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Book of Tobit




Tobit


Chapter 1
1 The book of the words of Tobit, son of Tobiel, the son of Ananiel, the son of Aduel, the son of Gabael, of the seed of Asael, of the tribe of Nephthali.
2 In the time of Enemessar king of the Assyrians he was led captive out of Thisbe [1Kings 17:1], which is at the right hand of that city which is called properly Nephthali in Galilee above Aser.
3 I, Tobit, walked all the days of my life in the ways of truth and justice. I did many almsdeeds to my brothers, and my nation, who came with me to Nineveh, into the land of the Assyrians.
4 When I was young, in my own country in the land of Yisrayah, all the tribe of Nephthali my father fell from the house of Yerusalem (which was chosen out of all the tribes of Yisrayah, that all the tribes should sacrifice there, where the temple of the habitation of the most High was consecrated and built for all ages).
5 All the tribes which revolted, and the house of my father Nephthali, sacrificed to the heifer Baal [LORD].
6 I often went alone to Yerusalem at the feasts, as it was ordained to all the people of Yisrayah by an everlasting decree (having the firstfruits, and tenths of increase, with that which was first shorn), and I gave them at the altar to the priests the children of Aaron.
7 The first tenth part of all increase I gave to the sons of Aaron, who ministered at Yerusalem. Another tenth part I sold away, and went, and spent it every year at Yerusalem.
8 The third I gave to those to whom it was appropriate, as Debora my father's mother commanded me, because I was left an orphan by my father.
9 When I was come to the age of a man, I married Anna of my own kindred, and of her I begat Tobiyah.
10 When we were carried away captives to Nineveh, all my brothers, and those who were my kindred, ate of the bread of the Gentiles.
11 I kept myself from eating.
12 I remembered Yahwah with all my heart.
13 The most High gave me grace and favor before Enemessar, so that I was his purveyor.
14 I went into Media, and left in trust with Gabael (the brother of Gabrias) at Rages (a city of Media) ten talents of silver.
15 When Enemessar was dead, Sennacherib his son reigned in his stead. His estate was troubled, and I could not go into Media.
16 In the time of Enemessar I gave many alms to my brothers, my bread to the hungry, and my clothes to the naked.
17 If I saw any of my nation dead, or cast about the walls of Nineveh, I buried him.
18 If the king Sennacherib had killed any, when he fled from Yahudah and came here, I buried them privately. In his wrath he killed many, but when they were searched for by the king the bodies were not found.
19 One of the Ninevites went and complained of me to the king, that I buried them, and hid myself. Understanding that I was searched for to be put to death, I withdrew myself for fear.
20 All my goods were forcibly taken away, there was nothing left me, beside my wife Anna and my son Tobiyah.
21 There passed not five and fifty days before two of his sons killed him, and they fled into the mountains of Ararath [Genesis 8:4]. Sarchedonus his son reigned in his stead. He appointed over his father's accounts, and over all his affairs, Achiacharus my brother Anael's son.
22 Achiacharus pleaded for me, and I returned to Nineveh. Achiacharus was cupbearer, keeper of the signet, steward, and overseer of the accounts. Sarchedonus appointed him next to him, and he was my brother's son.

Chapter 2
1 When I was home again, my wife Anna was restored to me, with my son Tobiyah. In the feast of Pentecost, which is the holy feast of the seven weeks, there was a good dinner prepared for me, so I sat down to eat.
2 When I saw abundance of meat, I said to my son: Go and bring whatever poor man you find out of our brothers, who is mindful of Yahwah. Lo, I tarry for you.
3 He came again, and said: Father, one of our nation is strangled, and is cast out in the marketplace.
4 Before I tasted of any meat, I started up, and took him up into a room until the going down of the sun.
5 Then I returned, washed myself, and ate my meat in heaviness, remembering that prophecy of Amos.
6 He said: Your feasts shall be turned into mourning, and all your mirth into lamentation.
7 Therefore I wept. After the going down of the sun I went, made a grave, and buried him.
8 My neighbors mocked me, and said: This man is not yet afraid to be put to death for this matter. He fled away, and yet, lo, he buries the dead again.
9 The same night I returned from the burial, I slept by the wall of my courtyard, being polluted, and my face was uncovered.
10 I did not know there were sparrows in the wall. My eyes being open, the sparrows muted warm dung into my eyes, and a whiteness came in my eyes. I went to the physicians, but they did not help me. Achiacharus did nourish me, until I went into Elymais.
11 My wife Anna took women's work to do.
12 When she sent them home to the owners, they paid her wages, and also gave her a kid [goat].
13 When it was in my house, and began to cry, I said to her: Where is this kid from? Is it not stolen?
Render it to the owners, it is not lawful to eat anything that is stolen.
14 She replied to me: It was given for a gift more than the wages. I did not believe her, but bade her render it to the owners. I was abashed at her. But she replied to me: Where are your alms and your righteous deeds? Behold, you and all your works are known.

Chapter 3
1 Being grieved, I wept.
2 In my sorrow I prayed, saying: O Yahwah, you are just. All your works and all your ways are mercy and truth, you judge truly and justly forever.
3 Remember me, and look on me, do not punish me for my sins and ignorances, and the sins of my fathers, who sinned before you.
4 They did not obey your commandments. Therefore you delivered us for a spoil, to captivity, to death, and for a proverb of reproach to all the nations among whom we are dispersed.
5 Your judgments are many and true, deal with me according to my sins, and my fathers', because we did not keep your commandments, nor walk in truth before you.
6 Deal with me as seems best to you. Command my spirit to be taken from me, that I may be dissolved, and become earth. It is profitable for me to die rather than to live, because I heard false reproaches, and have much sorrow. Command therefore that I may now be delivered out of this distress, and go into the everlasting place. Do not turn your face away from me.
7 It came to pass the same day, that in Ecbatane a city of Media, Sarah the daughter of Raguel was also reproached by her father's maids.
8 She was married to seven husbands. Asmodeus the evil spirit killed them before they had sex with her. They said: Do you not know that you strangled your husbands? You already had seven husbands, you were not named after any of them.
9 Why do you beat us for them? If they are dead, go your way after them, let us never see of you either son or daughter.
10 When she heard these things, she was very sorrowful, so that she thought to have strangled herself. She said: I am the only daughter of my father. If I do this, it will be a reproach to him, and I shall bring his old age to the grave with sorrow.
11 She prayed toward the window, and said: Blessed are you, O Yahwah my Father. Your holy and glorious Name is blessed and honorable forever. Let all your works praise you forever.
12 O Yahwah, I set my eyes and my face toward you.
13 Take me out of the earth, that I not hear the reproach anymore.
14 You know, Yahwah, that I am pure from all sin with man.
15 I never polluted my name, nor the name of my father, in the land of my captivity. I am the only daughter of my father. He does not have any child to be his heir, neither any near kinsman, nor any son of his alive, to whom I may keep myself for a wife. My seven husbands are already dead, why should I live? If it not please you that I should die, command some regard to be had of me, and pity taken of me, that I do not hear any more reproach.
16 The prayers of them both were heard before the majesty of the great Yahwah.
17 Raphayah was sent to heal them both, that is: to scale away the whiteness of Tobit's eyes, to give Sarah the daughter of Raguel for a wife to Tobiyah the son of Tobit because she belonged to Tobiyah by right of inheritance, and to bind Asmodeus the evil spirit. The same time Tobit came home and entered into his house, Sarah the daughter of Raguel came down from her upper chamber.

Chapter 4
1 In that day Tobit remembered the money which he had committed to Gabael in Rages of Media.
2 He said with himself: I wish for death, why do I not call for my son Tobiyah that I may tell him of the money before I die?
3 When he called him, he said: My son, when I am dead, bury me. Do not despise your mother, honor her all the days of your life, do that which shall please her, and do not grieve her.
4 Remember, my son, that she saw many dangers for you, when you were in her womb. When she is dead, bury her by me in one grave.
5 My son, be mindful of Yahwah our Father all your days. Do not let your will be set to sin, or to transgress His commandments. Do uprightly all your life long, do not follow the ways of unrighteousness.
6 If you deal truly, your doings shall succeed to you prosperously, and to all those who live justly.
7 Give alms of your substance. When you give alms, do not let your eye be envious, nor turn your face from any poor, and the face of Yahwah shall not be turned away from you.
8 If you have abundance give alms accordingly.
9 If you have but a little, do not be afraid to give according to that little, for you lay up a good treasure for yourself against the day of necessity.
10 Alms do deliver from death, and do not allow you to come into darkness.
11 In the sight of the most High, alms are a good gift to all who give it.
12 Beware of all whoredom, my son, and chiefly take a wife of the seed of your fathers. Do not take a strange woman to wife, which is not of your father's tribe. We are the children of the prophets, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Yaacob. My son, remember that from the beginning our fathers all married wives of their own kindred, were blessed in their children, and their seed shall inherit the land.
13 My son, love your brothers. Do not despise your brothers in your heart, the sons and daughters of your people, in not taking a wife of them. In pride is destruction and much trouble, and in lewdness is decay and great want. Lewdness is the mother of famine.
14 Do not let the wages of any man, who worked for you, tarry with you. Give it to him out of hand. If you serve Yahwah, He will also repay you. Be circumspect in all things you do, my son, and be wise in all your conversation.
15 Do to no man that which you hate. Do not drink wine to make you drunken, nor let drunkenness go with you in your journey.
16 Give of your bread to the hungry, and of your garments to those who are naked. Give alms according to your abundance, do not let your eye be envious when you give alms.
17 Pour out your bread on the burial of the just, but give nothing to the wicked.
18 Ask counsel of all that are wise, and not despise any counsel that is profitable.
19 Bless Yahwah your Father always. Desire of Him that your ways may be directed, and that all your paths and counsels may prosper. Not every nation has counsel. Yahwah Himself gives all good things, and He humbles whom He will, as He will. My son, remember my commandments, never let them be put out of your mind.
20 Now I tell you this: I committed ten talents to Gabael the son of Gabrias at Rages in Media.
21 Do not fear, my son, that we are made poor. You have much wealth if you fear Yahwah, depart from all sin, and do that which is pleasing in His sight.

Chapter 5
1 Tobiyah then answered and said: Father, I will do all things which you command me.
2 But how can I receive the money, seeing I do not know him?
3 He gave him the handwriting, and said to him: Seek a man which may go with you, while I yet live, and I will give him wages. Go and receive the money.
4 When he went to seek a man, but he found Raphayah who was a god.
5 He did not know, and he said to him: Can you go with me to Rages? Do you know those places well?
6 To whom the malak said: I will go with you, I know the way well, for I have lodged with our brother Gabael.
7 Tobiyah said to him: Tarry for me, till I tell my father.
8 He said to him: Go, do not tarry. So he went in and said to his father: Behold, I found one which will go with me. Then he said: Call him to me, that I may know of what tribe he is, and whether he is a trusty man to go with you.
9 So he called him, he came in, and they saluted one another.
10 Then Tobit said to him: Brother, show me of what tribe and family you are.
11 To whom he said: Do you seek for a tribe or family, or a hired man to go with your son? Then Tobit said to him: I would know, brother, your kindred and name.
12 He said: I am Azaryah, the son of Ananyah the great, of your brothers.
13 Tobit said: You are welcome, brother. Do not be angry with me, because I asked to know your tribe and your family. You are my brother, of an honest and good stock. I know Ananyah and Jonathan, sons of that great Samayah. We went together to Yerusalem to worship, offer the firstborn, and the tenths of the fruits. They were not seduced with the error of our brothers. My brother, you are of a good stock.
14 But tell me, what wages shall I give you? Will you a drachm a day, and things necessary, as to my own son?
15 Yea, moreover, if you return safe, I will add something to your wages.
16 So they were well pleased. He said to Tobiyah: Prepare yourself for the journey, and Yahwah send you a good journey. His son prepared all things for the journey. His father said: Go with this man. Yahwah, who dwells in heaven, prosper your journey, and the malak of Yahwah keep you company. So they both went forth, and the young man's dog with them.
17 Anna his mother wept, and said to Tobit: Why did you send away our son? Is he not the staff of our hand, going in and out before us?
18 Do not be greedy to add money to money, let it be as refuse in respect of our child.
19 That which Yahwah gave us to live with does suffice us.
20 Then Tobit said to her: Take no care, my sister. He will return in safety, your eyes will see him.
21 The good malak will keep him company, his journey will be prosperous, and he will return safe.
22 Then she made an end of weeping.

Chapter 6
1 As they went on their journey, they came in the evening to the river Tigris, and they lodged there.
2 When the young man went down to wash himself, a fish leaped out of the river, and would have devoured him.
3 The malak said to him: Take the fish. The young man laid hold of the fish, and drew it to land.
4 The malak said: Open the fish. Take the heart, the liver, and the gall, and put them up safely.
5 So the young man did as the malak commanded him. When they roasted the fish, they ate it. Then they went on their way, till they drew near to Ecbatane.
6 The young man said to the malak: Brother Azaryah, to what use is the heart, the liver, and the gall of the fish?
7 He said to him: Touching the heart and the liver, if a devil or an evil spirit trouble any, we must make a smoke of it before the man or the woman, and the party will not be vexed anymore.
8 As for the gall, it is good to anoint a man who has whiteness in his eyes, and he will be healed.
9 When they were come near to Rages the malak said to the young man: Brother, today we shall lodge with Raguel, who is your cousin.
10 He only has one daughter, named Sarah. I will speak for her, that she may be given to you for a wife.
11 To you does the right of her appertain, seeing you only are of her kindred.
12 The maid is fair and wise. Hear me, I will speak to her father. When we return from Rages we will celebrate the marriage. I know that Raguel cannot marry her to another according to the law of Moshe, but he shall be guilty of death, because the right of inheritance does rather appertain to you than to any other.
13 The young man answered the malak: Brother Azaryah, I heard this maid was given to seven men, who all died in the marriage chamber.
14 I am the only son of my father, and I am afraid, maybe if I go in to her, I die, as the other before. A wicked spirit loves her, who hurts nobody but those who come to her. I fear unless I also die, and bring my father's and my mother's life to the grave with sorrow because of me. They have no other son to bury them.
15 The malak said to him: Do you remember the precepts which your father gave you, that you should marry a wife of your own kindred? So hear me, O my brother. She will be given you to wife. Make no reckoning of the evil spirit, this same night she will be given you in marriage.
16 When you come into the marriage chamber, take the ashes of perfume, lay upon them some of the heart and liver of the fish, and make a smoke with it.
17 The devil will smell it, flee away, and never come again anymore. When you come to her, rise up both of you, and pray to Yahwah who is merciful, who will have pity on you, and save you. Do not fear, she is appointed to you from the beginning. You shall preserve her, and she shall go with you. Moreover I suppose that she shall bear you children. Now when Tobiyah heard these things, he loved her, his heart was effectually joined to her.

Chapter 7
1 When they were come to Ecbatane, they came to the house of Raguel, and Sarah met them. After they saluted one another, she brought them into the house.
2 Then Raguel said to Edna his wife: How is this young man like to Tobit my cousin!
3 Raguel asked them: Where are you from, brothers? To whom they said: We are of the sons of Nephthalim, which are captives in Nineveh.
4 He said to them: Do you know Tobit our kinsman? They said: We know him. Then he said: Is he in good health?
5 They said: He is both alive, and in good health. Tobiyah said: He is my father.
6 Raguel leaped up, kissed him, and wept.
7 He blessed him, and said to him: You are the son of an honest and good man. But when he heard that Tobit was blind, he was sorrowful, and wept.
8 Likewise Edna his wife and Sarah his daughter wept. They entertained them cheerfully, and after they killed a ram of the flock, they set store of meat on the table. Then Tobiyah said to Raphayah: Brother Azaryah, speak of those things of which you did talk in the way, and let this business be dispatched.
9 So he communicated the matter with Raguel. Raguel said to Tobiyah: Eat, drink, and make merry.
10 It is appropriate that you should marry my daughter, nevertheless, I will declare to you the truth.
11 I gave my daughter in marriage to seven men, who died the night they came in to her. Nevertheless, be merry for the present. Tobiyah said: I will eat nothing here, till we agree and swear one to another.
12 Raguel said: Then take her now according to the manner. You are her cousin, she is yours, and the merciful Father give you good success in all things.
13 He called his daughter Sarah, and she came to her father. He took her by the hand, and gave her to be wife to Tobiyah, saying: Behold, take her after the law of Moshe, lead her away to your father. And he blessed them.
14 He called Edna his wife, took paper, wrote an instrument of covenants, and sealed it.
15 Then they began to eat.
16 Afterwards Raguel called his wife Edna, and said to her: Sister, prepare another chamber, and bring her in there.
17 When she did as he bid her, she brought her there. She wept, she received the tears of her daughter, and said to her: Be of good comfort, my daughter.
18 Yahwah of heaven and earth give you joy for this your sorrow. Be of good comfort, my daughter.

Chapter 8
1 When they had supped, they brought Tobiyah in to her.
2 As he went, he remembered the words of Raphayah. He took the ashes of the perfumes, put the heart and the liver of the fish upon them, and made a smoke.
3 When the evil spirit smelled the smell, he fled into the utmost parts of Egypt, and the malak bound him.
4 After they were both shut in together, Tobiyah rose out of the bed, and said: Sister, arise. Let us pray that Yahwah would have pity on us.
5 Then Tobiyah began to say: Blessed are you, O Father of our fathers. Blessed is your holy and glorious Name forever. Let the heavens bless you, and all your creatures.
6 You made Adam, and gave him Hawah his wife for a helper and stay. Of them came mankind. You said: It is not good that man should be alone, let us make to him an aid like to himself.
7 O Yahwah, I take this my sister uprightly, not for lust.
8 Mercifully ordain that we may become aged together.
9 She said with him: Amein.
10 So they both slept that night.
11 Raguel arose, went, and made a grave, saying: I fear he is also dead.
12 When Raguel came into his house he said to his wife Edna: Send one of the maids, let her see whether he is alive. If he is not, we may bury him, and no man know it.
13 So the maid opened the door, went in, and found them both asleep.
14 She came forth, and told them he was alive.
15 Raguel praised Yahwah, and said: O Yahwah, you are worthy to be praised with all pure and holy praise. Let your saints praise you with all your creatures. Let all your malaks and your elect praise you forever.
16 You are to be praised, for you made me joyful. That which I suspected is not come to me, you have dealt with us according to your great mercy.
17 You are to be praised because you had mercy of two that were the only begotten children of their fathers. Grant them mercy, O Yahwah, finish their life in health with joy and mercy.
18 Raguel bade his servants to fill the grave.
19 He kept the wedding feast fourteen days.
20 Before the days of the marriage were finished, Raguel said to him by an oath, he should not depart till the fourteen days of the marriage were expired.
21 Then he should take the half of his goods, go in safety to his father, and should have the rest when I and my wife are dead.

Chapter 9
1 Tobiyah called Raphayah, and said to him:
2 Brother Azaryah, take with you a servant, and two camels. Go to Rages of Media to Gabael. Bring me the money, and bring him to the wedding.
3 Raguel swore that I shall not depart.
4 My father counts the days, if I tarry long, he will be very sorry.
5 Raphayah went out, lodged with Gabael, and gave him the handwriting. He brought forth bags which were sealed up, and gave them to him.
6 Early in the morning they both went forth together, and came to the wedding. Tobiyah blessed his wife.

Chapter 10
1 Tobit his father counted every day. The days of the journey were expired, and they did not come.
2 Tobit said: Are they detained? Or is Gabael dead, and there is no man to give him the money?
3 Therefore he was very sorry.
4 Then his wife said to him: My son is dead, seeing he stays long.
5 She began to wail him, and said: I care for nothing, my son, since I let you go, the light of my eyes.
6 To whom Tobit said: Hold your peace, take no care, for he is safe.
7 But she said: Hold your peace, and do not deceive me. My son is dead. She went out every day into the way which they went, ate no meat on the daytime, and did not cease whole nights to bewail her son Tobiyah, until the fourteen days of the wedding were expired, which Raguel swore he should spend there. Then Tobiyah said to Raguel: Let me go, for my father and my mother look to see me.
8 His father-in-law said to him: Tarry with me. I will send to your father, they shall declare to him how things go with you.
9 But Tobiyah said: No, let me go to my father.
10 Raguel arose, gave him Sarah his wife, half his goods, servants, cattle, and money.
11 He blessed them, and sent them away, saying: The Father of heaven give you a prosperous journey, my children.
12 He said to his daughter: Honor your father and your mother-in-law, who are now your parents, that I may hear good report of you. And he kissed her. Edna said to Tobiyah: Yahwah of heaven restore you, my dear brother, and grant that I may see your children of my daughter Sarah before I die, that I may rejoice before Yahwah. Behold, I commit my daughter to you of special trust, therefore do not treat her evil.

Chapter 11
1 After these things Tobiyah went his way, praising Yahwah that He gave him a prosperous journey. He blessed Raguel, and Edna his wife, and went on his way till they drew near to Nineveh.
2 Then Raphayah said to Tobiyah: You know, brother, how you left your father.
3 Let us hurry before your wife, and prepare the house.
4 Take in your hand the gall of the fish. So they went their way, and the dog went after them.
5 Anna sat looking about toward the way for her son.
6 When she saw him coming, she said to his father: Behold, your son comes, and the man that went with him.
7 Then Raphayah said: I know, Tobiyah, that your father will open his eyes.
8 Then you anoint his eyes with the gall. Being pricked with it, he will rub, the whiteness will fall away, and he will see you.
9 Anna ran forth, fell upon the neck of her son, and said to him: Seeing I see you, my son, now I am content to die. They both wept.
10 Tobit went forth toward the door, and stumbled.
11 His son ran to him, and took hold of his father. He stroked the gall on his fathers' eyes, saying: Be of good hope, my father.
12 When his eyes began to smart, he rubbed them.
13 The whiteness pilled away from the corners of his eyes. When he saw his son, he fell upon his neck.
14 He wept, and said: Blessed are you, O Yahwah. Blessed is your Name forever, and blessed are all your holy malaks.
15 You scourged, and took pity on me. Behold, I see my son Tobiyah. His son went in rejoicing, and told his father the great things that happened to him in Media.
16 Tobit went out to meet his daughter-in-law at the gate of Nineveh, rejoicing and praising Yahwah. Those who saw him go marvelled, because he received sight.
17 Tobiyah gave thanks before them, because Yahwah had mercy on him. When he came near to Sarah his daughter-in-law, he blessed her, saying: You are welcome, daughter. Yahwah be blessed, who brought you to us, and blessed are your father and your mother. There was joy among all his brothers which were at Nineveh.
18 Achiacharus came, and Nasbas his brother's son.
19 Tobiyah's wedding was kept seven days with great joy.

Chapter 12
1 Then Tobit called his son Tobiyah, and said to him: My son, see that the man who went with you has his wages, and you must give him more.
2 Tobiyah said to him: O father, it is no harm to me to give him half of those things which I brought.
3 He brought me to you again in safety, made my wife whole, brought me the money, and likewise healed you.
4 Then the old man said: It is due to him.
5 So he called the malak, and said to him: Take half of all you brought, and go away in safety.
6 Then Raphayah took them both apart, and said to them: Bless Yahwah, praise Him, magnify Him, praise Him for the things which He did to you in the sight of all that live. It is good to praise Yahwah, to exalt His Name, and to honorably show forth the works of Yahwah. Do not be slack to praise Him.
7 It is good to keep close the secret of a king, but it is honorable to reveal the works of Yahwah. Do that which is good, and no evil shall touch you.
8 Prayer is good with fasting, alms, and righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than much with unrighteousness. It is better to give alms than to save up gold.
9 Alms deliver from death, and shall purge away all sin. Those who exercise alms and righteousness shall be filled with life.
10 Those who sin are enemies to their own life.
11 Surely I will keep nothing secret from you. I said: It is good to keep close the secret of a king, but it is honorable to reveal the works of Yahwah.
12 When you prayed, and Sarah your daughter-in-law prayed, I brought the remembrance of your prayers before the Holy One. When you buried the dead, I was with you likewise.
13 When you did not delay to rise up, leave your dinner, to go and cover the dead, your good deed was not hid from me. I was with you.
14 Now Yahwah sent me to heal you and Sarah your daughter-in-law.
15 I am Raphayah, one of the seven holy malaks, who present the prayers of the saints, and who goes in and out before the Glory of the Holy One.
16 They were both troubled, and fell upon their faces, for they feared.
17 But he said to them: Do not fear, it shall go well with you. Praise Yahwah!
18 I came by the will of our Father, not of any favor of mine. Praise Him forever.
19 All these days I appeared to you. I neither ate nor drank, you saw a vision.
20 Now give Yahwah thanks. I go up to Him who sent me. Write all things which are done in a book.
21 When they arose, they did not see him.
22 They confessed the great and wonderful works of Yahwah, and how the malak of Yahwah appeared to them.

Chapter 13
1 Tobit wrote a prayer of rejoicing, and said: Blessed is Yahwah who lives forever, and blessed be His kingdom.
2 He does scourge, and has mercy. He leads down to hell, and brings up again. Neither is there any who can avoid His hand.
3 Confess Him before the Gentiles, you children of Yisrayah, for He scattered us among them.
4 Declare His greatness, and extol Him before all the living. He is our Father, He is Yahwah our Father forever.
5 He will scourge us for our iniquities, and will have mercy again. He will gather us out of all nations, among whom He scattered us.
6 If you turn to Him with your whole heart, with your whole mind, and deal uprightly before Him, then He will turn to you, and will not hide His face from you. See what He will do with you. Confess Him with your whole mouth, praise Yahwah of might, and extol the everlasting King. In the land of my captivity I praise Him, and declare His might and majesty to a sinful nation. O you sinners, turn and do justice before Him. Who can tell if He will accept you, and have mercy on you?
7 I extol my Father, my soul praises the King of heaven, and rejoices in His greatness.
8 Let all men speak, let all praise Him for His righteousness.
9 O Yerusalem, the holy city, He scourged you for your children's works, and will have mercy again on the sons of the righteous.
10 Give praise to Yahwah, for He is good. Praise the everlasting King, that His tabernacle may be built in you again with joy. Let Him make joyful there in you those that are captives, and love in you forever those that are miserable.
11 Many nations shall come from far to the Name of Yahwah with gifts in their hands, even gifts to the King of heaven. All generations shall praise you with great joy.
12 Cursed are all those who hate you, and blessed shall be all who love you forever.
13 Rejoice and be glad for the children of the just. They shall be gathered together, and shall bless the Father of the just.
14 O blessed are those who love you, for they shall rejoice in your peace. Blessed are those who were sorrowful for all your scourges, they shall rejoice for you, when they see all your glory, and shall be glad forever.
15 Let my soul bless Yahwah the great King.
16 For Yerusalem shall be built up with sapphires, emeralds, and precious stone; your walls, towers, and battlements with pure gold.
17 The streets of Yerusalem shall be paved with beryl, carbuncle, and stones of Ophir.
18 All her streets shall say: Alleluyah [Praise Yahwah]. They shall praise Him, saying: Blessed be Yahwah, who has extolled it forever.

Chapter 14
1 So Tobit made an end of praising Yahwah.
2 He was eight and fifty years old when he lost his sight, which was restored to him after eight years. He gave alms, he increased in the fear of Yahwah, and praised Him.
3 When he was very aged he called his son, and the sons of his son, and said to him: My son, take your children. Behold, I am aged, ready to depart out of this life.
4 Go into Media my son. I surely believe those things which Yonah the prophet spoke of Nineveh, that it shall be overthrown. For a time peace shall rather be in Media. Our brothers shall lie scattered in the earth from that good land, Yerusalem shall be desolate, the house of Yahwah in it shall be burned, and shall be desolate for a time.
5 Yahwah will have mercy on them, and bring them into the land again. They shall build a temple, but not like to the first, until the time of that age is fulfilled. Afterward they shall return from all places of their captivity, build up Yerusalem gloriously, and the house of Yahwah shall be built in it forever with a glorious building, as the prophets spoke of.
6 All nations shall turn, truly fear Yahwah, and bury their idols.
7 So all nations shall praise Yahwah. His people shall confess Him, and Yahwah shall exalt His people. All those who love Yahwah in truth and justice shall rejoice, showing mercy to our brothers.
8 My son, depart out of Nineveh. Those things the prophet Yonah spoke shall surely come to pass.
9 Keep the law and the commandments, show yourself merciful and just, that it may go well with you.
10 Bury me decently, and your mother with me. Do not tarry longer at Nineveh. Remember, my son, how Aman handled Achiacharus who brought him up. Out of light he brought him into darkness, and he rewarded him again. Achiacharus was saved, but the other had his reward, for he went down into darkness. Manasses gave alms, and escaped the snares of death which they set for him. Aman fell into the snare, and perished.
11 My son, consider what alms do, and how righteousness does deliver. When he said these things, he gave up the spirit in the bed, being an hundred and eight and fifty years old. He buried him honorably.
12 When Anna his mother was dead, he buried her with his father. Tobiyah departed with his wife and children to Ecbatane to Raguel his father-in-law.
13 He became old with honor, he buried his father- and mother-in-law honorably, he inherited their substance, and his father Tobit's.
14 He died at Ecbatane in Media, being an hundred and seven and twenty years old.
15 Before he died he heard of the destruction of Nineveh, which was taken by Nabuchodonosor and Assuerus. Before his death he rejoiced over Nineveh.






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