Tobit

Chapter 1

1 This is the Book and the words of Tobit, son of Tobiel, the son of Ananiel, the son of Aduel, the son of Gabael, from the seed of Asael, from the Tribe of Nephthali, 2 Who in the time of Enemessar king of the Assyrians, was led captive out of that place which is at the right hand of the city, which is called properly Nephthali in Galilee around Aser. 3 I Tobit, have walked all the days of my life in the ways of truth and justice and I performed many charitable deeds for my brothers and for my nation, who came with me to Nineveh into the land of the Assyrians. 4 And when I was in my own country, in the land of Israel, being still young, all the tribe of Nephthali, my father, fell away 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 for the habitation of the most high was consecrated and built for all ages. 5 Now all the tribes who joined together revolted and the house of my father Nephthali sacrificed to the heifer Baal. 6 But I alone went often to Jerusalem for the feasts, as it was commanded to all the people of Israel by everlasting decree, giving the first fruits and a tenth of increase, along with wools and blessings of the flock and i gave them at the Altar to the Priests, the children of Aaron. 7 The first part of the tenth of increase, I gave to the sons of Aaron, who ministered in Jerusalem: another part of the tenth I sold and went and spent it every year in Jerusalem. 8 And the third, I gave to those who it was suitable, as Debora, my fathers mother, had commanded me, because I was left as an orphan by my father. 9 Furthermore when I had come to the age of manhood, I married Anna from my own kindred and through her we bore Tobias.10 And when we were carried away as captives to Nineveh, all my brothers and those who were of my kindred, ate the bread of the Gentiles. 11 But I kept myself from eating 12 Because I remembered God with all my heart. 13 And the most high gave me grace and favor before Enemessar, so that I was his purveyor. 14 So, I went into Media and left in trust with Gabael ten talents of silver, the brother of Gabrias at Rages, a city in Media. 15 Now after Enemessar died, Sennacherib his son reigned in his stead, whose estate was troubled, so that I could not go into Media. 16 And in the time of Enemessar, I gave many tithes to my brothers and gave my bread to the hungry, 17 And clothing to the naked: and if I saw anyone from my nation dead or hung from the walls of Nineveh, I buried them. 18 And if the king Sennacherib had killed anyone, (during his occupation of the city, who was forced to retreat from Judea,) I buried them proudly, for in his wrath he killed many, thus, the bodies were not found, when Sennacherib sought for them. 19 Later, one of the Ninevites went and complained about me to the king because i was burying the dead, so, I hid myself: understanding that they would seek to put me to death for this, I withdrew myself out of fear. 20 Then all my goods were forcibly taken away, nor was anything left by me, besides my wife Anna and my son Tobias. 21 Not even fifty five days had passed before two of his own sons killed Sennacherib and they fled into the mountains of Ararath. Then Sarchedonus his son reigned in his stead, who was appointed over his fathers accounts and over all his affairs, Achiacharus my brother Anaels son. 22 Sent word entreating me, to return to Nineveh: now Achiacharus was a Cup-bearer and The Keeper of The Signet, The Steward and Overseer of the accounts: who Sarchedonus had appointed next unto him: and he was my brother's son.

Chapter 2

1 Once I was home again and my wife Anna had been reunited with me, with my son Tobias, at the feast of Pentecost, which is the holy Feast of the seven weeks, there was a banquet prepared for me, at which I sat down to eat. 2 And when I saw the abundance of meat, I said to my son, Go and bring a poor man who is living here in the city that you find among our brothers, who is mindful of the Lord and I will wait for you here. 3 But he came back and said, Father, one of our nation has been strangled and cast out in the marketplace. 4 Before I had tasted any of the meat, I got up and took him up into a room, until sunset 5 Then I returned and washed myself and ate my meat in heaviness, 6 Remembering the prophecies of Amos, when he said; “Your feasts will be turned into mourning and all your joy into lamentation.” 7 Therefore, I wept and after the sunset, I went and made a grave and buried him. 8 But my neighbors mocked me and said “This man isn't afraid to be put to death for burying people, the one who fled away, but look! he has buried the dead again.” 9 That same night I also returned from the burial and slept on the wall of my courtyard, without washing the dirt off and my face was uncovered: 10 I did not know that there were sparrows on the wall and while i slept with my eyes open, warm feces from the sparrows fell into my eyes and a strange whiteness came into my vision. I went to the Physicians but they could not help me, thus, Achiacharus had to feed me, until I went into Elymais. 11 So, my wife Anna began to take work suitable for a woman to do. 12 After she had been sent home by the owners, they paid her wages and gave her also a young goat. 13 But, when she brought it to my house, she began to cry, I said to her, where did you get this? it’s not stolen is it? Bring it back to its owners, for it is not lawful to eat anything that is stolen. 14 But, she replied, It was given as a gift on top of the wages, but I did not believe her, instead I told her to bring it back to its owner and I was ashamed of her. But, she replied to me, “Where are your tithes now and your righteous deeds? Look!, you and all your works are known.”

Chapter 3

1 Then being grieved, I wept and in my sorrow prayed, saying, 2 O Lord, you are just and in all your works and in all your ways are merciful and truthful and you judge in truth and justice forever. 3 Remember me and look upon me, please, do not punish me for my sins and ignorances and the sins of my fathers, who have sinned before you. 4 For they did not obey your commandments, therefore, you have delivered us as the spoils of war into captivity and unto death as proverbs of reproach to all the nations among us to whom we are dispersed. 5 And now your judgments are numerous and true: Deal with me according to my sins and the sins of my fathers: because we have not kept your commandments, nor have walked in truth before you. 6 Now therefore deal with me as it seems best to you and command that my spirit be taken from me, so that I may be dissolved and become earth: for it is better for me to die, rather than to live, because I have heard much slander and have much sorrow: command therefore that I may now be delivered out of this distress and go into the everlasting place: turn not your face away from me. 7 It came to pass on that same day, that in Ecbatane a city in Media, Sara the daughter of Raguel, was also mocked by her fathers maids, 8 Because she had been married to seven husbands, by who Almodeus, an evil spirit, had killed, before they had slept with her. Do you not know, they said, that you have strangled your husbands? you have already had seven husbands, but were not named after any of them. 9 Therefore, do you beat us because of them? If they are dead, go your way and follow after them, let us never see any of your sons or daughters. 10 When she heard these things, she became very sorrowful, she thought about strangling herself and she said, I am the only daughter of my father, and if I do this, it would be a lesson to him and I would fill his old age with sorrow unto the grave. 11 Then she prayed toward the window and said, Blessed are you, O Lord my God and your holy and glorious name is blessed and honorable forever, let all your works praise you forever. 12 And now, O Lord, I set mine eyes and my face toward you, 13 And say, take me from out of the earth, that I may hear no more of these rebukes. 14 You know, Lord, that I am pure from all sin with man, 15 And that I have never polluted my name, nor the name of my father in the land of my captivity: I am the only daughter of my father, nor does he have any other child to be his heir, neither any near relatives, nor are any sons of his alive, for whom I may keep myself for as a wife: my seven husbands are already dead and why should I live? but if it would not please you that I should die, command some regard to be had of me and pity taken on me, that I hear no more lies. 16 Then the prayers of both of them were heard before the Majesty of the great God. 17 And Raphael was sent to heal them both, that is, to scale away the whiteness in Tobits eyes, and to give Sara the daughter of Raguel, as a wife to Tobias the son of Tobit and to bind Asmodeus the evil spirit, because she belonged to Tobias by right of inheritance. At the same time Tobit came home and entered into his house and Sara, the daughter of Raguel came down from the upper room.

Chapter 4

1 That day Tobit remembered the money, which he had committed to Gabael in Rages in Media, 2 And said to himself, I have prayed for death, therefore, should I not call for my son Tobias, so that I may designate this money for him prior to my death. 3 And when he had called him, he said: My son, after I am dead, bury me, and do not despise your mother, but honor her all the days of your life and do what pleases her and do not bring her trouble. 4 Remember, my son, that she endured much danger for you when you were in her womb and after she is dead, bury her beside me in the same grave. 5 My son, be mindful of the Lord our God all your days and do not let your will be set towards sin or transgression of his commandments: Live uprightly, all of your life and do not follow the ways of unrighteousness. 6 For if you deal truthfully, in your deeds prosperity will go before you as with all those who live justly. 7 Give tithe from your possessions and when you give tithe, do not let your eye be envious, nor turn your face from any who are poor and the face of God will not turn away from you. 8 If you have abundance, give tithe accordingly: if you have just a little, do not be afraid to give in accordance with that little. 9 For you lay up a good treasure for yourself against the days of necessity. 10 Because righteous deeds deliver from death and God will not suffer that you enter into darkness. 11 For tithes are a good gift for all who give it, in the sight of the most high. 12 Beware of all who are whores, my son and chiefly take a wife from the children of your fathers and take not a strange woman as your wife, which is not from your fathers tribe: for we are the children of the Prophets, Noah, Abraham, Issac and Jacob: remember, my son, that our fathers from the beginning, all married wives of their own kind and were blessed in their children and their children will inherit the land. 13 Now therefore my son, love your brothers and do not despise in your heart your brothers sons or daughters of your people, by not taking a wife from them: for in pride is destruction and much trouble and in lewdness is decay and great want: for lewdness is the mother of famine. 14 Do not hold back the wages of anyone and do not let anyone who is wrathful towards you, remain with you, instead, give it to them out of your hand: for if you serve God he will also repay you: be prudent, my son, in everything you do and be wise in all your conversation. 15 Deal with no man that you hate: do not drink wine to the point of drunkenness, nor let drunkenness go with you on your journey. 16 Give from your bread to the hungry and from your garments to those who are naked and according to your abundance give tithe and do not let your eye be envious, when you give tithe. 17 Pour out your bread on the burials of the just, but give nothing to the wicked. 18 Ask for counsel from all who are wise and do not despise any counsel that is good for you. 19 Bless the Lord your God always and desire from Him that your ways be directed and that all your paths and advice may prosper: for every nation has no counselor but the Lord Himself gives all good things and He humbles who He will and as He will. Now therefore, my son, remember my commandments, do not let them be put out of your mind. 20 And now I designate this to you, that I committed ten talents to Gabael the son of Gabrias at Rages in Media. 21 Do not fear my son, that we are poor, for you have much wealth, if you fear God, depart from all sin and do what is pleasing in His sight.

Chapter 5

1 Tobias answered, Father, I will do everything that you have commanded me. 2 But how can I retrieve the money if I have never met the man? 3 So Tobit gave him a handwritten letter and said to him, seek a man who will go with you while I still live and I will pay him a wage and go and retrieve the money. 4 Therefore, when he went to find a man, he found Raphael, who was an Archangel. 5 But he did not know. Tobias said, “Can you travel with me to Rages? Do you know the roads well?” 6 To this the Archangel said, “I will go with you, I know the way well and I have lodged with our brother Gabael.” 7 Then Tobias said to him, wait for me here until I tell my father. 8 Raphael replied “Go and do not delay” so he went back and said to his father “Look! I have found someone who will guide me.” Then Tobit said, bring him to me, so that I may know what tribe he is from and whether he is a trustworthy man to travel with. 9 So Tobias brought him and he came in and they greeted one another. 10 Then Tobit said to him, Brother, tell me what tribe and family you are from. 11 To which he said, Do you seek a tribe or family, or a hired man to go with your son? Then Tobit said to him, I would know, brother, your lineage and name. 12 Then he said, I am Azariah, the son of Ananias the great and a descendant of your brothers. 13 Then Tobit said, you are welcome brother, now, do not be angry with me, because I insisted on knowing your tribe and your lineage, for you are my brother, from 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 first born from our flocks and the tenths of our first fruits, they were not seduced by the errors of our brothers: my brother, you are from good stock. 14 But tell me, what wage might I pay you? What about a drachme a day? And the things necessary for the journey as with my own son? 15 Yes and on top of this, if you return safely, I will add something to your wages. 16 So they were well pleased. Then he said to Tobias, Prepare yourself for the journey and may God give you a good journey. And when his son had prepared all the things for their journey, his father said; Go with this man and may God, who dwells in heaven make your journey prosperous and may the Angels of God keep your company. So they both set out and they brought young Tobias’ dog with them. 17 But Anna, his mother, wept and said to Tobit, Why have you sent our son away? Is he not the staff of our hand, who goes in and out before us? 18 Do not be greedy by adding money to money, but let it be as dust in respect to our child. 19 For what the Lord has given us to live with, is sufficient for us. 20 Then said Tobit to her, Do not worry my sister, he will return safely and your eyes will see him. 21 For a good Angel will keep him company and his journey will be prosperous and he will return safe. 22 Then she put an end to her weeping.

Chapter 6

1 They journeyed and when it was evening they arrived at the Tigris river and they camped there. 2 But, when the young Tobias went down to bathe himself, a giant fish leapt out of the river and tried to devour him. 3 Then the Archangel said to him, Take the fish, so Tobias grabbed hold of the fish and drew it onto land.4 Then the Archangel said, “Open the fish, take the heart, the liver, the gall and store them safely.” 5 So the young Tobias did as the Archangel commanded him and after they had roasted the fish, Tobias and his dog ate: then they both continued on their way, until they drew near to Ecbatane. 6 Then the young Tobias said to the Archangel, Brother Azariah, “ What use is the heart, the liver and the gall of the fish?” 7 Raphael replied, “Touching the heart and the liver, to a devil or an evil spirit who is tormenting someone, once they have been turned into smoke in the presence of any man or woman, they will be tormented no more. 8 As for the gall it will be used to anoint a man who has whiteness in his vision and he will be healed.” 9 After they had journeyed near Rages; 10 The Archangel said to the young man, Brother, today we will lodge with Raguel, who is your relative. He has one only daughter, named Sara, I will speak for her, that she may be given to you as your wife. 11 For you have the right to her by our customs, seeing you are her only remaining kinred. 12 The maiden is beautiful and wise, 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, or he will be held guilty of death, because the right of inheritance belongs to you, rather then to any other. 13 Then young Tobias answered the Angel, I have heard, brother Azariah, that this maid has been given to seven men, who all died in the marriage chamber: 14 But, I am the only son of my father and I am afraid, that if marry her I might die as the others before have, because a wicked spirit loves her, who kills no one, except for those who try and sleep with her, because of this I also fear, that I may die and bring my fathers and my mothers life to their graves through sorrow because of me, for they have no other sons to bury them. 15 Then the Archangel said to him, “Do you not remember the precepts that your father gave you, that you should marry a wife from your own kind? Therefore hear me, O my brother, for she will be given to you as a wife and have no fear of the evil spirit, for this same night she will be given to you in marriage. 16 And when you enter into the marriage chamber, you are to take the smoldering ashes from the incense and will lay upon them some of the heart and liver from the fish and will make a smoke from it. 17 The devil will smell it and flee, never to return: but when you come to her, the both of you shall rise up and pray to God, who is merciful, who will have pity on you and save you: fear not, for she was given to you from the beginning of all creation and you are to preserve her and she will go with you. Also she will bear you children. Now when Tobias heard these things, he loved her and his heart was joined with her.

Chapter 7

1 When they arrived in Ecbatane, they came to the house of Raguel and Sara met them: and after that they had greeted one another, she brought them into the house. 2 And Raguel said to Edna his wife How much alike is this young man to Tobit my cousin? 3 And Raguel asked them, Where are you from, brothers? To this they replied, We are of the sons of Nephthali, who are captives in Nineveh. 4 Then he said to them Do you know Tobit, our kinsman? And they said, We know him. Then he said, Is he in good health? 5 They replied, He is both alive and in good health: Tobias said, He is my father. 6 Then Raguel jumped up and kissed him and wept, 7 And blessed him and said to him, You are the son of an honest and good man: but when he had heard that Tobit was now blind, he became sorrowful and wept. 8 Likewise Edna his wife and Sara his daughter wept. Then they began entertaining them cheerfully and afterwards, they killed a ram from their flock and placed the meat on the table. Then Tobias said to Raphael, Brother Azariah, speak about the things which we spoke of on the way and let our business be dispatched. 9 So he spoke regarding the matter to Raguel and Raguel said to Tobias, Eat, drink and be merry: 10 For it is proper that you should marry my daughter: nevertheless I will declare to you the truth. 11I have given my daughter in marriage to seven men, who died the night they came into her chamber: nevertheless for the present time be merry: But Tobias said, I will eat nothing here, until we agree and swear to one another. 12 So, Raguel said, Then take her from here on, according to our ways, for you are her cousin and she is yours and may the merciful God give you great success in all things. 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 the wife of Tobias, saying, Take her according to the Law of Moses and lead her away to your father: And he blessed them, 14 Then he called Edna his wife and took paper and wrote an instrument of covenants and sealed it. 15 Then they began to eat. 16 After Raguel called his wife Edna and said to her, Sister, prepare another chamber and bring Sara there. 17 After she had done as he had instructed her, she brought Sara into the room and Sara wept and her mother received the tears of her daughter and said to her, 18 Be of good cheer, my daughter, may the Lord of heaven and earth give you joy in exchange for this sorrow: be of good cheer, my daughter.

Chapter 8

1 After they had eaten, they brought Tobias to Sara. 2 As he entered, he remembered the words of Raphael and took the ashes from the incense and put the heart and the liver of the fish upon them and they began to smoke. 3 And when the evil spirit caught the scent of the smoke, he fled into the outermost parts of Egypt and there, the Archangel bound him. 4 Afterwards they were both shut in together, Tobias rose up out of the bed and said, Sister, rise and let us pray that God will have pity on us. 5 Then began Tobias 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, as his wife as helper and residence of them came to mankind: you have said, It is not good that man should be alone, let us make for him a helper like himself. 7 And now, O Lord, I take my sister not for lust, but uprightly: therefore mercifully ordain that we may live together into our old age. 8 And with him, she said, Amen. 9 So they both slept that night and Raguel awoke early and went and made a grave 10 Saying, I fear that he is dead. 11 But once Raguel had come into his house, 12 He said to his wife Edna, Send one of the maids and let her see, if he is alive: so that if he is dead, that we may bury him before anyone knows of it. 13 So the maid opened the door and went in and found them both asleep 14 So she left and told them that he was alive. 15 Then Raguel praised God and said, O God, you are worthy to be praised with all pure and holy praise: Therefore, let your Saints praise you with all your creatures and let all your Angels and your elect praise you forever. 16 You are to be praised, for you have made me joyful and that has not often come to me. I expected tragedy: but you have dealt with us according to your great mercy. 17 You are to be praised because you have had mercy on those two, who were the only children of their fathers, grant them mercy, O Lord and finish their lives in health, with joy and mercy. 18 Then Raguel instructed his servants to fill the grave. 19 And he held a wedding feast for fourteen days. 20 For before the days of the marriage were finished, Raguel had sworn by an oath, that he would not allow Tobias to depart, until after the fourteen days of the marriage feast had ended, 21 After, Tobias was to take half of his goods and go in safety to his father and they were to inherit the remainder after Raguel and his wife died.

Chapter 9

1 Then Tobias called Raphael and said to him, 2 Brother Azariah, take a servant with you and two camels and go into Rages in Media to Gabael and bring me the money and bring Gabael to the wedding. 3 For Raguel has sworn that I am not to depart. 4 But my father is counting the days and if I delay too long, he will be grief-stricken. 5 So Raphael set out and lodged with Gabael and gave him the handwritten letter. So, Gabael brought out the bags of gold that were sealed away and gave them to him. 6 Then early the next morning Tobias and Sara went to their wedding and there, Tobias blessed his wife.

Chapter 10

1 Now Tobit, his father, counted every day and when the expected length of the journey had passed and they had not returned: 2 Tobit said, Have they been detained? is Gabael dead? was there no man to give him the money? 3 And he began to feel deep regret. 4 Then his wife said to him, My son is dead, he has been gone far too long and she began to weep and wail loudly over Tobias and said, 5 “I care for nothing except, my son, since I have let go the light of my eyes.” 6 To this Tobit said, Hold your peace and do not worry, for Tobias is safe. 7 But she said, “Hold your peace!” Do not try and deceive me: for my son is dead and she went out every day upon the way which they had traveled and she would eat nothing during the day and would not cease wailing throughout every night over her son Tobias, until the fourteen days of the wedding feast passed, which Raguel had sworn, that Tobias must spend there: Then Tobias said to Raguel, Let me go, or my father and my mother will stop expecting I return at all. 8 But his father in law said to him, Stay with me and I will send messengers to your father and they will report to him how things are going. 9 But Tobias said, No: I must go to my father. 10 Then Raguel got up and gave him Sara, his wife, half of all his goods, servants, cattle and money. 11 Then he blessed them and sent them away, saying, May the God of heaven give you a prosperous journey my children. 12 Then he said to his daughter, Honor your father and your mother in law, who are now your parents, so that I may hear the good reports about you: and he kissed her. Edna also said to Tobias, May The Lord of Heaven restore you to your home, my dear brother, and grant that I may see your children from my daughter Sara before I die, that I may rejoice before the Lord: Look, I commit my daughter to you in special form of trust, Therefore, do not ask her to do evil.

Chapter 11

1 After these events Tobias went on his way, praising God that he had given him a prosperous journey and blessed Raguel and Edna his wife and went on his way until they drew near to Nineveh. 2 Then Raphael said to Tobias, Brother, you know the state in which you left your father. 3 So, let us go ahead of your wife in haste and prepare the house. 4 And take in your hand the gall of the fish: so they went on ahead and the dog followed after them. 5 Now Anna sat looking upon the way that her son had traveled. 6 And when she saw him coming, she said to his father, Look! your son is coming and the man that went with him. 7 Then said Raphael, I know, Tobias, that your father will soon open his eyes. 8 Therefore, you are to anoint his eyes with the gall and being invigorated by it he will rub his eyes and the whiteness in his vision will fade away and he will see you. 9 Then Anna ran out to him and clung to the neck of her son, saying to him, “Now that I have seen you my son, from here forward, I am content to die” and they both wept. 10 Tobit also came out to the door but, he stumbled and Tobias, His son, ran to him, 11 And took hold of his father and applied streaks of the gall on his fathers eyes, saying, Be of good faith, my father. 12 And when Tobit’s eyes began to sting, he rubbed them. 13 And the whiteness was drawn out from the corners of his vision and when he saw his son, he wrapped himself around his neck. 14 And wept, saying, Blessed are you, O God and blessed is your Name forever and blessed are all your holy angels: 15 For you have suffered me and have taken pity on me: For look, I see my son Tobias. Then his son went in rejoicing and told his father the amazing things that had happened to him in Media. 16 Then Tobit went out to meet his daughter in law at the gate of Nineveh, rejoicing and praising God: and those who saw Tobit go out, marveled because he had received his sight. 17 So Tobit gave thanks before them: because God had mercy on him. And when he drew near to Sara, his daughter in Law, he blessed her, saying, You are welcome daughter: God be blessed who has brought you to us and blessed be your father and your mother. And joy spread amongst all his brothers who were in Nineveh. 18 And Achiacharus and Nasbas, his brother's sons, joined them. 19 And Tobias' wedding was held for seven days with great joy.

Chapter 12

1 Then Tobit called his son Tobias and said to him, My son, see that the man has his wages, who traveled with you and you must give him even more. 2 So, Tobias said to him, O father, it would be nothing to me to give him even half of these things that I have brought. 3 For he has brought me back again to you in safety and healed my wife and brought me the money and likewise healed you. 4 Then Tobit said: It is due to him. 5 So he called the Archangel and he said to him, Take half of all that you have brought and go your way in safety. 6 Then Raphael took both of them to a private place and said to them, Bless God, praise him and magnify him and praise him for the things that he has done to you in the sight of all who live. It is good to praise God and exalt his name and to honorably bring forth the works of God, therefore do not be slack in your praising of him. 7 It is good to keep close the secret of a King, but it is honorable to reveal the works of God: do that which is good and no evil will touch you. 8 Prayer is good with fasting, tithes and righteousness: a little with righteousness is better than much with unrighteousness: it is better to give tithe than to store up gold. 9 For righteous deeds deliver from death and purge away sin. Those who practice tithing and righteousness, will be filled with life. 10 But those who sin are enemies to their own life. 11 Surely I will keep nothing hidden from you. For I said, it is good to keep close the secret of a King, but it is honorable to reveal the works of God. 12 Therefore, when you and Sara, your daughter in Law, prayed, I brought the memory of your prayers before The Holy One and when you were burying the dead, I was there with you. 13 And when you did not hesitate to rise up and leave your dinner to go and cover the dead, your good deed was not hidden from me: but I was with you.14 And so God sent me to heal you and Sara, your daughter in law. 15 I am Raphael, one of the seven holy Archangels, who present the prayers of the Saints and who go in and out before the glory of The Holy One.16 Then they were both shocked and fell to their faces, out of fear. 17 But he said to them, do not fear, for life will go well for you, therefore, praise God. 18 For it was not by finding my favor, but by the will of our God that I came, therefore, praise Him forever. 19 All these days I did appear to you, but I did not eat or drink, but what you saw was a manifestation. 20 Therefore, give God thanks: for I go up to him who sent me, but I will write all the events that occurred in a book. 21 Then they got up, but could no longer see Raphael. 22 Then they professed the great and wonderful works of God and how The Angel of The Lord had appeared to them.

Chapter 13

1 Then Tobit wrote a prayer of rejoicing which reads,

Blessed be our God who lives forever and blessed be His kingdom: 2 For He does punish and has mercy: He leads down to hell and brings up again: nor is there any who can avoid His hand. 3 Praise Him before the Gentiles, you children of Israel: for He has scattered us among them. 4 Therefore, declare His greatness and extol Him before all the living, for He is our Lord, and He is God, our Father forever: 5 And He will punish us for our immorality and then will have mercy again and will gather us from out of all the nations, where He has scattered us. 6 If you turn to Him with your whole heart and with your whole mind and deal uprightly in His eyes, then He will turn to you and will not hide His face from you: Because of this seek out what He will do with you and profess 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 you sinners turn and do justice before him: who can know if he will accept you and have mercy on you? 7 I will extol my God and my soul will praise The King of Heaven and will rejoice in His greatness. 8 Let all men speak and let everyone praise Him for His righteousness. 9 O Jerusalem the holy City, he will punish you for your children's wicked works and will have mercy once again on the sons of the righteous. 10 Give praise to the Lord, for He is good and praise The Everlasting King, so that His Tabernacle may be built within you once again with joy and let him make joyfulness there within you, those who are captives and build love in you forever for those who are miserable. 11 Many nations will come from afar to the Name of the Lord God, with gifts in their hands, even gifts to The King of Heaven: all generations will praise you with great joy.12 Cursed are all those who hate you and blessed are all who love you forever.13 Rejoice and be glad for the children of the just: for they will be gathered together and will bless The Lord of The Just. 14 O blessed are they who love you, for they shall rejoice in your peace: blessed are they who have been made sorrowful from all your discipline, for they will rejoice for you, when they have seen all your glory and shall be glad forever. 15 Let my soul bless God the Great King. 16 For Jerusalem will be built up with sapphires, emeralds and precious stones: your walls, towers and battlements with pure gold. 17 And the streets of Jerusalem will be paved with Berill, Carbuncle and stones of Ophir. 18 And all her streets will say, Hallelujah and they will praise Him, saying, Blessed be God who has decreed it forever.

Chapter 14

1 So Tobit made an end of his praise. 2 Tobit was eighty five years old when he lost his sight, which was restored to him after eight years and he gave tithes and he increased in the fear of the Lord God and praised him. 3 And when he was very old, he called his son and the six sons of his son and said to Tobias, My son, take your children, for I am old and am ready to depart out of this life. 4 Go into Media, my son, for I surely believe the things that Jonas the Prophet spoke about Nineveh, that it will be overthrown and that for a time peace will instead be in Media and that our brothers will lie scattered in the earth out of that good land and Jerusalem will be destroyed and the house of God in it will be burned and will be desolate for a time: 5 After that, again, God will have mercy on them and bring them once again into a land where they will build a Temple, but not like the first, until the time of that age is fulfilled and afterward they will return from all the places of their captivity and build up Jerusalem gloriously and the house of God will be built in it forever with a glorious building as the prophets have spoken of. 6 And all nations will turn and fear the Lord God truthfully and will bury their idols. 7 So, all the nations will praise the Lord and his people will profess God and the Lord will exalt his people and all those who love the Lord God in truth and justice, will rejoice, showing mercy to our brothers and sisters. 8 Now my son, depart from Nineveh, because the things that the Prophet Jonas spoke of will surely come to pass. 9 But, as for you, keep the Law and the Commandments and show yourself to be merciful and just, so that it may go well with you. 10 Bury me decently and your mother with me, but delay no longer in Nineveh. Remember, my son, how Aman handled Achiacharus and brought him up, how out of light he brought him into darkness and how he rewarded him again: yet Ahiacharus was saved, but the other had his reward, for he went down into darkness. Manasses gave tithes and escaped the snares of death which they had set for him: but Aman fell into the snare and perished. 11 Therefore, now my son, consider what tithing does and how righteousness does deliver. When he had said these things, he gave up his spirit in the bed, being a hundred and eight years old and Tobias buried him honorably. 12 And after Anna his mother was dead, he buried her with his father. Then Tobias departed with his wife and children to Ecbatane, to Raguel his father in law: 13 Where he became old with honor and he buried his father and mother in law honorably. Tobias inherited all their possessions and all his father’s possessions. 14 Later Tobias died in Ecbatane in Media, being a hundred and seven years old. 15 But before he died, he heard of the destruction of Nineveh, which was taken by Nabuchodonosor and Assuerus and before his death he rejoiced over the destruction of Nineveh.