Category: Tobit

1 And as they were returning, they came through to Haran, which is in the middle of the journey, opposite Nineveh, on the eleventh day.

2 And the Angel said: “Brother Tobias, you know how you left behind your father.

3 And so, if it pleases you, let us go on ahead, and let the family follow after us with a slower step, together with your bride, and with the animals.”

4 And since it pleased him to go on in this way, Raphael said to Tobias, “Take with you from the gall of the fish, for it will be necessary.” And so, Tobias took from its gall, and he went ahead.

5 But Anna sat beside the way every day, on the top of a hill, from where she would be able to see for a long distance.

6 And while she was watching for his arrival from that place, she looked far off, and soon she realized that her son was approaching. And running, she reported it to her husband, saying: “Behold, your son arrives.”

7 And Raphael said to Tobias: “As soon as you enter into your house, immediately adore the Lord your God. And, giving thanks to him, approach your father, and kiss him.

8 And immediately anoint his eyes from this gall of the fish, which you carry with you. For you should know that his eyes will soon be opened, and your father will see the light of heaven, and he will rejoice at the sight of you.”

9 Then the dog, which had been with them in the way, ran ahead, and, arriving like a messenger, he showed his joy by fawning and wagging his tail.

10 And rising up, his blind father began to run, stumbling with his feet. And giving his hand to a servant, he ran on to meet his son.

11 And receiving him, he kissed him, as did his wife, and they both began to weep for joy.

12 And when they had adored God and had given thanks, they sat down together.

13 Then Tobias, taking from the gall of the fish, anointed his father’s eyes.

14 And about half an hour passed, and then a white film began to come out of his eyes, like the membrane of an egg.

15 So, taking hold of it, Tobias pulled it away from his eyes, and immediately he received his sight.

16 And they glorified God: Tobit especially, and his wife, and all those who knew him.

17 And Tobit said, “I bless you, O Lord God of Israel, because you have chastised me, and you have saved me, and behold, I see my son Tobias.”

18 And then, after seven days, Sarah, the wife of his son, and all the family arrived safely, along with the sheep, and the camels, and much money from his wife, but also with that money which he had received from Gabael.

19 And he explained to his parents all the benefits from God, which he had produced all around him, by means of the man who had led him.

20 And then Ahikar and Nadab arrived, the maternal first cousins of Tobias, rejoicing for Tobias, and congratulating with him for all the good things that God had revealed all around him.

21 And for seven days they feasted, and all were rejoicing with great joy.

1 Then Tobit called his son to him, and he said to him, “What are we able to give to this holy man, who accompanied you?”

2 Tobias, answering, said to his father: “Father, what wages shall we give him? And what could be worthy of his benefits?

3 He led me and he brought me back safely. He received the money from Gabael. He caused me to have my wife. And he confined the demon away from her. He caused joy to her parents. Myself, he rescued from being devoured by the fish. As for you, he also caused you to see the light of heaven. And so, we have been filled with all good things through him. What could we possibly give to him that would be worthy of these things?

4 But I implore you, my father, to ask him if he would perhaps deign to take for himself half of all the things that have been brought.”

5 And calling him, the father especially, and the son, they took him aside. And they began to petition him, so that he would deign to accept ownership of one half part of all things that they had brought.

6 Then he said to them privately: “Bless the God of heaven, and confess to him in the sight of all who live, for he has acted in his mercy toward you.

7 For it is good to conceal the secret of a king, just as it is also honorable to reveal and to confess the works of God.

8 Prayer with fasting is good, and almsgiving is better than hiding away gold in storage.

9 For almsgiving delivers from death, and the same is what purges sins and makes one able to find mercy and everlasting life.

10 But those who commit sin and iniquity are enemies to their own soul.

11 Therefore, I reveal the truth to you, and I will not hide the explanation from you.

12 When you prayed with tears, and buried the dead, and left behind your dinner, and hid the dead by day in your house, and buried them by night: I offered your prayer to the Lord.

13 And because you were acceptable to God, it was necessary for you to be tested by trials.

14 And now, the Lord has sent me to cure you, and to free Sarah, your son’s wife, from the demon.

15 For I am the Angel Raphael, one of seven, who stand before the Lord.”

16 And when they had heard these things, they were troubled, and being seized with fear, they fell upon the ground on their face.

17 And the Angel said to them: “Peace be to you. Fear not.

18 For when I was with you, I was there by the will of God. Bless him, and sing to him.

19 Indeed, I seemed to eat and drink with you, but I make use of an invisible food and drink, which cannot be seen by men.

20 Therefore, it is time that I return to him who sent me. But as for you, bless God, and describe all his wonders.”

21 And when he had said these things, he was taken from their sight, and they were not able to see him any longer.

22 Then, lying prostrate for three hours upon their face, they blessed God. And rising up, they described all his wonders.

1 And so, the elder Tobit, opening his mouth, blessed the Lord, and he said: “O Lord, you are great in eternity and your kingdom is with all ages.

2 For you scourge, and you save. You lead down to the grave, and you bring up again. And there is no one who can escape from your hand.

3 Confess to the Lord, O sons of Israel, and praise him in the sight of the nations.

4 For, indeed, he has dispersed you among the Gentiles, who are ignorant of him, that you may proclaim his wonders, and that you may cause them to know that there is no other almighty God, except him.

5 He has chastised us because of our iniquities, and he will save us because of his mercy.

6 Therefore, look upon what he has done for us, and, with fear and trembling, confess to him. And extol the King of all ages with your works.

7 But as for me, I will confess him in the land of my captivity. For he has revealed his majesty within a sinful nation.

8 And so, be converted, you sinners, and do justice in the presence of God, believing that he will act in his mercy toward you.

9 But I and my soul will rejoice in him.

10 Bless the Lord, all you his elect. Keep days of rejoicing, and confess to him.

11 O Jerusalem, the city of God, the Lord has chastised you for the works of your hands.

12 Confess to the Lord with your good things, and bless the God of all ages, so that he may rebuild his tabernacle in you, and he may recall all the captives to you, and you may be glad in all ages and forever.

13 You will shine with a splendid light, and all the ends of the earth will adore by you.

14 Nations from far away will come to you, bringing gifts. And in you, they shall adore the Lord, and they will hold your land in sanctification.

15 For they will invoke the Great Name in you.

16 Those who despise you will be cursed, and all those who blaspheme by you will be condemned, and those who build you up will be blessed.

17 But you will rejoice in your sons, because they will all be blessed, and they will be gathered together for the Lord.

18 Blessed are all those who love you and who rejoice in your peace.

19 Bless the Lord, O my soul, for the Lord our God has freed Jerusalem, his city, from every one of her tribulations.

20 Happy will I be, if any of my offspring will be left to see the brightness of Jerusalem.

21 The gates of Jerusalem will be built from sapphire and emerald, and all its walls will be surrounded with precious stones.

22 All its streets will be paved with stones, white and clean. And ‘Alleluia’ will be sung throughout its neighborhoods.

23 Blessed be the Lord, who has exalted it, and may he reign over it, forever and ever. Amen.”

1 And the sermon of Tobit was completed. And after Tobit received his sight, he lived forty-two years, and he saw the sons of his grandchildren.

2 And so, having completed one hundred and two years, he was buried honorably at Nineveh.

3 For he was fifty-six years old, when he lost the light of his eyes, and he was sixty years old, when he truly received it again.

4 And, in truth, the remainder of his life was in gladness. And so, with the good accomplishment of the fear of God, he departed in peace.

5 But, in the hour of his death, he called to himself his son Tobias, along with his sons, the seven youths who were his grandsons, and he said to them:

6 “Nineveh will pass away soon. For the word of the Lord goes forward, and our brothers, who have been dispersed away from the land of Israel, shall return to it.

7 Thus its deserted land will be entirely filled again. And the house of God, which was burned like incense within it, will be rebuilt again. And all those who fear God will return there.

8 And the Gentiles will relinquish their idols, and they will enter into Jerusalem, and they will dwell in it.

9 And all the kings of the earth will rejoice in it, adoring the King of Israel.

10 Therefore, my sons, listen to your father. Serve the Lord in truth, and seek to do the things that please him.

11 And command your sons, so that they may accomplish justice and almsgiving, and so that they may be mindful of God and may bless him at all times, in truth and with all their strength.

12 And now, sons, listen to me, and do not remain here. But, on whatever day you will bury your mother near me in one sepulcher, from that time, direct your steps to leave this place.

13 For I see that its iniquity will bring about its end.”

14 And it happened that, after the death of his mother, Tobias withdrew from Nineveh, with his wife, and sons, and sons of sons, and he was returned to his father-in-law.

15 And he found them unharmed in a good old age. And he took care of them, and he closed their eyes. And all the inheritance of the house of Raguel passed to him. And he saw the sons of his sons to the fifth generation.

16 And, having completed ninety-nine years in the fear of the Lord, with joy, they buried him.

17 But all his family and all his lineage continued with a good life and in holy conversation, so that they were acceptable both to God and to men, as well as to everyone who dwelt in the land.