— select-a-version↑ 1.
1The book of the acts of Tobit the son of Tobiel, son of Ananiel, son of Aduel, son of Gabael, of the descendants of Asiel and the tribe of Naphtali, 2who in the days of Shalmaneser, king of the Assyrians, was taken into captivity from Thisbe, which is to the south of Kedesh Naphtali in Galilee above Asher.
3I, Tobit, walked in the ways of truth and righteousness all the days of my life, and I performed many acts of charity to my brethren and countrymen who went with me into the land of the Assyrians, to Nineveh. 4Now when I was in my own country, in the land of Israel, while I was still a young man, the whole tribe of Naphtali my forefather deserted the house of Jerusalem. This was the place which had been chosen from among all the tribes of Israel, where all the tribes should sacrifice and where the temple of the dwelling of the Most High was consecrated and established for all generations for ever. 5All the tribes that joined in apostasy used to sacrifice to the calf Baal, and so did the house of Naphtali my forefather.
10Now when I was carried away captive to Nineveh, all my brethren and my relatives ate the food of the Gentiles; 11but I kept myself from eating it, 12because I remembered God with all my heart. 13Then the Most High gave me favour and good appearance in the sight of Shalmaneser, and I was his buyer of provisions. 14So I used to go into Media, and once at Rages in Media I left ten talents of silver in trust with Gabael, the brother of Gabrias.
15But when Shalmaneser died, Sennacherib his son reigned in his place; and under him the highways were unsafe, so that I could no longer go into Media.
16In the days of Shalmaneser I performed many acts of charity to my brethren. 17I would give my bread to the hungry and my clothing to the naked; and if I saw any one of my people dead and thrown out behind the wall of Nineveh, I would bury him. 18And if Sennacherib the king put to death any who came fleeing from Judea, I buried them secretly. For in his anger he put many to death. When the bodies were sought by the king, they were not found. 19Then one of the men of Nineveh went and informed the king about me, that I was burying them; so I hid myself. When I learned that I was being searched for, to be put to death, I left home in fear. 20Then all my property was confiscated and nothing was left to me except my wife Anna and my son Tobias.
21But not fifty days passed before two of Sennacherib's sons killed him, and they fled to the mountains of Ararat. Then Esarhaddon, his son, reigned in his place; and he appointed Ahikar, the son of my brother Anael, over all the accounts of his kingdom and over the entire administration. 22Ahikar interceded for me, and I returned to Nineveh. Now Ahikar was cupbearer, keeper of the signet, and in charge of administration of the accounts, for Esarhaddon had appointed him second to himself. He was my nephew.
↑ 2.
1When I arrived home and my wife Anna and my son Tobias were restored to me, at the feast of Pentecost, which is the sacred festival of the seven weeks, a good dinner was prepared for me and I sat down to eat. 2Upon seeing the abundance of food I said to my son, "Go and bring whatever poor man of our brethren you may find who is mindful of the Lord, and I will wait for you."
3But he came back and said, "Father, one of our people has been strangled and thrown into the market place." 4So before I tasted anything I sprang up and removed the body to a place of shelter until sunset. 5And when I returned I washed myself and ate my food in sorrow. 6 [ Am.8:10. ] Then I remembered the prophecy of Amos, how he said,
7When the sun had set I went and dug a grave and buried the body. 8And my neighbours laughed at me and said, "He is no longer afraid that he will be put to death for doing this; he once ran away, and here he is burying the dead again!"
11Then my wife Anna earned money at women's work. 12She used to send the product to the owners. Once when they paid her wages, they also gave her a kid; 13and when she returned to me it began to bleat. So I said to her, "Where did you get the kid? It is not stolen, is it? Return it to the owners; for it is not right to eat what is stolen." 14And she said, "It was given to me as a gift in addition to my wages." But I did not believe her, and told her to return it to the owners; and I blushed for her. Then she replied to me, "Where are your charities and your righteous deeds? You seem to know everything!"
↑ 3.
1Then in my grief I wept, and I prayed in anguish, saying,
2"Righteous are you, O Lord; all your deeds and all they ways are mercy and truth, and you render true and righteous judgment for ever. 3Remember me and look favourably upon me; do not punish me for my sins and for my unwitting offences and those which my fathers committed before you. 4For they disobeyed your commandments, and you gave us over to plunder, captivity, and death; you made us a byword of reproach in all the nations among which we have been dispersed. 5And now your many judgments are true in exacting penalty from me for my sins and those of my fathers, because we did not keep your commandments. For we did not walk in truth before you. 6And now deal with me according to your pleasure; command my spirit to be taken up, that I may depart and become dust. For it is better for me to die than to live, because I have heard false reproaches, and great is the sorrow within me. Command that I now be released from my distress to go to the eternal abode; do not turn your face away from me."
7On the same day, at Ecbatana in Media, it also happened that Sarah, the daughter of Raguel, was reproached by her father's maids, 8because she had been given to seven husbands, and the evil demon Asmodeus had slain each of them before he had been with her as his wife. So the maids said to her, "Do you not know that you strangle your husbands? You already have had seven and have had no benefit from any of them. 9Why do you beat us? If they are dead, go with them! May we never see a son or daughter of yours!"
10When she heard these things she was deeply grieved, even to the thought of hanging herself. But she said, "I am the only child of my father; if I do this, it will be a disgrace to him, and I shall bring his old age down in sorrow to the grave.
11So she prayed by her window and said, "Blessed are you, O Lord my God, and blessed is your holy and honoured name for ever. May all your works praise you for ever. 12And now, O Lord, I have turned my eyes and my face toward you. 13Command that I be released from the earth and that I hear reproach no more. 14You know, O Lord, that I am innocent of any sin with man, 15and that I did not stain my name or the name of my father in the land of my captivity. I am my father's only child, and he has no child to be his heir, no near kinsman or kinsman's son for whom I should keep myself as wife. Already seven husbands of mine are dead. Why should I live? But if it be not pleasing to you to take my life, command that respect be shown to me and pity be taken upon me, and that I hear reproach no more."
16The prayer of both was heard in the presence of the glory of the great God. 17And Raphael was sent to heal the two of them: to scale away the white films of Tobit's eyes; to give Sarah the daughter of Raguel in marriage to Tobias the son of Tobit, and to bind Asmodeus the evil demon, because Tobias was entitled to possess her. At that very moment Tobit returned and entered his house and Sarah the daughter of Raguel came down from her upper room.
↑ 4.
1On that day Tobit remembered the money which he had left in trust with Gabael at Rages in Media, and he said to himself; 2"I have asked for death. Why do I not call my son Tobias so that I may explain to him about the money before I die?" 3So he called him and said,
5"Remember the Lord our God all your days, my son, and refuse to sin or to transgress his commandments. Live uprightly all the days of your life, and do not walk in the ways of wrongdoing. 6For if you do what is true, your ways will prosper through your deeds. 7Give alms from your possessions to all who live uprightly, and do not let your eye begrudge the gift when you make it. Do not turn your face away from any poor man, and the face of God will not be turned away from you. 8If you have many possessions, make your gift from them in proportion; if few, do not be afraid to give according to the little you have. 9So you will be laying up a good treasure for yourself against the day of necessity. 10For charity delivers from death and keeps you from entering the darkness; 11and for all who practice it charity is an excellent offering in the presence of the Most High.
12"Beware, my son, of all immorality. First of all take a wife from among the descendants of your fathers and do not marry a foreign woman, who is not of your father's tribe; for we are the sons of the prophets. Remember, my son, that Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, our fathers of old, all took wives from among their brethren. They were blessed in their children, and their posterity will inherit the land. 13So now, my son, love your brethren, and in your heart do not disdain your brethren and the sons and daughters of your people by refusing to take a wife for yourself from among them. For in pride there is ruin and great confusion; and in shiftlessness there is loss and great want, because shiftlessness is the mother of famine. 14Do not hold over till the next day the wages of any man who works for you, but pay him at once; and if you serve God you will receive payment. "Watch yourself, my son, in everything you do, and be disciplined in all your conduct. 15And what you hate, do not do to any one. Do not drink wine to excess or let drunkenness go with you on your way. 16Give of your bread to the hungry, and of your clothing to the naked. Give all your surplus to charity, and do not let your eye begrudge the gift when you made it. 17Place your bread on the grave of the righteous, but give none to sinners. 18Seek advice from every wise man, and do not despise any useful counsel. 19Bless the Lord God on every occasion; ask him that your ways may be made straight and that all your paths and plans may prosper. For none of the nations has understanding; but the Lord himself gives all good things, and according to his will he humbles whomever he wishes.
↑ 5.
1Then Tobias answered him, "Father, I will do everything that you have commanded me; 2but how can I obtain the money when I do not know the man?" 3Then Tobit gave him the receipt, and said to him, "Find a man to go with you and I will pay him wages as long as I live; and go and get the money."
4So he went to look for a man; and he found Raphael, who was an angel, 5but Tobias did not know it. Tobias said to him, "Can you go with me to Rages in Media? Are you acquainted with that region?" 6The angel replied, "I will go with you; I am familiar with the way, and I have stayed with our brother Gabael." 7Then Tobias said to him, "Wait for me, and I shall tell my father." 8And he said to him, "Go, and do not delay." So he went in and said to his father, "I have found some one to go with me." He said, "Call him to me, so that I may learn to what tribe he belongs, and whether he is a reliable man to go with you."
9So Tobias invited him in; he entered and they greeted each other. 10Then Tobit said to him, "My brother, to what tribe and family do you belong? Tell me. " 11But he answered, "Are you looking for a tribe and a family or for a man whom you will pay to go with your son?" And Tobit said to him, "I should like to know, my brother, your people and your name." 12He replied, "I am Azarias the son of the great Ananias, one of your relatives." 13Then Tobit said to him, "You are welcome, my brother. Do not be angry with me because I tried to learn your tribe and family. You are a relative of mine, of a good and noble lineage. For I used to know Ananias and Jathan, the sons of the great Shemaiah, when we went together to Jerusalem to worship and offered the first-born of our flocks and the tithes of our produce. They did not go astray in the error of our brethren. My brother, you come of good stock. 14But tell me, what wages am I to pay you - a drachma a day, and expenses for yourself as for my son? 15And besides, I will add to your wages if you both return safe and sound." So they agreed to these terms.
16Then he said to Tobias, "Get ready for the journey, and good success to you both." So his son made the preparations for the journey. And his father said to him, "Go with this man; God who dwells in heaven will prosper your way, and may his angel attend you." So they both went out and departed, and the young man's dog was with them.
17But Anna, his mother, began to weep, and said to Tobit, "Why have you sent our child away? Is he not the staff of our hands as he goes in and out before us? 18Do not add money to money, but consider it as rubbish as compared to our child. 19For the life that is given to us by the Lord is enough for us." 20And Tobit said to her, "Do not worry, my sister; he will return safe and sound, and your eyes will see him. 21For a good angel will go with him; his journey will be successful, and he will come back safe and sound." 22So she stopped weeping.
↑ 6.
1Now as they proceeded on their way they came at evening to the Tigris river and camped there. 2Then the young man went down to wash himself. A fish leaped up from the river and would have swallowed the young man; 3and the angel said to him, "Catch the fish." So the young man seized the fish and threw it up on the land. 4Then the angel said to him, "Cut open the fish and take the heart and liver and gall and put them away safely." 5So the young man did as the angel told him; and they roasted and ate the fish.
And they both continued on their way until they came near to Ecbatana. 6Then the young man said to the angel, "Brother Azarias, of what use is the liver and heart and gall of the fish?" 7He replied, "As for the heart and liver, if a demon or evil spirit gives trouble to any one, you make a smoke from these before the man or woman, and that person will never be troubled again. 8And as for the gall, anoint with it a man who has white films in his eyes, and he will be cured."
9When they approached Ecbatana, 10the angel said to the young man, "Brother, today we shall stay with Raguel. He is your relative, and he has an only daughter named Sarah. I will suggest that she be given to you in marriage, 11because you are entitled to her and to her inheritance, for you are her only eligible kinsman. 12The girl is also beautiful and sensible. Now listen to my plan. I will speak to her father, and as soon as we return from Rages we will celebrate the marriage. For I know that Raguel, according to the law of Moses, cannot give her to another man without incurring the penalty of death, because you rather than any other man are entitled to the inheritance."
13Then the young man said to the angel, "Brother Azarias, I have heard that the girl has been given to seven husbands and that each died in the bridal chamber. 14Now I am the only son my father has, and I am afraid that if I go in I will die as those before me did, for a demon is in love with her, and he harms no one except those who approach her. So now I fear that I may die and bring the lives of my father and mother to the grave in sorrow on my account. And they have no other son to bury them."
15But the angel said to him, "Do you not remember the words with which your father commanded you to take a wife from among your own people? Now listen to me, brother, for she will become your wife; and do not worry about the demon, for this very night she will be given to you in marriage. 16When you enter the bridal chamber, you shall take live ashes of incense and lay upon them some of the heart and liver of the fish so as to make a smoke. 17Then the demon will smell it and flee away, and will never again return. And when you approach her, rise up, both of you, and cry out to the merciful God, and he will save you and have mercy on you. Do not be afraid, for she was destined for you from eternity. You will save her, and she will go with you, and I suppose that you will have children by her." When Tobias heard these things, he fell in love with her and yearned deeply for her.
↑ 7.
1When they reached Ecbatana and arrived at the house of Raguel, Sarah met them and greeted them. They returned her greeting, and she brought them into the house. 2Then Raguel said to his wife Edna, "How much the young man resembles my cousin Tobit!" 3And Raguel asked them, "Where are you from, brethren?" They answered him, "We belong to the sons of Naphtali, who are captives in Nineveh." 4So he said to them, "Do you know our brother Tobit?" And they said, "Yes, we do." And he asked them, "Is he in good health?" 5They replied, "He is alive and in good health." And Tobias said, "He is my father." 6Then Raguel sprang up and kissed him and wept. 7And he blessed him and exclaimed, "Son of that good and noble man!" When he heard that Tobit had lost his sight, he was stricken with grief and wept. 8And his wife Edna and his daughter Sarah wept. They received them very warmly; and they killed a ram from the flock and set large servings of food before them.
Then Tobias said to Raphael, "Brother Azarias, speak of those things which you talked about on the journey, and let the matter be settled." 9So he communicated the proposal to Raguel. And Raguel said to Tobias, "Eat, drink, and be merry; 10for it is your right to take my child. But let me explain the true situation to you. 11I have given my daughter to seven husbands, and when each came to her he died in the night. But for the present be merry." And Tobias said, "I will eat nothing here until you make a binding agreement with me." 12So Raguel said, "Take her right now, in accordance with the law. You are her relative, and she is yours. The merciful God will guide you both for the best."
13Then he called his daughter Sarah, and taking her by the hand he gave her to Tobias to be his wife, saying, "Here she is; take her according to the law of Moses, and take her with you to your father." And he blessed them. 14Next he called his wife Edna, and took a scroll and wrote out the contract; and they set their seals to it. 15Then they began to eat.
16And Raguel called his wife Edna and said to her, "Sister, make up the other room, and take her into it." 17so she did as he said, and took her there; and the girl began to weep. But the mother comforted her daughter in her tears, and said to her, 18"Be brave, my child; the Lord of heaven and earth grant you joy in place of this sorrow of yours. Be brave, my daughter."
↑ 8.
1When they had finished eating, they escorted Tobias in to her. 2As he went he remembered the words of Raphael, and he took the live ashes of incense and put the heart and liver of the fish upon them and made a smoke. 3And when the demon smelled the odour he fled to the remotest parts of Egypt, and the angel bound him.
But Raguel arose and went and dug a grave,
10with the thought, "Perhaps he too will die." 11Then Raguel went into his house 12and said to his wife Edna, "Send one of the maids to see whether he is alive; and if he is not, let us bury him without any one knowing about it." 13So the maid opened the door and went in, and found them both asleep. 14And she came out and told them that he was alive.
19After this he gave a wedding feast for them which lasted fourteen days. 20And before the days of the feast were over, Raguel declared by oath to Tobias that he should not leave until the fourteen days of the wedding feast were ended, 21that then he should take half of Raguel's property and return in safety to his father, and that the rest would be his "when my wife and I die."
↑ 9.
1Then Tobias called Raphael and said to him, 2"Brother Azarias, take a servant and two camels with you and go to Gabael at Rages in Media and get the money for me; and bring him to the wedding feast. 3For Raguel has sworn that I should not leave; 4but my father is counting the days, and if I delay long he will be greatly distressed." 5So Raphael made the journey and stayed over night with Gabael. He gave him the receipt, and Gabael brought out the money bags with their seals intact and gave them to him. 6In the morning they both got up early and came to the wedding feast. When they came into Raguel's house they found Tobias reclining at table. He sprang up and greeted Gabael, who wept and blessed him with the words, 'Good and noble son of a father good and noble, upright and generous! May the Lord grant the blessing of heaven to you and your wife, and to you wife's father and mother. Blessed be God, for I see in Tobias the very image of my cousin Tobit.'
↑ 10.
1Now his father Tobit was counting each day, and when the days for the journey had expired and they did not arrive, 2he said, "Is it possible that he has been detained? Or is it possible that Gabael has died and there is no one to give him the money?" 3And he was greatly distressed. 4And his wife said to him, "The lad has perished; his long delay proves it." Then she began to mourn for him, and said, 5"Am I not distressed, my child, that I let you go, you who are the light of my eyes?" 6But Tobit said to her, "Be still and stop worrying; he is well."
At that time Tobias said to Raguel, "Send me back, for my father and mother have given up hope of ever seeing me again." 8But his father-in-law said to him, "Stay with me, and I will send messengers to your father, and they will inform him how things are with you." 9Tobias replied, "No, send me back to my father." 10So Raguel arose and gave him his wife Sarah and half of his property in slaves, cattle, and money. 11And when he had blessed them he sent them away, saying, "The God of heaven will prosper you, my children, before I die." 12He said also to his daughter, "Honour your father-in-law and your mother-in-law; they are now your parents. Let me hear a good report of you. " And he kissed her. And Edna said to Tobias, "The Lord of heaven bring you back safely, dear brother, and grant me to see your children by my daughter Sarah, that I may rejoice before the Lord. See, I am entrusting my daughter to you; do nothing to grieve her."
↑ 11.
1After this Tobias went on his way, praising God because he had made his journey a success. And he blessed Raguel and his wife Edna. So he continued on his way until they came near to Nineveh.
2Then Raphael said to Tobias, "Are you not aware, brother, of how you left your father? 3Let us run ahead of your wife and prepare the house. 4And take the gall of the fish with you." So they went their way, and the dog went along behind them.
5Now Anna sat looking intently down the road for her son. 6And she caught sight of him coming, and said to his father, "Behold, your son is coming, and so is the man who went with him!"
7Raphael said, "I know, Tobias, that your father will open his eyes. 8You therefore must anoint his eyes with the gall; and when they smart he will rub them, and will cause the white films to fall away, and he will see you."
9Then Anna ran to meet them, and embraced her son, and said to him, "I have seen you, my child; now I am ready to die." And they both wept.
16Then Tobit went out to meet his daughter-in-law at the gate of Nineveh, rejoicing and praising God. Those who saw him as he went were amazed because he could see. 17And Tobit gave thanks before them that God had been merciful to him. When Tobit came near to Sarah his daughter-in-law, he blessed her, saying, "Welcome, daughter! Blessed is God who has brought you to us, and blessed are your father and your mother." So there was rejoicing among all his brethren in Nineveh. 18Ahikar and his nephew Nadab came, 19and Tobias' marriage was celebrated for seven days with great festivity.
↑ 12.
1Tobit then called his son Tobias and said to him, "My son, see to the wages of the man who went with you; and he must also be given more." 2He replied, "Father, it would do me no harm to give him half of what I have brought back. 3For he has led me back to you safely, he cured my wife, he obtained the money for me, and he also healed you." 4The old man said, "He deserves it." 5So he called the angel and said to him, "Take half of all that you two have brought back."
6Then the angel called the two of them privately and said to them:
11"I will not conceal anything from you. I have said, `It is good to guard the secret of a king, but gloriously to reveal the works of God.' 12And so, when you and your daughter-in-law Sarah prayed, I brought a reminder of your prayer before the Holy One; and when you buried the dead, I was likewise present with you. 13When you did not hesitate to rise and leave your dinner in order to go and lay out the dead, your good deed was not hidden from me, but I was with you. 14So now God sent me to heal you and your daughter-in-law Sarah. 15I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels who present the prayers of the saints and enter into the presence of the glory of the Holy One."
16They were both alarmed; and they fell upon their faces, for they were afraid. 17But he said to them, "Do not be afraid; you will be safe. But praise God for ever. 18For I did not come as a favour on my part, but by the will of our God. Therefore praise him for ever. 19All these days I merely appeared to you and did not eat or drink, but you were seeing a vision. 20And now give thanks to God, for I am ascending to him who sent me. Write in a book everything that has happened." 21Then they stood up; but they saw him no more. 22So they confessed the great and wonderful works of God, and acknowledged that the angel of the Lord had appeared to them.
↑ 13.
1Then Tobit wrote a prayer of rejoicing, and said:
↑ 14.
1Here Tobit ended his words of praise. 2He was fifty-eight years old when he lost his sight, and after eight years he regained it. He gave alms, and he continued to fear the Lord God and to praise him.
3When he had grown very old he called his son and grandsons, and said to him,
8"So now, my son, leave Nineveh, because what the prophet Jonah said will surely happen. 9But keep the law and the commandments, and be merciful and just, so that it may be well with you. 10Bury me properly, and your mother with me. And do not live in Nineveh any longer. See, my son, what Nadab did to Ahikar who had reared him, how he brought him from light into darkness, and with what he repaid him. But Ahikar was saved, and the other received repayment as he himself went down into the darkness. Ahikar gave alms and escaped the deathtrap which Nadab had set for him; but Nadab fell into the trap and perished. 11So now, my children, consider what almsgiving accomplishes and how righteousness delivers."
As he said this he died in his bed. He was a hundred and fifty-eight years old; and Tobias gave him a magnificent funeral. 12And when Anna died he buried her with his father.
Then Tobias returned with his wife and his sons to Ecbatana, to Raguel his father-in-law. 13He grew old with honour, and he gave his father-in-law and mother-in-law magnificent funerals. He inherited their property and that of his father Tobit. 14He died in Ecbatana of Media at the age of a hundred and twenty-seven years. 15But before he died he heard of the destruction of Nineveh, which Nebuchadnezzar and Ahasuerus had captured. Before his death he rejoiced over Nineveh.