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.
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.
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 my 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 Whe 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
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 lust, 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.
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.
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 bewail 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.