THE BOOK OF TOBIAS
This Book takes its name from the holy man Tobias, whose
wonderful virtues are herein recorded. It contains most
excellent documents of great piety, extraordinary patience,
and of a perfect resignation to the will of God. His humble
prayer was heard, and the angel Raphael was sent to relieve
him: he is thankful and praises the Lord, calling on the
children of Israel to do the same. Having lived to the age
of one hundred and two years, he exhorts his son and
grandsons to piety, foretells the destruction of Ninive and
the rebuilding of Jerusalem: he dies happily.
Tobias Chapter 1
Tobias's early piety: his works of mercy, particularly in
burying the dead.
1:1. Tobias of the tribe and city of Nephtali, (which is in
the upper parts of Galilee above Naasson, beyond the way
that leadeth to the west, having on the right hand the city
of Sephet,)
1:2. When he was made captive in the days of Salmanasar
king of the Assyrians, even in his captivity, forsook not
the way of truth,
1:3. But every day gave all he could get to his brethren
his fellow captives, that were of his kindred.
1:4. And when he was younger than any of the tribe of
Nephtali, yet did he no childish thing in his work.
1:5. Moreover when all went to the golden calves which
Jeroboam king of Israel had made, he alone fled the company
of all,
1:6. And went to Jerusalem to the temple of the Lord, and
there adored the Lord God of Israel, offering faithfully
all his firstfruits, and his tithes,
1:7. So that in the third year he gave all his tithes to
the proselytes, and strangers.
1:8. These and such like things did he observe when but a
boy according to the law of God.
1:9. But when he was a man, he took to wife Anna of his own
tribe, and had a son by her, whom he called after his own
name,
1:10. And from his infancy he taught him to fear God, and
to abstain from all sin.
1:11. And when by the captivity he with his wife and his
son and all his tribe was come to the city of Ninive,
1:12. (When all ate of the meats of the Gentiles) he kept
his soul and never was defiled with their meats.
1:13. And because he was mindful of the Lord with all his
heart, God gave him favour in the sight of Salmanasar the
king.
1:14. And he gave him leave to go whithersoever he would,
with liberty to do whatever he had a mind.
1:15. He therefore went to all that were in captivity, and
gave them wholesome admonitions.
1:16. And when he was come to Rages a city of the Medes,
and had ten talents of silver of that with which he had
been honoured by the king:
1:17. And when amongst a great multitude of his kindred, he
saw Gabelus in want, who was one of his tribe, taking a
note of his hand he gave him the aforesaid sum of money.
1:18. But after a long time, Salmanasar the king being
dead, when Sennacherib his son, who reigned in his place,
had a hatred for the children of Israel:
1:19. Tobias daily went among all his kindred and comforted
them, and distributed to every one as he was able, out of
his goods:
1:20. He fed the hungry, and gave clothes to the naked, and
was careful to bury the dead, and they that were slain.
1:21. And when king Sennacherib was come back, fleeing from
Judea by reason of the slaughter that God had made about
him for his blasphemy, and being angry slew many of the
children of Israel, Tobias buried their bodies.
1:22. But when it was told the king, he commanded him to be
slain, and took away all his substance.
1:23. But Tobias fleeing naked away with his son and with
his wife, lay concealed, for many loved him.
1:24. But after forty-five days, the king was killed by his
own sons.
1:25. And Tobias returned to his house, and all his
substance was restored to him.
Tobias Chapter 2
Tobias leaveth his dinner to bury the dead: he loseth his
sight by God's permission, for manifestation of his
patience.
2:1. But after this, when there was a festival of the Lord,
and a good dinner was prepared in Tobias's house,
2:2. He said to his son: Go, and bring some of our tribe
that fear God, to feast with us.
2:3. And when he had gone, returning he told him, that one
of the children of Israel lay slain in the street. And he
forthwith leaped up from his place at the table, and left
his dinner, and came fasting to the body.
2:4. And taking it up carried it privately to his house,
that after the sun was down, he might bury him cautiously.
2:5. And when he had hid the body, he ate bread with
mourning and fear,
2:6. Remembering the word which the Lord spoke by Amos the
prophet: Your festival days shall be turned into
lamentation and mourning.
2:7. So when the sun was down, he went and buried him.
2:8. Now all his neighbours blamed him, saying: once
already commandment was given for thee to be slain because
of this matter, and thou didst scarce escape the sentence
of death, and dost thou again bury the dead?
2:9. But Tobias fearing God more than the king, carried off
the bodies of them that were slain, and hid them in his
house, and at midnight buried them.
2:10. Now it happened one day that being wearied with
burying, he came to his house, and cast himself down by the
wall and slept,
2:11. And as he was sleeping, hot dung out of a swallow's
nest fell upon his eyes, and he was made blind.
2:12. Now this trial the Lord therefore permitted to happen
to him, that an example might be given to posterity of his
patience, as also of holy Job.
2:13. For whereas he had always feared God from his
infancy, and kept his commandments, he repined not against
God because the evil of blindness had befallen him,
2:14. But continued immoveable in the fear of God, giving
thanks to God all the days of his life.
2:15. For as the kings insulted over holy Job: so his
relations and kinsmen mocked at his life, saying:
Kings... So Job's three friends are here called, because
they were princes in their respective territories.
2:16. Where is thy hope, for which thou gavest alms, and
buriedst the dead?
2:17. But Tobias rebuked them, saying: Speak not so:
2:18. For we are the children of saints, and look for that
life which God will give to those that never change their
faith from him.
2:19. Now Anna his wife went daily to weaving work, and she
brought home what she could get for their living by the
labour of her hands.
2:20. Whereby it came to pass, that she received a young
kid, and brought it home:
2:21. And when her husband heard it bleating, he said: Take
heed, lest perhaps it be stolen: restore ye it to its
owners, for it is not lawful for us either to eat or to
touch any thing that cometh by theft.
2:22. At these words his wife being angry answered: It is
evident the hope is come to nothing, and thy alms now
appear.
2:23. And with these and other, such like words she
upbraided him.
Tobias Chapter 3
The prayer of Tobias, and of Sara, in their several
afflictions, are heard by God, and the angel Raphael is
sent to relieve them.
3:1. Then Tobias sighed, and began to pray with tears,
3:2. Saying, Thou art just, O Lord, and all thy judgments
are just, and all thy ways mercy, and truth, and judgment:
3:3. And now, O Lord, think of me, and take not revenge of
my sins, neither remember my offences, nor those of my
parents.
3:4. For we have not obeyed thy commandments, therefore are
we delivered to spoil and to captivity, and death, and are
made a fable, and a reproach to all nations, amongst which
thou hast scattered us.
3:5. And now, O Lord, great are thy judgments, because we
have not done according to thy precepts, and have not
walked sincerely before thee.
3:6. And now, O Lord, do with me according to thy will, and
command my spirit to be received in peace: for it is better
for me to die, than to live.
3:7. Now it happened on the same day, that Sara daughter of
Raguel, in Rages a city of the Medes, received a reproach
from one of her father's servant maids,
Rages... In the Greek it is Ecbatana, which was also called
Rages. For there were two cities in Media of the name of
Rages. Raguel dwelt in one of them, and Gabelus in the
other.
3:8. Because she had been given to seven husbands and a
devil named Asmodeus had killed them, at their first going
in unto her.
3:9. So when she reproved the maid for her fault, she
answered her, saying: May we never see son, or daughter of
thee upon the earth, thou murderer of thy husbands.
3:10. Wilt thou kill me also, as thou hast already killed
seven husbands? At these words, she went into an upper
chamber of her house: and for three days and three nights
did neither eat nor drink:
3:11. But continuing in prayer with tears besought God,
that he would deliver her from this reproach.
3:12. And it came to pass on the third day when she was
making an end of her prayer, blessing the Lord,
3:13. She said: Blessed is thy name, O God of our fathers,
who when thou hast been angry, wilt shew mercy, and in the
time of tribulation forgivest the sins of them that call
upon thee.
3:14. To thee, O Lord, I turn my face, to thee I direct my
eyes.
3:15. I beg, O Lord, that thou loose me from the bond of
this reproach, or else take me away from the earth.
3:16. Thou knowest, O Lord, that I never coveted a husband,
and have kept my soul clean from all lust.
3:17. Never have I joined myself with them that play:
neither have I made myself partaker with them that walk in
lightness.
3:18. But a husband I consented to take, with thy fear, not
with my lust.
3:19. And either I was unworthy of them, or they perhaps
were not worthy of me: because perhaps thou hast kept me
for another man,
3:20. For thy counsel is not in man's power.
3:21. But this every one is sure of that worshippeth thee,
that his life, if it be under trial, shall be crowned and
if it be under tribulation, it shall be delivered: and if
it be under correction, it shall be allowed to come to thy
mercy.
3:22. For thou art not delighted in our being lost, because
after a storm thou makest a calm, and after tears and
weeping thou pourest in joyfulness.
3:23. Be thy name, O God of Israel, blessed for ever,
3:24. At that time the prayers of them both were heard in
the sight of the glory of the most high God:
3:25. And the holy angel of the Lord, Raphael was sent to
heal them both, whose prayers at one time were rehearsed in
the sight of the Lord.
Tobias Chapter 4
Tobias thinking he shall die, giveth his son godly
admonitions: and telleth him of money he had lent to a
friend.
4:1. Therefore when Tobias thought that his prayer was
heard that he might die, he called to him Tobias his son,
4:2. And said to him: Hear, my son, the words of my mouth,
and lay them as a foundation in thy heart.
4:3. When God shall take my soul, thou shalt bury my body:
and thou shalt honour thy mother all the days of her life:
4:4. For thou must be mindful what and how great perils she
suffered for thee in her womb.
4:5. And when she also shall have ended the time of her
life, bury her by me.
4:6. And all the days of thy life have God in thy mind: and
take heed thou never consent to sin, nor transgress the
commandments of the Lord our God.
4:7. Give alms out of thy substance, and turn not away thy
face from any poor person: for so it shall come to pass
that the face of the Lord shall not be turned from thee.
4:8. According to thy ability be merciful.
4:9. If thou have much give abundantly: if thou have
little, take care even so to bestow willingly a little.
4:10. For thus thou storest up to thyself a good reward for
the day of necessity.
4:11. For alms deliver from all sin, and from death, and
will not suffer the soul to go into darkness.
4:12. Alms shall be a great confidence before the most high
God, to all them that give it.
4:13. Take heed to keep thyself, my son, from all
fornication, and beside thy wife never endure to know a
crime.
4:14. Never suffer pride to reign in thy mind, or in thy
words: for from it all perdition took its beginning.
4:15. If any man hath done any work for thee, immediately
pay him his hire, and let not the wages of thy hired
servant stay with thee at all.
4:16. See thou never do to another what thou wouldst hate
to have done to thee by another.
4:17. Eat thy bread with the hungry and the needy, and with
thy garments cover the naked,
4:18. Lay out thy bread, and thy wine upon the burial of a
just man, and do not eat and drink thereof with the wicked.
4:19. Seek counsel always of a wise man.
4:20. Bless God at all times: and desire of him to direct
thy ways, and that all thy counsels may abide in him.
4:21. I tell thee also, my son, that I lent ten talents of
silver, while thou wast yet a child, to Gabelus, in Rages a
city of the Medes, and I have a note of his hand with me:
4:22. Now therefore inquire how thou mayst go to him, and
receive of him the foresaid sum of money, and restore to
him the note of his hand.
4:23. Fear not, my son: we lead indeed a poor life, but we
shall have many good things if we fear God, and depart from
all sin, and do that which is good.
Tobias Chapter 5
Young Tobias seeking a guide for his journey, the angel
Raphael, in shape of a man, undertaketh this office.
5:1. Then Tobias answered his father, and said: I will do
all things, father, which thou hast commanded me.
5:2. But how I shall get this money, I cannot tell; he
knoweth not me, and I know not him: what token shall I give
him? nor did I ever know the way which leadeth thither.
5:3. Then his father answered him, and said: I have a note
of his hand with me, which when thou shalt shew him, he
will presently pay it.
5:4. But go now, and seek thee out some faithful man, to go
with thee for his hire: that thou mayst receive it, while I
yet live.
5:5. Then Tobias going forth, found a beautiful young man,
standing girded, and as it were ready to walk.
5:6. And not knowing that he was an angel of God, he
saluted him, and said: From whence art thou, good young
man?
5:7. But he answered: Of the children of Israel. And Tobias
said to him: Knowest thou the way that leadeth to the
country of the Medes?
5:8. And he answered: I know it: and I have often walked
through all the ways thereof, and I have abode with Gabelus
our brother, who dwelleth at Rages a city of the Medes,
which is situate in the mount of Ecbatana.
5:9. And Tobias said to him: Stay for me, I beseech thee,
till I tell these same things to my father.
5:10. Then Tobias going in told all these things to his
father. Upon which his father being in admiration, desired
that he would come in unto him.
5:11. So going in he saluted him, and said: Joy be to thee
always.
5:12. And Tobias said: What manner of joy shall be to me,
who sit in darkness and see not the light of heaven?
5:13. And the young man said to him: Be of good courage,
thy cure from God is at hand.
5:14. And Tobias said to him: Canst thou conduct my son to
Gabelus at Rages, a city of the Medes? and when thou shalt
return, I will pay thee thy hire.
5:15. And the angel said to him: I will conduct him
thither, and bring him back to thee.
5:16. And Tobias said to him: I pray thee, tell me, of what
family, or what tribe art thou?
5:17. And Raphael the angel answered: Dost thou seek the
family of him thou hirest, or the hired servant himself to
go with thy son?
5:18. But lest I should make thee uneasy, I am Azarias the
son of the great Ananias.
Azarias... The angel took the form of Azarias: and
therefore might call himself by the name of the man whom he
personated. Azarias, in Hebrew, signifies the help of God,
and Ananias the grace of God.
5:19. And Tobias answered: Thou art of a great family. But
I pray thee be not angry that I desired to know thy family.
5:20. And the angel said to him: I will lead thy son safe,
and bring him to thee again safe.
5:21. And Tobias answering, said: May you have a good
journey, and God be with you in your way, and his angel
accompany you.
5:22. Then all things being ready, that were to be carried
in their journey, Tobias bade his father and his mother
farewell, and they set out both together.
5:23. And when they were departed, his mother began to
weep, and to say: Thou hast taken the staff of our old age,
and sent him away from us.
5:24. I wish the money for which thou hast sent him, had
never been.
5:25. For our poverty was sufficient for us, that we might
account it as riches, that we saw our son.
5:26. And Tobias said to her: Weep not, our son will arrive
thither safe, and will return safe to us, and thy eyes
shall see him.
5:27. For I believe that the good angel of God doth
accompany him, and doth order all things well that are done
about him, so that he shall return to us with joy.
5:28. At these words his mother ceased weeping, and held
her peace.
Tobias Chapter 6
By the angel's advice young Tobias taketh hold on a fish
that assaulteth him. Reserveth the heart, the gall, and the
liver for medicines. They lodge at the house of Raguel,
whose daughter Sara, Tobias is to marry; she had before
been married to seven husbands, who were all slain by a
devil.
6:1. And Tobias went forward, and the dog followed him, and
he lodged the first night by the river of Tigris.
6:2. And he went out to wash his feet, and behold a
monstrous fish came up to devour him.
6:3. And Tobias being afraid of him, cried out with a loud
voice, saying: Sir, he cometh upon me.
6:4. And the angel said to him: Take him by the gill, and
draw him to thee. And when he had done so, he drew him out
upon the land, and he began to pant before his feet.
6:5. Then the angel said to him: Take out the entrails of
this fish, and lay up his heart, and his gall, and his
liver for thee: for these are necessary for useful
medicines.
6:6. And when he had done so, he roasted the flesh thereof,
and they took it with them in the way: the rest they salted
as much as might serve them, till they came to Rages the
city of the Medes.
6:7. Then Tobias asked the angel, and said to him: I
beseech thee, brother Azarias, tell me what remedies are
these things good for, which thou hast bid me keep of the
fish?
6:8. And the angel, answering, said to him: If thou put a
little piece of its heart upon coals, the smoke thereof
driveth away all kind of devils, either from man or from
woman, so that they come no more to them.
Its heart, etc. The liver (ver. 19)... God was pleased to
give these things a virtue against those proud spirits, to
make them, who affected to be like the Most High, subject
to such mean corporeal creatures as instruments of his
power.
6:9. And the gall is good for anointing the eyes, in which
there is a white speck, and they shall be cured.
6:10. And Tobias said to him: Where wilt thou that we
lodge?
6:11. And the angel answering, said: Here is one whose name
is Raguel, a near kinsman of thy tribe, and he hath a
daughter named Sara, but he hath no son nor any other
daughter beside her.
6:12. All his substance is due to thee, and thou must take
her to wife.
6:13. Ask her therefore of her father, and he will give her
thee to wife.
6:14. Then Tobias answered, and said: I hear that she hath
been given to seven husbands, and they all died: moreover I
have heard, that a devil killed them.
6:15. Now I am afraid, lest the same thing should happen to
me also: and whereas I am the only child of my parents, I
should bring down their old age with sorrow to hell.
Hell... That is, to the place where the souls of the good
were kept before the coming of Christ.
6:16. Then the angel Raphael said to him: Hear me, and I
will shew thee who they are, over whom the devil can
prevail.
6:17. For they who in such manner receive matrimony, as to
shut out God from themselves, and from their mind, and to
give themselves to their lust, as the horse and mule, which
have not understanding, over them the devil hath power.
6:18. But thou when thou shalt take her, go into the
chamber, and for three days keep thyself continent from
her, and give thyself to nothing else but to prayers with
her.
6:19. And on that night lay the liver of the fish on the
fire, and the devil shall be driven away.
6:20. But the second night thou shalt be admitted into the
society of the holy Patriarchs.
6:21. And the third night thou shalt obtain a blessing that
sound children may be born of you.
6:22. And when the third night is past, thou shalt take the
virgin with the fear of the Lord, moved rather for love of
children than for lust, that in the seed of Abraham thou
mayst obtain a blessing in children.
Tobias Chapter 7
They are kindly entertained by Raguel. Tobias demandeth
Sara to wife.
7:1. And they went in to Raguel, and Raguel received them
with joy.
7:2. And Raguel looking upon Tobias, said to Anna his wife:
How like is this young man to my cousin?
7:3. And when he had spoken these words, he said: Whence
are ye young men our brethren?
7:4. But they said: We are of the tribe of Nephtali, of the
captivity of Ninive.
7:5. And Raguel said to them: Do you know Tobias my
brother? And they said: We know him.
7:6. And when he was speaking many good things of him, the
angel said to Raguel: Tobias concerning whom thou inquirest
is this young man's father.
7:7. And Raguel went to him, and kissed him with tears and
weeping upon his neck, said: A blessing be upon thee, my
son, because thou art the son of a good and most virtuous
man.
7:8. And Anna his wife, and Sara their daughter wept.
7:9. And after they had spoken, Raguel commanded a sheep to
be killed, and a feast to be prepared. And when he desired
them to sit down to dinner,
7:10. Tobias said: I will not eat nor drink here this day,
unless thou first grant me my petition, and promise to give
me Sara thy daughter.
7:11. Now when Raguel heard this he was afraid, knowing
what had happened to those seven husbands, that went in
unto her: and he began to fear lest it might happen to him
also in like manner: and as he was in suspense, and gave no
answer to his petition,
7:12. The angel said to him: Be not afraid to give her to
this man, for to him who feareth God is thy daughter due to
be his wife: therefore another could not have her.
7:13. Then Raguel said: I doubt not but God hath regarded
my prayers and tears in his sight.
7:14. And I believe he hath therefore made you come to me,
that this maid might be married to one of her own kindred,
according to the law of Moses: and now doubt not but I will
give her to thee.
7:15. And taking the right hand of his daughter, he gave it
into the right hand of Tobias, saying: The God of Abraham,
and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob be with you, and
may he join you together, and fulfil his blessing in you.
7:16. And taking paper they made a writing of the marriage.
7:17. And afterwards they made merry, blessing God.
7:18. And Raguel called to him Anna his wife, and bade her
to prepare another chamber.
7:19. And she brought Sara her daughter in thither, and she
wept.
7:20. And she said to her: Be of good cheer, my daughter:
the Lord of heaven give thee joy for the trouble thou hast
undergone.
Tobias Chapter 8
Tobias burneth part of the fish's liver, and Raphael
bindeth the devil. Tobias and Sara pray.
8:1. And after they had supped, they brought in the young
man to her.
8:2. And Tobias remembering the angel's word, took out of
his bag part of the liver, and laid it upon burning coals.
8:3. Then the angel Raphael took the devil, and bound him
in the desert of upper Egypt.
8:4. Then Tobias exhorted the virgin, and said to her:
Sara, arise, and let us pray to God to day, and to morrow,
and the next day: because for these three nights we are
joined to God: and when the third night is over, we will be
in our own wedlock.
8:5. For we are the children of saints, and we must not be
joined together like heathens that know not God.
8:6. So they both arose, and prayed earnestly both together
that health might be given them,
8:7. And Tobias said: Lord God of our fathers, may the
heavens and the earth, and the sea, and the fountains, and
the rivers, and all thy creatures that are in them, bless
thee.
8:8. Thou madest Adam of the slime of the earth, and gavest
him Eve for a helper.
8:9. And now, Lord, thou knowest, that not for fleshly lust
do I take my sister to wife, but only for the love of
posterity, in which thy name may be blessed for ever and
ever.
8:10. Sara also said: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy
on us, and let us grow old both together in health.
8:11. And it came to pass about the cockcrowing, Raguel
ordered his servants to be called for, and they went with
him together to dig a grave.
8:12. For he said: Lest perhaps it may have happened to
him, in like manner as it did to the other seven husbands,
that went in unto her.
8:13. And when they had prepared the pit, Raguel went back
to his wife, and said to her:
8:14. Send one of thy maids, and let her see if he be dead,
that I may bury him before it be day.
8:15. So she sent one of her maidservants, who went into
the chamber, and found them safe and sound, sleeping both
together.
8:16. And returning she brought the good news: and Raguel
and Anna his wife blessed the Lord,
8:17. And said: We bless thee, O Lord God of Israel,
because it hath not happened as we suspected.
8:18. For thou hast shewn thy mercy to us, and hast shut
out from us the enemy that persecuted us.
8:19. And thou hast taken pity upon two only children. Make
them, O Lord, bless thee more fully: and to offer up to
thee a sacrifice of thy praise, and of their health, that
all nations may know, that thou alone art God in all the
earth.
8:20. And immediately Raguel commanded his servants, to
fill up the pit they had made, before it was day.
8:21. And he spoke to his wife to make ready a feast, and
prepare all kind of provisions that are necessary for such
as go a journey.
8:22. He caused also two fat kine, and four wethers to be
killed, and a banquet to be prepared for all his
neighbours, and all his friends,
8:23. And Raguel adjured Tobias, to abide with him two
weeks.
8:24. And of all things which Raguel possessed, he gave one
half to Tobias, and made a writing, that the half that
remained should after their decease come also to Tobias.
Tobias Chapter 9
The angel Raphael goeth to Gabelus, receiveth the money,
and bringeth him to the marriage.
9:1. Then Tobias called the angel to him, whom he took to
be a man, and said to him: Brother Azarias, I pray thee
hearken to my words:
9:2. If I should give myself to be thy servant I should not
make a worthy return for thy care.
9:3. However, I beseech thee, to take with thee beasts and
servants, and to go to Gabelus to Rages the city of the
Medes: and to restore to him his note of hand, and receive
of him the money, and desire him to come to my wedding.
9:4. For thou knowest that my father numbereth the days:
and if I stay one day more, his soul will be afflicted.
9:5. And indeed thou seest how Raguel hath adjured me,
whose adjuring I cannot despise.
9:6. Then Raphael took four of Raguel's servants, and two
camels, and went to Rages the city of the Medes: and
finding Gabelus, gave him his note of hand, and received of
him all the money.
9:7. And he told him concerning Tobias the son of Tobias,
all that had been done: and made him come with him to the
wedding.
9:8. And when he was come into Raguel's house he found
Tobias sitting at the table: and he leaped up, and they
kissed each other: and Gabelus wept, and blessed God,
9:9. And said: The God of Israel bless thee, because thou
art the son of a very good and just man, and that feareth
God, and doth almsdeeds:
9:10. And may a blessing come upon thy wife and upon your
parents.
9:11. And may you see your children, and your children's
children, unto the third and fourth generation: and may
your seed be blessed by the God of Israel, who reigneth for
ever and ever.
9:12. And when all had said, Amen, they went to the feast:
but the marriage feast they celebrated also with the fear
of the Lord.
Tobias Chapter 10
The parents lament the long absence of their son Tobias. He
sets out to return.
10:1. But as Tobias made longer stay upon occasion of the
marriage, Tobias his father was solicitous, saying: Why
thinkest thou doth my son tarry, or why is he detained
there?
10:2. Is Gabelus dead, thinkest thou, and no man will pay
him the money?
10:3. And he began to be exceeding sad, both he and Anna
his wife with him: and they began both to weep together,
because their son did not return to them on the day
appointed.
10:4. But his mother wept and was quite disconsolate, and
said: Woe, woe is me, my son; why did we send thee to go to
a strange country, the light of our eyes, the staff of our
old age, the comfort of our life, the hope of our
posterity?
10:5. We having all things together in thee alone, ought
not to have let thee go from us.
10:6. And Tobias said to her: Hold thy peace, and be not
troubled, our son is safe: that man with whom we sent him
is very trusty.
10:7. But she could by no means be comforted, but daily
running out looked round about, and went into all the ways
by which there seemed any hope he might return, that she
might if possible see him coming afar off.
10:8. But Raguel said to his son in law: Stay here, and I
will send a messenger to Tobias thy father, that thou art
in health.
10:9. And Tobias said to him: I know that my father and
mother now count the days, and their spirit is grievously
afflicted within them.
10:10. And when Raguel had pressed Tobias with many words,
and he by no means would hearken to him, he delivered Sara
unto him, and half of all his substance in menservants, and
womenservants, in cattle, in camels, and in kine, and in
much money, and sent him away safe and joyful from him,
10:11. Saying: The holy angel of the Lord be with you in
your journey, and bring you through safe, and that you may
find all things well about your parents, and my eyes may
see your children before I die.
10:12. And the parents taking their daughter kissed her,
and let her go:
10:13. Admonishing her to honour her father and mother in
law, to love her husband, to take care of the family, to
govern the house, and to behave herself irreprehensibly.
Tobias Chapter 11
Tobias anointeth his father's eyes with the fish's gall,
and he recovereth his sight.
11:1. And as they were returning they came to Charan, which
is in the midway to Ninive, the eleventh day.
11:2. And the angel said: Brother Tobias, thou knowest how
thou didst leave thy father.
11:3. If it please thee therefore, let us go before, and
let the family follow softly after us, together with thy
wife, and with the beasts.
11:4. And as this their going pleased him, Raphael said to
Tobias: Take with thee of the gall of the fish, for it will
be necessary. So Tobias took some of that gall and
departed.
11:5. But Anna sat beside the way daily, on the top of a
hill, from whence she might see afar off.
11:6. And while she watched his coming from that place, she
saw him afar off, and presently perceived it was her son
coming: and returning she told her husband, saying: Behold
thy son cometh.
11:7. And Raphael said to Tobias: As soon as thou shalt
come into thy house, forthwith adore the Lord thy God: and
giving thanks to him, go to thy father, and kiss him.
11:8. And immediately anoint his eyes with this gall of the
fish, which thou carriest with thee. For be assured that
his eyes shall be presently opened, and thy father shall
see the light of heaven, and shall rejoice in the sight of
thee.
11:9. Then the dog, which had been with them in the way,
ran before, and coming as if he had brought the news,
shewed his joy by his fawning and wagging his tail.
The dog, etc... This may seem a very minute circumstance to
be recorded in sacred history: but as we learn from our
Saviour, St. Matt. 5.18, there are iotas and tittles in the
word of God: that is to say, things that appear minute, but
which have indeed a deep and mysterious meaning in them.
11:10. And his father that was blind, rising up, began to
run stumbling with his feet: and giving a servant his hand,
went to meet his son.
11:11. And receiving him kissed him, as did also his wife,
and they began to weep for joy.
11:12. And when they had adored God, and given him thanks,
they sat down together.
11:13. Then Tobias taking of the gall of the fish, anointed
his father's eyes.
11:14. And he stayed about half an hour: and a white skin
began to come out of his eyes, like the skin of an egg.
11:15. And Tobias took hold of it, and drew it from his
eyes, and recovered his sight.
11:16. And they glorified God, both he and his wife and all
that knew him.
11:17. And Tobias said: I bless thee, O Lord God of Israel,
because thou hast chastised me, and thou hast saved me and
behold I see Tobias my son.
11:18. And after seven days Sara his son's wife and all the
family arrived safe, and the cattle, and the camels, and an
abundance of money of his wife's: and that money also which
he had received of Gabelus,
11:19. And he told his parents all the benefits of God,
which he had done to him by the man that conducted him.
11:20. And Achior and Nabath the kinsmen of Tobias came,
rejoicing for Tobias, and congratulating with him for all
the good things that God had done for him.
11:21. And for seven days they feasted and rejoiced all
with great joy.
Tobias Chapter 12
Raphael maketh himself known.
12:1. Then Tobias called to him his son and said to him:
What can we give to this holy man, that is come with thee?
12:2. Tobias answering, said to his father: Father, what
wages shall we give him? or what can be worthy of his
benefits?
12:3. He conducted me and brought me safe again, he
received the money of Gabelus, he caused me to have my
wife, and he chased from her the evil spirit, he gave joy
to her parents, myself he delivered from being devoured by
the fish, thee also he hath made to see the light of
heaven, and we are filled with all good things through him.
What can we give him sufficient for these things?
12:4. But I beseech thee, my father, to desire him, that he
would vouchsafe to accept of one half of all things that
have been brought.
12:5. So the father and the son calling him, took him
aside: and began to desire him that he would vouchsafe to
accept of half of all things that they had brought,
12:6. Then he said to them secretly, Bless ye the God of
heaven, give glory to him in the sight of all that live,
because he hath shewn his mercy to you.
12:7. For it is good to hide the secret of a king: to
reveal and confess the works of God.
12:8. Prayer is good with fasting and alms more than to lay
up treasures of gold.
12:9. For alms delivereth from death, and the same is that
which purgeth away sins, and maketh to find mercy and life
everlasting.
12:10. But they that commit sin and iniquity, are enemies
to their own soul.
12:11. I discover then the truth unto you, and I will not
hide the secret from you.
12:12. When thou didst pray with tears, and didst bury the
dead, and didst leave thy dinner, and hide the dead by day
in thy house, and bury them by night, I offered thy prayer
to the Lord.
12:13. And because thou wast acceptable to God, it was
necessary that temptation should prove thee.
12:14. And now the Lord hath sent me to heal thee, and to
deliver Sara thy son's wife from the devil.
12:15. For I am the angel Raphael, one of the seven, who
stand before the Lord.
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.
12:17. And the angel said to them: Peace be to you, fear
not.
12:18. For when I was with you, I was there by the will of
God: bless ye him, and sing praises to him.
12:19. I seemed indeed to eat and to drink with you but I
use an invisible meat and drink, which cannot be seen by
men.
12:20. It is time therefore that I return to him that sent
me: but bless ye God, and publish all his wonderful works.
12:21. And when he had said these things, he was taken from
their sight, and they could see him no more.
12:22. Then they lying prostrate for three hours upon their
face, blessed God, and rising up, they told all his
wonderful works.
Tobias Chapter 13
Tobias the father praiseth God, exhorting all Israel to do
the same. Prophesieth the restoration and better state of
Jerusalem.
13:1. And Tobias the elder opening his mouth, blessed the
Lord, and said: Thou art great O Lord, for ever, and thy
kingdom is unto all ages.
13:2. For thou scourgest, and thou savest: thou leadest
down to hell, and bringest up again: and there is none that
can escape thy hand.
13:3. Give glory to the Lord, ye children of Israel, and
praise him in the sight of the Gentiles:
13:4. Because he hath therefore scattered you among the
Gentiles, who know not him, that you may declare his
wonderful works, and make them know that there is no other
almighty God besides him.
13:5. He hath chastised us for our iniquities: and he will
save us for his own mercy.
13:6. See then what he hath done with us, and with fear and
trembling give ye glory to him: and extol the eternal King
of worlds in your works.
13:7. As for me, I will praise him in the land of my
captivity: because he hath shewn his majesty toward a
sinful nation,
13:8. Be converted therefore, ye sinners, and do justice
before God, believing that he will shew his mercy to you.
13:9. And I and my soul will rejoice in him.
13:10. Bless ye the Lord, all his elect, keep days of joy,
and give glory to him.
13:11. Jerusalem, city of God, the Lord hath chastised thee
for the works of thy hands.
Jerusalem... What is prophetically delivered here, and in
the following chapter, with relation to Jerusalem, is
partly to be understood of the rebuilding of the city after
the captivity: and partly of the spiritual Jerusalem, which
is the church of Christ, and the eternal Jerusalem in
heaven.
13:12. Give glory to the Lord for thy good things, and
bless the God eternal that he may rebuild his tabernacle in
thee, and may call back all the captives to thee, and thou
mayst rejoice for ever and ever.
13:13. Thou shalt shine with a glorious light: and all the
ends of the earth shall worship thee,
13:14. Nations from afar shall come to thee: and shall
bring gifts, and shall adore the Lord in thee, and shall
esteem thy land as holy.
13:15. For they shall call upon the great name in thee,
13:16. They shall be cursed that shall despise thee: and
they shall be condemned that shall blaspheme thee: and
blessed shall they be that shall build thee up,
13:17. But thou shalt rejoice in thy children, because they
shall all be blessed, and shall be gathered together to the
Lord.
13:18. Blessed are all they that love thee, and that
rejoice in thy peace,
13:19. My soul, bless thou the Lord, because the Lord our
God hath delivered Jerusalem his city from all her
troubles.
13:20. Happy shall I be if there shall remain of my seed,
to see the glory of Jerusalem.
13:21. The gates of Jerusalem shall be built of sapphire,
and of emerald, and all the walls thereof round about of
precious stones.
13:22. All its streets shall be paved with white and clean
stones: and Alleluia shall be sung in its streets,
13:23. Blessed be the Lord, who hath exalted it, and may he
reign over it for ever and ever, Amen.
Tobias Chapter 14
Old Tobias dieth at the age of a hundred and two years,
after exhorting his son and grandsons to piety, foreshewing
that Ninive shall be destroyed, and Jerusalem rebuilt. The
younger Tobias returneth with his family to Raguel, and
dieth happily as he had lived.
14:1. And the words of Tobias were ended. And after Tobias
was restored to his sight, he lived two and forty years,
and saw the children of his grandchildren.
14:2. And after he had lived a hundred and two years, he
was buried honorably in Ninive.
14:3. For he was six and fifty years old when he lost the
sight of his eyes, and sixty when he recovered it again.
14:4. And the rest of his life was in joy, and with great
increase of the fear of God he departed in peace.
14:5. And at the hour of his death he called unto him his
son Tobias and his children, seven young men, his
grandsons, and said to them:
14:6. The destruction of Ninive is at hand: for the word of
the Lord must be fulfilled: and our brethren, that are
scattered abroad from the land of Israel, shall return to
it.
14:7. And all the land thereof that is desert shall be
filled with people, and the house of God which is burnt in
it, shall again be rebuilt: and all that fear God shall
return thither.
14:8. And the Gentiles shall leave their idols, and shall
come into Jerusalem, and shall dwell in it.
14:9. And all the kings of the earth shall rejoice in it,
adoring the King of Israel.
14:10. Hearken therefore, my children, to your father:
serve the Lord in truth, and seek to do the things that
please him:
14:11. And command your children that they do justice and
almsdeeds, and that they be mindful of God, and bless him
at all times in truth, and with all their power.
14:12. And now, children, hear me, and do not stay here:
but as soon as you shall bury your mother by me in one
sepulchre, without delay direct your steps to depart hence:
14:13. For I see that its iniquity will bring it to
destruction.
14:14. And it came to pass that after the death of his
mother, Tobias departed out of Ninive with his wife, and
children, and children's children, and returned to his
father and mother in law.
14:15. And he found them in health in a good old age: and
he took care of them, and he closed their eyes: and all the
inheritance of Raguel's house came to him: and he saw his
children's children to the fifth generation.
14:16. And after he had lived ninety-nine years in the fear
of the Lord, with joy they buried him.
14:17. And all his kindred, and all his generation
continued in good life, and in holy conversation, so that
they were acceptable both to God, and to men, and to all
that dwelt in the land.
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