Tobit

Chapter 1

1 The book of the words of Tobit, the son of Tobiel, the son of Ananiel, the son of Aduel, the son of Gabael, of the seed of Asiel, of the tribe of Naphtali,

2 who was taken captive in the days of Enemessar, king of the Assyrians, out of Thisbe, which is on the right hand of Kedesh of Naphtali in Galilee above Asher.

3 I, Tobit, walked in the ways of truth and righteousness all the days of my life, and I did many almsdeeds for my brethren and my nation, who went with me into the land of the Assyrians, to Nineveh.

4 And when I was in my own country, in the land of Israel, being still young, all the tribe of Naphtali my father fell away from the house of Jerusalem, which had been chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, that all the tribes should sacrifice there; and the temple of the dwelling of the Most High was hallowed and built for all generations forever.

5 And all the tribes that revolted together sacrificed to Baal the heifer, and so did the house of Naphtali my father.

6 But I alone went often to Jerusalem at the feasts, as it is written for all Israel in an everlasting decree, bringing the firstfruits and the tithes of the produce and the first shearings;

7 and I gave them to the priests, the sons of Aaron, at the altar, of all the produce; and the tithe I gave to the sons of Levi who ministered in Jerusalem. And the second tithe I sold, and went and spent it in Jerusalem each year.

8 And the third I gave to those to whom it was fitting, as Deborah my father's mother had commanded, because I was left an orphan by my father.

9 And when I became a man, I took Anna to wife, of the seed of our family, and by her I begot Tobias.

10 And when I was carried away captive to Nineveh, all my brethren and those of my kindred ate of the bread of the Gentiles;

11 but I kept myself from eating,

12 because I remembered God with all my soul.

13 And the Most High gave me grace and favor before Enemessar, and I was his purveyor;

14 and I went into Media, and deposited with Gabael, the brother of Gabrias, at Rages of Media, ten talents of silver.

15 And when Enemessar died, Sennacherib his son reigned in his stead, and his ways were unsettled, and I could no longer go into Media.

16 And in the days of Enemessar I did many almsdeeds for my brethren:

17 I gave my bread to the hungry and my garments to the naked, and if I saw any of my kindred dead and cast out behind the wall of Nineveh, I buried him.

18 And if Sennacherib the king slew any, when he came fleeing from Judea, I buried them secretly; for in his wrath he slew many; and the bodies were sought by the king, and were not found.

19 But one of those in Nineveh went and told the king concerning me, that I buried them, and I hid myself; and learning that I was sought to be put to death, being afraid I withdrew.

20 And all my goods were plundered, and nothing was left me except Anna my wife and Tobias my son.

21 And fifty days had not passed before his two sons killed him; and they fled into the mountains of Ararat, and Sacherdonos his son reigned in his stead. And he set Achiacharos, the son of Anael my brother, over all the accounts of his kingdom and over all the administration.

22 And Achiacharos made petition for me, and I came to Nineveh. Now Achiacharos was cupbearer, and keeper of the signet, and steward, and accountant, and Sacherdonos appointed him next unto himself; and he was my brother's son.

Chapter 2

1 Now when I returned to my house, and my wife Anna and my son Tobias were restored to me, at the feast of Pentecost, which is the holy feast of the seven weeks, a good dinner was prepared for me, and I sat down to eat.

2 And I saw many dishes, and I said to my son, "Go and bring whatever poor man of our brethren you may find, who is mindful of the Lord; and behold, I will wait for you."

3 And he came and said, "Father, one of our nation has been strangled and cast out in the marketplace."

4 And before I had tasted anything, I sprang up and took him up into a certain room until the sun had set.

5 And returning, I washed myself and ate my bread in sorrow.

6 And I remembered the prophecy of Amos, as he said, "Your feasts shall be turned into mourning, and all your mirth into lamentation," and I wept.

7 And when the sun had set, I went and dug a grave and buried him.

8 And my neighbors mocked me, saying, "He is no longer afraid to be put to death for this matter; he fled, and behold, again he buries the dead."

9 And that same night I returned from burying him, and being defiled I slept by the wall of the courtyard, and my face was uncovered.

10 And I did not know that there were sparrows in the wall, and while my eyes were open the sparrows dropped warm dung into my eyes, and white films formed on my eyes. And I went to physicians, but they did not help me; and Achiacharus provided for me until he went to Elymais.

11 And my wife Anna did women's work for hire;

12 and she would send the work to her employers, and they paid her her wages, and also gave her a kid besides.

13 And when it came to me, it began to bleat; and I said to her, "Where is this kid from? Is it not stolen? Give it back to its owners, for it is not lawful to eat what is stolen."

14 But she said, "It was given to me as a gift in addition to my wages." Yet I did not believe her, and I told her to return it to its owners, and I blushed with shame because of her. But she answered and said to me, "Where are your acts of charity and your righteous deeds? Behold, all things are known about you."

Chapter 3

1 And being grieved I wept, and prayed with anguish, saying,

2 You are righteous, O Lord, and all your works and all your ways are mercies and truth, and you judge true and righteous judgment forever.

3 Remember me and look upon me; do not punish me for my sins and my errors of ignorance, and those of my fathers, which we sinned before you;

4 for they disobeyed your commandments. You gave us over to plunder and captivity and death, and to be a byword of reproach to all the nations among whom we have been scattered.

5 And now your many judgments are true in dealing with me concerning my sins and those of my fathers, because we did not keep your commandments; for we did not walk in truth before you.

6 And now deal with me according to what is pleasing before you; command my spirit to be taken up, that I may be released and become earth; for it is better for me to die than to live, because I have heard false reproaches, and there is much grief in me; command that I be released now from this distress into the eternal place; do not turn your face away from me.

7 On the same day it happened that Sarah, the daughter of Raguel, in Ecbatana of Media, was also reproached by her father's maidservants,

8 because she had been given to seven husbands, and Asmodeus the evil demon had killed them before they had been with her as is customary with wives. And they said to her, Do you not understand that you strangle your husbands? You have already had seven, and you have had no benefit from any of them.

9 Why do you beat us? If they are dead, go with them; may we never see a son or daughter of yours forever.

10 Hearing these things she was greatly grieved, so that she thought of hanging herself. And she said, I am the only child of my father; if I do this, it will be a reproach to him, and I shall bring his old age down with sorrow to Hades.

11 And she prayed by the window and said, Blessed are you, O Lord my God, and blessed is your holy and honorable name forever; may all your works bless you forever.

12 And now, O Lord, I have turned my eyes and my face toward you;

13 command that I be released from the earth and that I no longer hear reproach.

14 You know, O Lord, that I am pure from all sin with a man

15 and that I have not defiled my name nor the name of my father in the land of my captivity. I am my father's only child, and he has no other child to be his heir, nor is there a near kinsman, nor does he have a son, that I should keep myself as a wife for him. Seven have already perished for me; why should I live? And if it does not seem good to you to kill me, command that I be looked upon and shown mercy, and that I no longer hear reproach.

16 And the prayer of both was heard before the glory of the great Raphael,

17 and he was sent to heal the two of them: to remove the white films from Tobit's eyes, and to give Sarah the daughter of Raguel as a wife to Tobias the son of Tobit, and to bind Asmodeus the evil demon, because it fell to Tobias to inherit her. At that very time Tobit returned and entered his house, and Sarah the daughter of Raguel came down from her upper room.

Chapter 4

1 On that day Tobit remembered the money which he had deposited with Gabael in Rages of Media,

2 and he said to himself, "I have asked for death; why do I not call my son Tobias, so that I may instruct him before I die?"

3 And calling him, he said, "My child, when I die, bury me; and do not neglect your mother; honor her all the days of your life, and do what is pleasing to her, and do not grieve her.

4 Remember, my child, that she saw many dangers for you while you were in her womb; when she dies, bury her beside me in one grave.

5 All your days, my child, remember the Lord our God, and do not be willing to sin and transgress his commandments; do righteousness all the days of your life, and do not walk in the ways of unrighteousness;

6 for if you act in accordance with truth, there will be prosperity in your works.

7 And to all who do righteousness give alms from your possessions, and let not your eye be grudging when you give alms; do not turn your face away from any poor person, and the face of God will not be turned away from you.

8 According as you have, give alms in proportion to your abundance; if you have little, do not be afraid to give alms according to the little;

9 for you are laying up a good treasure for yourself against the day of necessity;

10 because almsgiving delivers from death and does not allow one to enter into the darkness;

11 for almsgiving is a good gift for all who give it in the sight of the Most High.

12 Beware, my child, of all fornication, and first of all take a wife from the seed of your fathers; do not take a foreign wife who is not of your father's tribe, for we are the sons of prophets. Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, our fathers from of old, remember, my child, that all these took wives from among their kindred and were blessed in their children, and their seed will inherit the land.

13 And now, my child, love your kindred, and do not be too proud in your heart toward your kindred and the sons and daughters of your people to take for yourself a wife from among them; for in pride there is destruction and much disorder, and in worthlessness there is loss and great want; for worthlessness is the mother of famine.

14 Let not the wages of any man who works for you remain with you overnight, but pay him at once; and if you serve God, it will be repaid to you. Beware, my child, in all your works, and be disciplined in all your conduct.

15 And what you hate, do to no one. Do not drink wine to drunkenness, and let not drunkenness go with you on your way.

16 Give of your bread to the hungry and of your garments to the naked; whatever you have in abundance, give as alms, and let not your eye be grudging when you give alms.

17 Pour out your bread on the grave of the righteous, and do not give to sinners.

18 Seek counsel from every wise man, and do not despise any useful counsel.

19 And at all times bless the Lord God, and ask of him that your ways may be straight, and that all your paths and plans may prosper; for no nation possesses counsel, but the Lord himself gives all good things, and whomever he wishes he humbles, as he wills. And now, my child, remember my commandments, and let them not be blotted out from your heart.

20 And now I make known to you the ten talents of silver which I deposited with Gabael the son of Gabrias in Rages of Media.

21 And do not fear, my child, because we have become poor; you have great wealth if you fear God and depart from all sin and do what is pleasing in his sight."

Chapter 5

1 And Tobias answered and said to him, "Father, I will do everything that you have commanded me;

2 but how shall I be able to receive the money, when I do not know him?"

3 And he gave him the handwritten receipt and said to him, "Seek out for yourself a man who will go with you, and I will give him wages as long as I live; and go and receive the money."

4 And he went to seek a man, and he found Raphael, who was an angel, and he did not know it.

5 And he said to him, "Can I go with you to Rages of Media, and are you acquainted with those places?"

6 And the angel said to him, "I will go with you, and I know the way well, and I have lodged with Gabael our brother."

7 And Tobias said to him, "Wait for me, and I will tell my father."

8 And he said to him, "Go, and do not delay."

9 And he went in and said to his father, "Behold, I have found one who will go with me." And he said, "Call him to me, that I may learn of what tribe he is, and whether he is trustworthy to go with you."

10 And he called him, and he came in, and they greeted one another.

11 And Tobit said to him, "Brother, of what tribe and of what family are you? Tell me."

12 And he said to him, "Do you seek a tribe and family, or a hired man who will go with your son?" And Tobit said to him, "I wish, brother, to know your lineage and your name."

13 And he said, "I am Azarias, son of Ananias the great, one of your kinsmen."

14 And he said to him, "Welcome, brother, and may you come in health; and do not be angry with me because I sought to know your tribe and your family. And you happen to be my kinsman, of a good and noble line; for I knew Ananias and Jathan, the sons of Semeias the great, when we went together to Jerusalem to worship, bringing the firstborn and the tithes of the produce, and they were not led astray in the error of our brothers. You are of a good root, brother.

15 But tell me, what wages shall I give you—a drachma a day, and the things you need, as also for my son?

16 And moreover I will add to your wages, if you return in health."

17 And they agreed thus. And he said to Tobias, "Make yourself ready for the journey, and may you prosper on your way." And his son prepared the things for the journey. And his father said to him, "Go with the man; and may the God who dwells in heaven prosper your way, and may his angel go with you." And they both went out to depart, and the young man's dog went with them.

18 But Anna his mother wept and said to Tobit, "Why have you sent our child away? Is he not the staff of our hand, in his going in and coming out before us?

19 Let not money be added to money, but let it be as refuse compared with our child;

20 for as it has been given to us by the Lord to live, this is enough for us."

21 And Tobit said to her, "Do not worry, sister; he will come back in health, and your eyes will see him;

22 for a good angel will go with him, and his journey will be prospered, and he will return in health."

23 And she ceased weeping.

Chapter 6

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

2 And the young man went down to wash himself, and a fish leaped up out of the river and would have swallowed the young man.

3 And the angel said to him, "Take hold of the fish." And the young man seized the fish and drew it up onto the land.

4 And the angel said to him, "Cut open the fish, and take the heart and the liver and the gall, and put them away safely."

5 And the young man did as the angel told him; and having roasted the fish, they ate it.

6 And they both journeyed on until they drew near to Ecbatana.

7 And the young man said to the angel, "Brother Azarias, what are the liver and the heart and the gall of the fish for?"

8 And he said to him, "As for the heart and the liver, if a demon or an evil spirit troubles anyone, one must make a smoke of these before the man or woman, and that person will never be troubled again;

9 and as for the gall, it serves to anoint a man who has white films on his eyes, and he will be healed."

10 Now as they drew near to Rages,

11 the angel said to the young man, "Brother, today we shall lodge with Raguel, and he is your kinsman, and he has an only daughter named Sarah.

12 I will speak about her, that she may be given to you as a wife, because her inheritance falls to you, and you alone are of her family; and the girl is beautiful and sensible.

13 So now listen to me, and I will speak to her father, and when we return from Rages, we will hold the wedding. For I know Raguel that he cannot give her to another man, according to the law of Moses, or he would be liable to death, because it is fitting for you to receive the inheritance rather than any other man."

14 Then the young man said to the angel, "Brother Azarias, I have heard that the girl has been given to seven husbands, and that all of them perished in the bridal chamber.

15 And now I am my father's only son, and I am afraid that if I go in, I shall die like those before me, because a demon loves her, and it harms no one except those who approach her. And now I fear that I may die and bring the life of my father and of my mother down to their grave in sorrow over me; and they have no other son to bury them."

16 But the angel said to him, "Do you not remember the words with which your father charged you, that you should take a wife from your own family? So now listen to me, brother, for she shall become your wife; and take no account of the demon, for this very night she will be given to you as a wife.

17 And when you enter the bridal chamber, you shall take ashes of incense and lay upon them some of the heart and the liver of the fish, and make a smoke; and the demon will smell it and flee, and will never return, for ever and ever.

18 But when you approach her, both of you rise up and cry out to the merciful God, and he will save you and have mercy on you. Do not fear, for she was prepared for you from eternity, and you will save her, and she will go with you; and I suppose that you will have children by her."

19 And when Tobias heard these things, he loved her, and his soul clung to her exceedingly.

Chapter 7

1 And they came to Ecbatana and arrived at the house of Raguel, and Sarah met them and greeted them, and they her, and she brought them into the house.

2 And Raguel said to Edna his wife, "How like the young man is to Tobit my cousin!"

3 And Raguel asked them, "Where are you from, brothers?" And they said to him, "From the sons of Naphtali, the captives in Nineveh."

4 And he said to them, "Do you know Tobit our brother?" And they said, "We know him."

5 And he said to them, "Is he in good health?" And they said, "He is both alive and in good health." And Tobias said, "He is my father."

6 And Raguel leapt up and kissed him and wept, and blessed him and said to him, "Son of the good and noble man!" And when he heard that Tobit had lost his eyes, he was grieved and wept.

7 And Edna his wife and Sarah his daughter wept, and they received them eagerly.

8 And they slaughtered a ram of the flock and set out many dishes.

9 And Tobias said to Raphael, "Brother Azariah, speak of the matters you spoke of on the journey, and let the matter be accomplished."

10 And he communicated the matter to Raguel. And Raguel said to Tobias, "Eat and drink and be merry; for it is fitting for you to take my child. But I will show you the truth.

11 I have given my child to seven men, and whenever they went in to her, they died during the night. But for now, be merry."

12 And Tobias said, "I will taste nothing here until you settle the matter and make an agreement with me." And Raguel said, "Take her from this moment according to the ordinance; you are her kinsman, and she is yours. May the merciful God prosper you both with all that is best."

13 And he called Sarah his daughter and, taking her hand, gave her to Tobias as wife and said, "Behold, according to the law of Moses take her and lead her away to your father." And he blessed them.

14 And he called Edna his wife; and taking a scroll he wrote a contract, and they set their seals to it. And they began to eat.

15 And Raguel called Edna his wife and said to her, "Sister, prepare the other chamber and bring her in."

16 And she did as he said and brought her in there, and she wept; and she received the tears of her daughter and said to her,

17 "Take courage, child; may the Lord of heaven and earth grant you joy in place of this grief of yours. Take courage, daughter."

Chapter 8

1 And when they had finished supping, they brought Tobias in to her.

2 And as he went, he remembered the words of Raphael, and took the ashes of the incense and laid the heart of the fish and the liver upon them, and made a smoke.

3 And when the demon smelled the odor, it fled into the uppermost parts of Egypt, and the angel bound it.

4 And when they were both shut in together, Tobias rose up from the bed and said, Arise, sister, and let us pray, that the Lord may have mercy on us.

5 And Tobias began to say, Blessed are you, O God of our fathers, and blessed is your holy and glorious name forever; let the heavens bless you, and all your creatures.

6 You made Adam, and gave him Eve his wife as a helper and support; from these came the seed of mankind. You said, It is not good for the man to be alone; let us make for him a helper like himself.

7 And now, O Lord, I take this my sister not out of lust, but in truth; command that mercy be shown to me, and that I may grow old together with her.

8 And she said with him, Amen.

9 And they both slept that night.

10 And Raguel arose and went and dug a grave, saying, Lest this one also die.

11 And Raguel came into his own house

12 and said to Edna his wife, Send one of the maidservants, and let them see whether he is alive; and if not, let us bury him, and let no one know.

13 And the maidservant went in, opening the door, and found the two sleeping.

14 And she went out and told them that he was alive.

15 And Raguel blessed God, saying, Blessed are you, O God, with every pure and holy blessing; and let your saints bless you, and all your creatures; and let all your angels and your elect bless you forever and ever.

16 Blessed are you, because you have made me glad, and it has not happened to me as I suspected, but according to your great mercy you have dealt with us.

17 Blessed are you, because you have had mercy on two only children; grant them mercy, O Master; complete their life in health with gladness and mercy.

18 And he commanded his servants to fill in the grave.

19 And he made them a wedding feast of fourteen days.

20 And Raguel said to him with an oath, before the days of the wedding were completed, that he should not depart unless the fourteen days of the wedding were fulfilled,

21 and then, taking half of his possessions, he should go in health to his father; and the rest, when I and my wife die.

Chapter 9

1 And Tobias called Raphael and said to him,

2 "Azariah, brother, take with you a servant and two camels and journey to Rages of Media, to Gabael, and fetch me the money, and bring him to the wedding;

3 for Raguel has sworn that I shall not depart,

4 and my father is counting the days, and if I delay long, he will be greatly grieved."

5 And Raphael went and lodged with Gabael, and gave him the handwritten bond; and he brought forth the bags with their seals and gave them to him.

6 And they rose early together and came to the wedding. And Tobias blessed his wife.

Chapter 10

1 And Tobit his father was counting each day; and when the days of the journey were fulfilled and they did not come,

2 he said, "Can it be that they have been put to shame? Or perhaps Gabael has died and there is no one to give him the money?"

3 And he was greatly grieved.

4 And his wife said to him, "The child has perished, since he has delayed"; and she began to mourn for him, and said, 5 "Do I not care, my child, that I let you go, the light of my eyes?"

6 And Tobit said to her, "Be silent, do not worry; he is well."

7 And she said to him, "Be silent, do not deceive me; my child has perished." And she went out every day into the road by which he had departed, and by day she ate no bread, and by night she did not cease mourning for Tobias her son, until the fourteen days of the wedding were completed, which Raguel had sworn that he should spend there.

8 And Tobias said to Raguel, "Send me away, for my father and my mother no longer hope to see me."

9 But his father-in-law said to him, "Stay with me, and I will send to your father, and they will make known to him how things are with you." And Tobias said, "No, but send me away to my father."

10 Then Raguel arose and gave him Sarah his wife and half of his possessions, slaves and cattle and money

11 and having blessed them he sent them away, saying, "May the God of heaven prosper you, my children, before I die."

12 And he said to his daughter, "Honor your parents-in-law; they are now your parents; may I hear a good report of you." And he kissed her.

13 And Edna said to Tobias, "Beloved brother, may the Lord of heaven restore you, and grant me to see children of yours by Sarah my daughter, that I may rejoice before the Lord; and behold, I entrust my daughter to you as a sacred trust; do not grieve her."

14 After these things Tobias went on his way, blessing God because he had prospered his journey, and he blessed Raguel and Edna his wife.

Chapter 11

1 And he went on until they drew near to Nineveh. And Raphael said to Tobias,

2 "Do you not know, brother, in what state you left your father?

3 Let us run ahead of your wife and prepare the house;

4 and take in your hand the gall of the fish." So they went, and the dog went along behind them.

5 And Anna sat looking about toward the road for her son;

6 and she caught sight of him coming and said to his father, "Behold, your son is coming, and the man who went with him."

7 And Raphael said, "I know that your father will open his eyes;

8 you therefore smear the gall on his eyes, and when it stings he will rub them, and he will cast off the white films and will see you."

9 And Anna ran up and fell upon the neck of her son and said to him, "I have seen you, my child; from now on I may die." And they both wept.

10 And Tobit was coming out toward the door and stumbling, but his son ran to him

11 and took hold of his father and applied the gall to his father's eyes, saying, "Take courage, father."

12 And when they stung, he rubbed his eyes, and the white films were peeled away from the corners of his eyes.

13 And seeing his son, he fell upon his neck and wept and said,

14 "Blessed are you, O God, and blessed is your name forever, and blessed are all your holy angels; for you scourged me and had mercy on me: behold, I see Tobias my son."

15 And his son went in rejoicing, and reported to his father the great things that had happened to him in Media.

16 And Tobit went out to meet his daughter-in-law, rejoicing and blessing God, at the gate of Nineveh; and those who saw him walking marveled that he could see, and Tobit acknowledged before them that God had had mercy on him.

17 And when Tobit came near to Sarah his daughter-in-law, he blessed her, saying, "Welcome in health, daughter; blessed is God, who has brought you to us, and blessed are your father and your mother."

18 And there was joy among all his kindred in Nineveh.

19 And Ahikar came, and Nasbas his nephew, and the wedding of Tobias was celebrated with gladness for seven days.

Chapter 12

1 And Tobit called Tobias his son and said to him, "See, child, that the man who went with you receives his wages, and something must be added for him."

2 And he said to him, "Father, I am not harmed by giving him half of what I have brought back,

3 for he has brought me back to you in health, and healed my wife, and brought my money, and likewise healed you."

4 And the old man said, "It is his due."

5 And he called the angel and said to him, "Take half of all that you have brought back."

6 Then, calling the two of them privately, he said to them, "Bless God and give thanks to him; ascribe greatness to him, and give thanks before all the living for what he has done with you. It is good to bless God and exalt his name, honorably declaring the words of the works of God; and do not be slow to give thanks to him.

7 It is good to keep a king's secret, but to reveal the works of God gloriously. Do good, and evil will not find you.

8 Prayer with fasting and almsgiving and righteousness is good; a little with righteousness is better than much with wrongdoing. It is better to give alms than to store up gold.

9 For almsgiving delivers from death, and it will purge away every sin. Those who practice almsgiving and righteousness will be filled with life;

10 but those who sin are enemies of their own life.

11 I will not hide anything from you. I have said, 'It is good to keep a king's secret, but to reveal the works of God gloriously.'

12 And now, when you prayed, you and your daughter-in-law Sarah, I brought the memorial of your prayer before the Holy One; and when you buried the dead, I was likewise present with you.

13 And when you did not hesitate to rise and leave your dinner in order to go and lay out the dead man, your good deed did not escape me, but I was with you.

14 And now God has sent me to heal you and your daughter-in-law Sarah.

15 I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels who present the prayers of the holy ones and enter before the glory of the Holy One."

16 And the two were troubled and fell on their faces, for they were afraid.

17 And he said to them, "Do not be afraid; peace shall be with you. But bless God forever.

18 For it was not by my own favor, but by the will of our God that I came; therefore bless him forever.

19 All these days I appeared to you, and I neither ate nor drank, but you were seeing a vision.

20 And now give thanks to God, because I am ascending to him who sent me; and write down all that has been accomplished in a book."

21 And they rose up, and they saw him no more.

22 And they gave thanks for the great and wondrous works of God, and how the angel of the Lord had appeared to them.

Chapter 13

1 And Tobit wrote a prayer of rejoicing and said:

2 Blessed be the living God forever, and his kingdom; for he scourges and shows mercy, he brings down to Hades and brings up again, and there is no one who shall escape his hand.

3 Give thanks to him, you children of Israel, before the nations, for he has scattered us among them.

4 There declare his greatness; exalt him before every living being, because he is our Lord and God, he is our Father forever.

5 And he will scourge us for our iniquities, and again will have mercy and will gather us out of all the nations among whom you have been scattered.

6 If you turn to him with all your heart and with all your soul, to do truth before him, then he will turn to you and will not hide his face from you.

7 And see what he will do with you, and give thanks to him with your whole mouth; and bless the Lord of righteousness and exalt the King of the ages.

8 I, in the land of my captivity, give thanks to him and show his strength and greatness to a nation of sinners. Turn, you sinners, and do righteousness before him; who knows whether he will accept you and show you mercy?

9 I exalt my God, and my soul exalts the King of heaven, and shall rejoice in his greatness.

10 Let all speak and give thanks to him in Jerusalem: Jerusalem, holy city, he will scourge you for the works of your sons, and again will have mercy on the sons of the righteous.

11 Give thanks to the Lord rightly and bless the King of the ages, that his tabernacle may again be built in you with joy.

12 And may he gladden in you the captives, and love in you the wretched, for all the generations of eternity.

13 Many nations shall come from afar to the name of the Lord God, bearing gifts in their hands, gifts for the King of heaven; generations of generations shall give you rejoicing.

14 Cursed are all who hate you; blessed forever shall be all who love you.

15 Rejoice and be glad over the sons of the righteous, for they shall be gathered together and shall bless the Lord of the righteous. O blessed are they who love you; they shall rejoice in your peace.

16 Blessed are all who grieved over all your scourges, for they shall rejoice over you when they behold all your glory, and shall be glad forever. Let my soul bless God, the great King.

17 For Jerusalem shall be built with sapphire and emerald, and your walls with precious stone, and the towers and battlements with pure gold; and the streets of Jerusalem shall be paved with beryl and carbuncle and stone from Ophir.

18 And all her streets shall say, Alleluia! and shall give praise, saying, Blessed be God, who has exalted all the ages.

Chapter 14

1 And Tobit ceased giving thanks.

2 And he was fifty-eight years old when he lost his sight, and after eight years he received it again; and he gave alms, and he continued to fear the Lord God and to give thanks to him.

3 And he grew very old; and he called his son and his son's sons and said to him, "Child, take your sons; behold, I have grown old and am at the point of departing from life.

4 Go away to Media, child, for I am persuaded of all that Jonah the prophet spoke concerning Nineveh, that it will be overthrown, but in Media there will rather be peace for a time; and that our brothers will be scattered abroad in the land, away from the good land, and Jerusalem will be desolate, and the house of God in it will be burned down and will be desolate for a time.

5 And God will again have mercy on them and will bring them back to the land, and they will build the house, not like the former one, until the times of the age are fulfilled. And after these things they will return from the captivities and will build Jerusalem honorably, and the house of God in it will be built for all the generations of the age with a glorious building, just as the prophets spoke concerning it.

6 And all the nations will turn to fear the Lord God truly, and will bury their idols, and all the nations will bless the Lord.

7 And his people will give thanks to God, and the Lord will exalt his people, and all who love the Lord God in truth and righteousness will rejoice, showing mercy to our brothers.

8 And now, child, depart from Nineveh, for surely the things that the prophet Jonah spoke will come to pass.

9 But you keep the law and the ordinances, and be merciful and just, so that it may be well with you; and bury me well, and your mother with me; and do not dwell any longer in Nineveh.

10 Child, see what Aman did to Achiacharus, who brought him up: how he brought him from light into darkness, and how he repaid him. And Achiacharus was saved, but the recompense was rendered to that man, and he himself went down into darkness. Manasses gave alms and was saved from the snare of death which he had set for him, but Aman fell into the snare and perished.

11 And now, children, see what almsgiving does, and how righteousness delivers." — And as he was saying these things, his soul failed him upon the bed; and he was a hundred and fifty-eight years old; and he buried him gloriously.

12 And when Anna died, he buried her with his father. And Tobias departed with his wife and his sons to Ecbatana, to Raguel his father-in-law.

13 And he grew old honorably, and buried his parents-in-law gloriously, and inherited their property, and that of Tobit his father.

14 And he died at a hundred and twenty-seven years in Ecbatana of Media.

15 And before he died he heard of the destruction of Nineveh, which Nebuchadnezzar and Asuerus took captive; before his death he rejoiced over Nineveh.