled away from the corners of his eyes: and when he saw his son, he fell upon
his neck.
11:14 And he wept, and
said, Blessed art thou, O God, and blessed is thy name for ever; and blessed
are all thine holy angels:
11:15 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.
11:16 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.
11:17 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.
11:18 And Achiacharus,
and Nasbas his brother's son, came:
11:19 And Tobias' wedding
was kept seven days with great joy.
chapter 12
12:1 Then Tobit called
his son Tobias, and said unto him, My son, see that the man have his wages,
which went with thee, and thou must give him more.
12:2 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 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 Then the old man
said, It is due unto him.
12:5 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 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 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 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 alms doth deliver
from death, and shall purge away all sin. Those that exercise alms and righteousness
shall be filled with life:
12:10 But they that
sin are enemies to their own life.
12:11 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 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 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 God hath
sent me to heal thee and Sara thy daughter in law.
12:15 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 Then they were
both troubled, and fell upon their faces: for they feared.
12:17 But he said unto
them, Fear not, for it shall go well with you; praise God therefore.
12:18 For not of any
favour of mine, but by the will of our God I came; wherefore praise him for
ever.
12:19 All these days
I did appear unto you; but I did neither eat nor drink, but ye did see a vision.
12:20 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 they
arose, they saw him no more.
12:22 Then they confessed
the great and wonderful works of God, and how the angel of the Lord had appeared
unto them.
chapter 13
13:1 Then Tobit wrote a
prayer of rejoicing, and said, Blessed be God that liveth for ever, and blessed
be his kingdom.
13:2 For 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 him before
the Gentiles, ye children of Israel: for he hath scattered us among them.
13:4 There declare his
greatness, and extol him before all the living: for he is our Lord, and he is
the God our Father for ever.
13:5 And he will scourge
us for our iniquities, and will have mercy again, and will gather us out of
all nations, among whom he hath scattered us.
13:6 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 I will extol my
God, and my soul shall praise the King of heaven, and shall rejoice in his greatness.
13:8 Let all men speak,
and let all praise him for his righteousness.
13:9 O Jerusalem, the
holy city, he will scourge thee for thy children's works, and will have mercy
again on the sons of the righteous.
13:10 Give praise to
the Lord, for he is good: and praise the everlasting King, 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.
13:11 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.
13:12 Cursed are all
they which hate thee, and blessed shall all be which love thee for ever.
13:13 Rejoice and be
glad for the children of the just: for they shall be gathered together, and
shall bless the Lord of the just.
13:14 O blessed are
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.
13:15 Let my soul bless
God the great King.
13:16 For Jerusalem
shall be built up with sapphires and emeralds, and precious stone: thy walls
and towers and battlements with pure gold.
13:17 And the streets
of Jerusalem shall be paved with beryl and carbuncle and stones of Ophir.
13:18 And all her streets
shall say, Alleluia; and they shall praise him, saying, Blessed be God, which
hath extolled it for ever.
chapter 14
14:1 So Tobit made an end
of praising God.
14:2 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 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 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 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 And all nations
shall turn, and fear the Lord God truly, and shall bury their idols.
14:7 So shall all nations
praise the Lord, and his people shall confess God, and the Lord shall exalt
his people; and all those which love the Lord God in truth and justice shall
rejoice, shewing mercy to our brethren.
14:8 And now, my son,
depart out of Nineve, because that those things which the prophet Jonas spake
shall surely come to pass.
14:9 But keep thou the
law and the commandments, and shew thyself merciful and just, that it may go
well with thee.
14:10 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.
14:11 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.
14:12 And when Anna
his mother was dead, he buried her with his father. But Tobias departed with
his wife and children to Ecbatane to Raguel his father in law,
14:13 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.
14:14 And he died at
Ecbatane in Media, being an hundred and seven and twenty years old.
14:15 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.