* The translation contained in this edition of the Crampon Bible follows the Vulgate (Latin version of a Chaldean text), but also takes into account other texts.
Chapter 1
1 Tobit, of the tribe and of a town of Naphtali, which is in Upper Galilee, above Naasson, behind the road that goes west, having the town of Sepheth on the left,
2 was taken captive in the time of Shalmaneser, king of the Assyrians; and, even in his captivity, he did not abandon the path of truth.
3 Every day he distributed to his brothers, those of his nation, captives like himself, all that he had to spare.
4 And although he was the youngest of those of the tribe of Naphtali, there was nothing youthful in his conduct.
5 So, while everyone else went to worship the golden calves that Jeroboam, king of Israel, had made, he alone fled from the company of everyone,
6 and he went to Jerusalem, to the temple of the Lord, where he worshiped the Lord, the God of Israel, faithfully offering the firstfruits and tithes of his possessions.
7 Every three years he distributed all his tithe to the proselytes and foreigners.
8 From his youth he observed these and other similar things according to God's law.
9 When he reached manhood, he married a woman from his tribe, named Hannah; and he had a son, to whom he gave his name,
10 and that he instructed them from childhood to fear God and to abstain from all sin.
11 So when he arrived as a captive, with his wife and son, in the city of Nineveh, where his whole tribe was,
12 Although all the others ate the food of the pagans, he kept his soul pure, and never defiled himself with their food.
13 And because he faithfully remembered the Lord, God granted him favor with King Shalmaneser,
14 which gave him power to go wherever he wanted, with freedom to do whatever he pleased.
15 So he went and visited all those who were captives and gave them good advice.
16 Having once gone to Rages, a city of the Medes, with ten talents, from the largesse with which the king had enriched him,
17 He saw, among the large number of his fellow countrymen, a man of his own tribe, appointed Gabélus, who was in need, and he gave him this sum of money against a receipt.
18 Long afterward, when King Shalmaneser died, Sennacherib, his son, reigned in his place. Since this prince harbored a great hatred for the children of Israel,
19 Tobias would visit all his relatives every day; he would comfort them and distribute some of his possessions to each one, according to his ability;
20 He gave food to the hungry, provided clothing to the naked, and was very zealous in burying those who were dead or had been killed.
21 When King Sennacherib, having returned from Judea as a fugitive after the defeat God had inflicted upon him for his blasphemies, put to death in his fury a great number of the children of Israel, Tobias buried the corpses.
22 When the news of this was brought to the king, he ordered him to be put to death and took away all his possessions.
23 But Tobias fled with his son and wife, and, stripped of everything, he managed to hide, because he had many friends.
24 Forty-five days later, the king was killed by his own sons.
25 Then Tobias returned to his house, and all his possessions were restored to him.
Chapter 2
1 After this, a feast of the Lord came, and a great meal was prepared in the house of Tobit,
2 He said to his son, »Go and bring some men from our tribe who fear God, so that they may eat with us.«
3 His son left; upon his return, he told him that one of the children of Israel, who had been murdered, lay dead in the street. At once, Tobias rose from the table and, leaving the meal there without having eaten anything, went to the corpse,
4 took it and secretly brought it back to his house, in order to bury it carefully after sunset.
5 When he had hidden it, he ate his meal with tears and trembling,
6 in remembrance of this word which the Lord had spoken through the prophet Amos "Your days of celebration will be turned into wailing and mourning."
7 Then, when the sun had set, he went out and laid the body in the ground.
8 All his neighbors rebuked him, saying, »You have already been ordered to be put to death for this very reason, and you have scarcely escaped the death sentence before you begin burying the dead again!«
9 But Tobias, fearing God more than the king, removed the bodies of those who had been killed, hid them in his house and buried them during the night.
10 One day, when he had grown tired of burying the dead, he returned to his house, threw himself at the foot of the wall, and fell asleep.
11 While he was sleeping, hot droppings fell from a swallow's nest onto his eyes, and he became blind.
12 God allowed this trial to happen to him, so that his patience, like that of the holy man Job, might be given as an example to posterity.
13 For, having always feared God from his childhood and kept his commandments, he was not grieved against God that the misfortune of blindness had befallen him.
14 But he remained steadfast in the fear of God, giving thanks to him all the days of his life.
15 Just as the tribal chiefs insulted the blessed Job, so Tobias' relatives and friends mocked his conduct, saying:
16 »What has become of your hope, for which you gave alms and buried the dead?«
17 Tobias rebuked them, saying: »Do not speak like that;
18 For we are children of the saints, and we await the life that God will give to those who never withdraw their faithfulness to him.«
19 Anne, his wife, went every day to weave cloth and, by the work With her own hands, she brought back what she could earn for their upkeep.
20 So it came to pass that having received a young goat, she brought it home.
21 When her husband heard the bleating of the kid, he said, »See if this kid has been stolen, and return it to its owner, for we are not permitted to eat or even touch anything that has been stolen.«
22 Then his wife angrily replied, »It is clear that your hope has been in vain; this is what your almsgiving has earned you!«
23 It was through these and similar speeches that she insulted him.
Chapter 3
1 Then Tobias, having sighed, began to pray with tears,
2 saying: »You are just, Lord; just are all your judgments, and all your ways are mercy, truth, and justice.
3 And now, Lord, remember me; do not avenge my sins, and do not remember my offenses, or those of my ancestors.
4 For we did not obey your precepts; therefore we were given over to plunder, to captivity, to death, to ridicule and to reproach among all the nations among which you scattered us.
5 And now, Lord, your punishments are great, because we have not acted according to your precepts and have not walked sincerely before you.
6 And now, Lord, deal with me according to your will, and command that my spirit be received in peace, for it is better for me to die than to live.«
7 On that same day, in Ecbatana, a city of the Medes, Sarah, daughter of Raguel, also heard the insults of one of her father's servants.
8 For she had been successively given in marriage to seven husbands, and a demon, named Asmodeus, had caused them to die as soon as they came to her.
9 When she rebuked this servant for some fault, the servant replied, »May we never see on earth either son or daughter of you, murderer of your husbands!”
10 Do you want to kill me too, as you have already killed seven husbands?» At this, Sarah went up to the upper room of her house and stayed there three days and three nights, neither eating nor drinking.
11 But, persevering in prayer, she begged God with tears to deliver her from this disgrace.
12 On the third day, she finished her prayer and blessed the Lord,
13 saying: »Blessed be your name, O God of our fathers, who even when you are angry, show mercy, and in times of tribulation forgive sins to those who call upon you.
14 To you, Lord, I turn my face, to you I lift up my eyes.
15 I ask you, Lord, to deliver me from the bonds of this reproach; if not, to remove me from this land.
16 You know, Lord, that I have never desired a husband, and that I have kept my soul pure from all lust.
17 I have never frequented frivolous games and have not had any dealings with men of loose conduct.
18 It was out of fear of you, and not to follow my passion, that I consented to take a husband.
19 Either I was not worthy of them, or perhaps they were not worthy of me, for it may be that you kept me for another husband.
20 It is not within the power of man to enter your plans.
21 But whoever honors you is assured that his life, if it has been in trial, will be crowned, that if he has been in tribulation, he will be delivered, and that if punishment has come upon him, he will be able to obtain your mercy.
22 For you take no pleasure in our downfall, but after the storm you bring calm, and after weeping and tears you spread joy.
23 Blessed be your name, God of Israel, forever!«
24 These two supplications were answered at the same time before the glory of the sovereign God;
25 and the holy angel of the Lord, Raphael, was sent to heal Tobias and Sarah, whose prayers had been said at the same time in the presence of the Lord.
Chapter 4
1 Tobias, believing that his prayer had been answered and that he was about to die, called his son Tobias to his side,
2 and said to him, »Listen, my son, to the words of my mouth and set them down as a solid foundation in your heart.
3 When God has received my soul, lay my body in the ground. You shall honor your mother all the days of her life;
4 For you must remember what she suffered and the great dangers she faced because of you, when she was carrying you within her breast.
5 And when she herself has also completed the time of her life, you shall bury her beside me.
6 All the days of your life keep God in mind, and beware of ever consenting to sin and transgressing the precepts of the Lord your God.
7 Give alms from your wealth, and do not turn your face away from any poor person; for in this way the face of God will not turn away from you.
8 Be merciful in whatever way you can.
9 If you have much, give generously; if you have little, be careful to share even that little willingly.
10 In this way you will lay up a great treasure for yourself for the day of need.
11 For almsgiving delivers from all sin and from death, and it will not let the soul descend into darkness.
12 For all who give alms, it will be a great cause of confidence before the sovereign God.
13 Guard yourself, my son, from all impurity, and let your conscience never reproach you for a criminal act apart from your wife.
14 Never let pride rule in your heart or in your words, for it is through pride that all evils began.
15 When a man has done work for you, pay him his wages immediately, and do not let the wages of the hired worker remain with you for a moment.
16 What you would be angry if someone did to you, take care never to do to another.
17 Eat your bread with the hungry and the poor, and cover the naked with your clothes.
18 Serve your bread and wine to celebrate the burial of the righteous, but do not eat it or drink it with the fishermen.
19 Always seek advice from a wise man.
20 Bless God at all times; ask Him to direct your ways, and that all your plans may succeed through Him.
21 I also inform you, my son, that when you were still a small child, I gave ten talents of silver to Gabelus of Rages, a city of the Medes, and I have his receipt in my hands.
22 Therefore, make every effort to go to him and collect this sum of money, and you will repay him his debt.
23 Do not be afraid, my son. It is true that we lead a poor life, but we will have much good if we fear God, if we avoid all sin and do good works.
Chapter 5
1 Then Tobias answered his father, saying, »All that you have commanded me, I will do, my father.
2 But I don't know how I can get this money back. This man doesn't know me, and he is also unknown to me; what sign can I give him? I don't even know the way to that country.«
3 His father answered him, saying, »I have his writing in my hands; as soon as you show it to him, he will repay you.
4 But now go and find a trustworthy man to go with you, for a fee, so that you may get your money back while I am still alive.«
5 Tobias, having gone out, found a handsome young man, standing and girded, as if ready to set out.
6 Not knowing that it was an angel of God, he greeted him and him He said, "Where are you from, good young man?"»
7 The angel replied:» I am a children of Israel.» And Tobias said to him, »Do you know the road that leads to the land of the Medes?«
8 He replied, »I know it, for I have often traveled all those roads and I have stayed with Gabelus, our brother, who lives in Rages, a city of the Medes, which is situated in the mountains of Ecbatana.«
9 Tobias said to him, »Please wait for me until I have told my father.«
10 Then Tobias returned and told his father everything. At this, the father, amazed, asked that the young man be brought in.
11 He came in and greeted everyone, saying, “That joy "May it always be with you!"
12 »What joy can I have,« replied Tobias, “I who sit in darkness and cannot see the light of heaven?”
13 The young man said to him, »Take heart! It is easy for God to heal you.«
14 Then Tobias said to him, »Could you please take my son to Gabelus in Rages, a city of the Medes? When you return, I will give you your wages.»
15 »I will lead him,« the angel replied, “and I will bring him back to you.”
16 Tobias said to him, »Please tell me, what family and tribe are you from?«
17 The angel Raphael answered him, »Is it the family of the mercenary you are looking for, or the mercenary himself, who is to accompany your son?
18 But so as not to worry you, I am Azariah, son of the great Ananias.«
19 »You are of noble lineage,« Tobias told him. “But please don’t be angry that I wanted to know your family.”
20 And the angel said to him, »I will lead your son safely, and I will bring him back to you safely.«
21 Tobias added: "Have a happy journey! May God be on your path, and may his angel accompany you!"»
22 When they had prepared everything they were to take on the journey, Tobias said goodbye to his father and mother, and he set out with the angel.
23 When they had left, the mother began to weep, saying, »You have taken away the staff of our old age, and you have removed it from us.
24 Would to God that this money for which you sent it had never existed!
25 For our poverty That was enough for us, and seeing our son was a blessing for us.«
26 Tobias answered him: »Do not weep; our son will arrive safely, and he will return to us safely, and your eyes will see him again.
27 For I believe that a good angel of God accompanies him, and that he arranges happily all that happens to him, so that he will return to us with joy.«
28 At this, his mother stopped crying and she fell silent.
Chapter 6
1 Tobias set out, followed by the dog, and made his first stop near the Tigris river.
2 As he went down on the shore As he was washing his feet, a huge fish suddenly leaped out to devour him.
3 Terrified, Tobias cried out loudly, saying, "Lord, he is attacking me!"»
4 The angel said to him, »Take it by the gills and pull it towards you.» Having done so, he pulled it onto dry land, and the fish struggled at his feet.
5 The angel said to him, »Eviscerate the fish, and keep its heart, gall, and liver, for they are useful remedies.«
6 He obeyed; then he roasted a part of the meat, which they took with them for the journey; they salted the rest, which was to last them until they arrived at Rages, a city of the Medes.
7 And Tobias questioned the angel, saying, »I beg you, Azarias my brother, to tell me what healing properties are possessed in the parts of this fish that you commanded me to keep.«
8 The angel answered him, »If you place a small part of the heart on burning coals, the smoke that rises from it drives out every kind of demon, whether from a man or a woman, so that they cannot come near them.
9 And gall is used to anoint eyes covered with a film, and it heals them.«
10 Tobias said to him, »Where do you want us to rest?«
11 The angel answered him, »There is a man here called Raguel, of your tribe and family; he has a daughter named Sarah, but besides her he has no other children, son or daughter.
12 All her possessions must come to you, and you must take her as your wife.
13 Ask her father, and he will give her to you as a wife.«
14 Then Tobit answered, »I have heard that she has already married seven husbands, and that they are all dead, and I was told again that a demon had killed them.
15 Therefore, I fear that the same thing may happen to me, and that, being my parents' only son, I may sadly bring their old age down to the grave.«
16 And the angel Raphael said to him, »Listen to me, and I will tell you who it is that the devil has power over.”.
17 These are the ones who enter into marriage banishing God from their hearts and minds, to indulge their passions, like the horse and the mule, which have no reason: over them the devil has power.
18 But you, when you have married her, go into the chamber and live with her in continence for three days, and think of nothing but praying. God with her.
19 On the first night, throw the fish's liver into the fire, and the demon will flee.
20 On the second night, you will be admitted into the society of the holy patriarchs.
21 On the third night, you will receive the blessing promised to their posterity, so that strong children may be born to you.
22 On the third night, you shall take the young woman in the fear of the Lord, guided more by desire to have children born of passion, so that you may obtain in your children the blessing promised to the descendants of Abraham.«
Chapter 7
1 They went to Raguel's house, who received them with joy.
2 When Raguel saw Tobias, he said to Anne, his wife: "How much this young man resembles my cousin!"»
3 Having spoken thus, he said to travelers "Where are you from, young men, our brothers?" They replied, "We are from the tribe of Naphtali, of the number captives from Nineveh.«
4 Raguel said to them, "Do you know Tobias, my brother?" — "We know him," they replied.
5 And since Raguel spoke very highly of Tobias, the angel said to him, »Tobias, of whom you speak, is the father of this young man.«
6 Immediately Raguel ran to him and kissed him with tears, weeping at his neck.
7 »Blessed be you, my son,« he said, “for you are the son of a good man, the best of men!”
8 And Anne, his wife, and Sarah, their daughter, were weeping.
9 After they had Thus After speaking, Raguel had a ram killed and a feast prepared; and, as he invited them to sit down for the meal,
10 Tobit said, »I will neither eat nor drink here today until you first grant my request and promise to give me Sarah, your daughter.«
11 Upon hearing these words, Raguel was seized with fear, knowing what had happened to the seven husbands who had approached her, and he began to fear that a similar misfortune might befall this one. As he remained in this uncertainty and gave no answer to the question of Tobias,
12 The angel said to her, »Do not be afraid to give your daughter to this young man ; For it is to him, who fears God, that she should belong as his wife; that is why no other could possess her.«
13 Then Raguel said, »I do not doubt that God has admitted my prayers and my tears into his presence.
14 And I believe that he has brought you to me so that my daughter might marry her relative, according to the law of Moses. Therefore, have no more doubt that I will give her to you.«
15 And taking his daughter's right hand, he placed it in Tobias's right hand, saying, "May the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob be with you; may he himself unite you and pour out his full blessing upon you!"»
16 Then, having taken some paper, they wrote up the marriage certificate.
17 After that, they took part in the feast, blessing God.
18 Raguel called Anne, his wife, and ordered her to prepare another room.
19 She brought her daughter Sara there, who began to cry.
20 And she said to him, “Take courage, my daughter. May the Lord of heaven give you joy instead of the sorrow you felt!
Chapter 8
1 When the meal was finished, they led the young man to Sara.
2 Tobias, remembering the angel's words, took a portion of the liver from his bag and placed it on burning coals.
3 Then the angel Raphael seized the demon and chained him in the desert of Upper Egypt.
4 And Tobias exhorted the young girl, saying to her: »Sarah, get up, and let us pray to God today, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow; during these three nights we will be united with God, and, after the third night, we will live in our marriage.
5 For we are children of the saints, and we cannot unite like the Gentiles who do not know God.«
6 So they both got up and prayed earnestly God to grant them health.
7 Tobit said: "Lord, God of our fathers, may heaven and earth, the sea, the fountains and the rivers, with all your creatures that they contain, bless you!
8 You made Adam from the dust of the earth, and you gave Eve as a companion to him.
9 And now, Lord, you know that it is not to satisfy my passion that I take my sister as my wife, but solely in the desire to leave children who will bless your name throughout all ages.«
10 Sarah also said, »Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us, and may we both reach old age in perfect health!«
11 At the hour of the rooster's crow, Raguel commanded that his servants be brought in, and they went with him to dig a pit.
12 For he was saying, »The same thing that happened to the seven other husbands who went to her may well have happened to her.«
13 When they had prepared the pit, Raguel returned to his wife and said to her:
14 »Send one of your maids to see if he is dead so that I may bury him before daybreak.«
15 Anne sent one of her maids. When she entered the room, she found them safe and sound, both asleep.
16 When she returned, she announced this good news; and Raguel and Anna, his wife, blessed the Lord,
17 saying: »We bless you, Lord, God of Israel, for the disaster we feared has not come to pass.
18 You have shown us mercy, and you have removed from us the enemy who persecuted us.
19 You have had mercy on two only children. Grant, Lord, that they may bless you more and more, and that they may offer you a sacrifice of praise for their preservation, so that all nations may acknowledge that you alone are God over all the earth.«
20 Immediately Raguel ordered his servants to fill in the pit they had made before daybreak.
21 And he told his wife to prepare a feast and to arrange all the necessary things for travelers for their sustenance.
22 He also had two fat cows and four rams slaughtered, to prepare a meal for all his neighbors and all his friends.
23 And Raguel urged Tobias to stay at home for two weeks.
24 Raguel gave Tobias half of all that he possessed, and he wrote a document so that the remaining half would become Tobias's property after their death.
Chapter 9
1 Then Tobias called the angel to him, whom he believed to be a man, and said to him, »Azarias, my brother, I beg you to listen to my words.
2 Even if I were to give myself to you as a slave, I would still not fully appreciate all your care.
3 Nevertheless, I make this request to you again: Take beasts of burden and servants with you, and go to Gabelus, in Rages, a city of the Medes; return his letter to him, receive the money from him, and ask him to come to my wedding.
4 For you yourself know that my father is counting the days, and if I delay one more day, his soul will be saddened.
5 You also see how Raguel conjured me to stay here, and that I cannot resist his entreaties.«
6 Then Raphael, taking four of Raguel's servants and two camels, went to Rages, a city of the Medes. Having found Gabelus, he returned his note and received all the money;
7 and, after telling him everything that had happened to Tobias, son of Tobias, he brought him with him to the wedding.
8 When Gabelus entered Raguel's house, he found Tobias at the table; Tobias immediately stood up; they kissed each other, and Gabelus wept and blessed God,
9 saying, »May the God of Israel bless you, for you are the son of an excellent man, righteous and God-fearing, and a generous giver!”
10 May the blessing also be upon your wife and your parents!
11 May you see your children and your children’s children to the third and fourth generation! May your descendants be blessed by the God of Israel, who reigns forever and ever!«
12 When they had all said, “Amen!” they sat down to eat, and in the fear of God they celebrated the wedding feast.
Chapter 10
1 While Tobias delayed his departure because of his wedding, his father Tobias was filled with worry: "Why is my son delayed?" he said to himself. "What reason could keep him in this country?"
2. Could Gabélus be dead, and is there no one left to return the money to him?«
3 So he and his wife Anne began to be very sad, and they wept together because their son had not returned to them on the appointed day.
4 His mother especially shed endless tears: "Alas! Alas! My son," she said, "why did we send you so far away?" who was The light of our eyes, the staff of our old age, the consolation of our life, and the hope of our posterity?
5 We who had everything in you alone, we should not have taken you away from us.«
6 Tobias said to him, »Stop your complaints and do not be troubled; our son is well, and the man with whom we sent him is very faithful.«
7 But nothing could console her; going out every day from his house, She looked in all directions and went along all the paths by which there was hope that he would return, in order, if possible, to catch sight of him from afar.
8 However, Raguel said to his son-in-law, »Stay here, and I will send news of your health to Tobias, your father.«
9 Tobit answered him, »I know that my father and mother are counting the days and that their minds are troubled within them.«
10 After making further earnest entreaties to Tobias, but the latter refused to listen to his reasons, Raguel gave him Sarah with half of all his possessions, including male and female servants, flocks, camels, cows, and money, of which he had a great deal, and he let him go, full of health and joy.,
11 saying, »May the holy angel of the Lord be in your way, may he guide you” right to your home safe and sound; may you find all things prosperous with your parents, and may my eyes see your children before I die!«
12 And the father and mother took their daughter, kissed her, and sent her away,
13 after advising her to honor her parents-in-law, to love her husband, to manage her family well, to govern her household, and to keep herself blameless.
Chapter 11
1 As they were returning, they arrived on the eleventh day at Haran, a city situated halfway to Nineveh.
2 And the angel said, »Tobias, my brother, you know the state in which you left your father.
3 If it seems good to you, let us go ahead, and let your servants follow in small groups, along with your wife and your livestock.«
4 When Tobias approved this plan, Raphael said to him, "Take some fish gall with you, for you will need it." Tobias took some of this gall, and they set off.
5 Anne, however, went every day to sit by the roadside, on the top of a rise, from where she could see far away.
6 And as she watched from there for the arrival of her son, she saw him returning in the distance, and recognizing him, she ran to tell her husband, saying, »Here comes your son!«
7 At the same time, Raphael said to Tobias: »When you enter your house, immediately worship the Lord your God and give thanks to him; then, go to your father and kiss him,
8 And you shall immediately put on his eyes some of the fish gall that you have with you; for know that his eyes will be opened at once, and your father will see the light of heaven, and the sight of you will fill him with joy.«
9 Then the dog that had accompanied them on the journey ran in front of them, as if to bring the news, stroking its tail and very joyful.
10 And the blind father got up and began to run, and, as he was striking his feet, he gave his hand to a servant to go to meet his son.
11 Taking it in his arms, He kissed him, as did his wife, and they both shed tears of joy.
12 After they had worshiped God and given thanks, they sat down.
13 Immediately Tobias, taking some of the fish's gall, spread it on his father's eyes.
14 After about half an hour of waiting, a white film, like the film on an egg, began to come out of his eyes.
15 Tobias seized it and snatched it from the eyes of his father, and at that moment he regained his sight.
16 And they gave glory to God, him and his wife and all who knew him.
17 Tobias said: »I bless you, Lord, God of Israel, because you have chastised me and healed me; and behold, I see my son Tobias!«
18 Seven days later Sarah, his son's wife, arrived with all her servants in good health, with the flocks and camels, and all the money from her marriage and that which Gabelus had returned.
19 And Tobie He told his parents all the blessings God had bestowed upon him through the man who had guided him.
20 Achior and Nabath, Tobias's relatives, came to him, full of joy, and congratulated him on all the good things God had done for him.
21 And for seven days they ate together and celebrated with great joy.
Chapter 12
1 Then Tobias called his son to him and said, »What shall we give to this holy man who accompanied you on your journey?«
2 Tobias answered his father, »Father, what reward can we offer him? Is there anything that relates to his services?”
3 He led me and brought me back safely; he himself went to collect the money from Gabelus; he gave me a wife, drove away the demon, and filled her parents with joy; he himself saved me from the fish that was about to devour me; he showed you the light of heaven, and through him we have been filled with every good thing. What can we give him that equals this What has he done for us?
4 But I beg you, Father, to ask him if he would not be willing to accept half of all the good we have brought.«
5 So Tobias and his son called him aside and begged him to accept half of what they had brought back.
6 Then the angel, alone with them, said to them, »Bless the God of heaven and give him glory before every living thing, because he has shown you mercy.
7 It is good to keep the king's secret secret, but it is honorable to reveal and proclaim the works of God.
8 Prayer is good with fasting, and charity is better than gold and treasures.
9 For almsgiving delivers from death, and it is almsgiving that blots out sins, and makes one find mercy and eternal life.
10 But those who commit sin and iniquity are their own enemies.
11 So I am going to reveal the truth to you, and I don't want to hide anything from you.
12 When you prayed with tears and buried the dead; when you left your meal and hid the dead in your house by day, and buried them by night, I presented your prayer to the Lord.
13 And because you were pleasing to God, it was necessary that temptation should test you.
14 Now the Lord has sent me to heal you, and to deliver Sarah, your son's wife, from the demon.
15 I am the angel Raphael, one of the seven who stand in the presence of the Lord.«
16 When they heard these words, they were beside themselves, and trembling with fear, they fell face down to the ground.
17 And the angel said to them, »That peace Be with you! Do not be afraid.
18 For when I was with you, I was there by the will of God; therefore bless him and sing his praises.
19 It seemed to you that I ate and drank with you; but I was eating invisible food and drinking that no human eye can perceive.
20 It is time for me to return to the one who sent me; but you, bless God and proclaim all his wonderful deeds.«
21 After he had spoken thus, he was hidden from their sight, and they could see him no more.
22 Then they prostrated themselves for three hours with their faces to the ground, and they blessed God, and when they got up they told all his wonders.
Chapter 13
1 Old Tobias, opening his mouth, blessed the Lord, saying:
»"You are great, Lord, in eternity, and your reign extends throughout all ages.".
2 For you punish and you save, you lead to the grave and you bring back, and there is no one who can escape your hand.
3 Praise the Lord, children of Israel, and give thanks to him before the nations.
4 For he has scattered you among the nations that do not know him, so that you may tell of his wonders and make known to them that there is no God besides him, the Almighty. alone.
5 He has punished us because of our iniquities, and he will save us because of his mercy.
6 Consider how he has dealt with us, and bless him with fear and trembling, and glorify the King of ages by your works.
7 For my part, I want to bless him in this country where I am a captive, because he has brought glory to a criminal nation.
8 Repent, then, you sinners, and do what is right before God, trusting that he will have mercy on you!
9 As for me, I will rejoice in him with all my soul.
10 Bless the Lord, all you who are the chosen people; celebrate joyful days and sing his praises!
11 Jerusalem, city of God, the Lord has punished you because of the works of your hands.
12 Glorify the Lord by your good works, and bless the God of ages, so that he may rebuild his sanctuary in you, that he may restore to you all the captives, and that you may rejoice for all ages.
13 You will shine with a brilliant light, and all the countries of the earth will bow down before you.
14 Nations will come to you from distant lands, bringing gifts; they will worship the Lord within your walls and regard your land as a sanctuary;
15 for they will call upon the great Name in your midst.
16 Cursed are those who despise you, condemned are those who blaspheme you, blessed are those who build you up.
17 And you will rejoice in your children, because they will all be blessed and gathered together to the Lord.
18 Blessed are all who love you and rejoice in your peace!
19 Bless the Lord, O my soul, for he has delivered Jerusalem, his city, from all its tribulations, he, the Lord, our God!
20 Blessed will I be, if there are descendants of my race left to see the splendor of Jerusalem!
21 The gates of Jerusalem shall be made of sapphires and emeralds, and all its walls of precious stones.
22 Immaculate white stones will pave its squares, and in its streets they will sing: Alleluia!
23 Blessed be the Lord who has given this glory to Jerusalem, and may he reign over it forever and ever! Amen!«
Chapter 14
1 Thus ended the words of Tobit. After he had regained his sight, Tobit lived Again He was forty-two years old, and he saw the children of his grandchildren.
2 He lived a total of one hundred and two years, and was honorably buried in Nineveh.
3 For he was fifty-six years old when he lost his sight, and he recovered it at sixty.
4 The rest of his life was spent in joyAnd the more he progressed in the fear of God, the more peace he experienced.
5 At the time of his death, he called to him Tobias, his son, and the latter's seven young sons, his grandsons, and he said to them:
6 "The destruction of Nineveh is near, for the word of God must be fulfilled; and our brothers who are scattered there far from the land of Israel will return there.
7 The whole country of Israel, After being deserted, it will be repopulated, and the house of God, after being burned, will be rebuilt, and all who fear God will return to it.
8 The nations will abandon their idols; they will come to Jerusalem and dwell there;
9 and all the kings of the earth will rejoice there, worshiping the King of Israel.
10 »Listen then, my children, to your father, serve the Lord in truth, and strive to do what pleases him.
11 Command your children to practice justice and to give alms, to remember God and to bless him at all times in truth and with all their might.
12 »Listen to me now, my children, and do not stay in this city; but on the very day that you have buried your mother beside me in the same tomb, set out to leave here;
13 For I see that the iniquity of Nineveh will bring about its ruin.«
14 After his mother's death, the young Tobias left Nineveh with his wife, his children, and his children's children, and returned to his in-laws.
15 He found them healthy in a happy old age; he took care of them and closed their eyes; he collected all the inheritance of the house of Raguel, and he saw the children of his children to the fifth generation.
16 After he had lived ninety-nine years in the fear of the Lord, his children They buried him with joy.
17 All his relatives and descendants continued in good life and holy conduct, so that they were loved by God and men and by all who lived in the land.
