The Book of Tobit
{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;
{1:2} Who in the time of Enemessar king of the Assyrians
was led captive out of Thisbe, which is at the right hand of
that city, which is called properly Nephthali in Galilee
above Aser.
{1:3} I Tobit have walked all the days of my life in the
ways of truth and justice, and I did many almsdeeds to my
brethren, and my nation, who came with me to Nineve, into
the land of the Assyrians.
{1:4} And when I was in mine own country, in the land of
Israel being but young, all the tribe of Nephthali my father
fell from the house of Jerusalem, which was chosen out of
all the tribes of Israel, that all the tribes should sacrifice
there, where the temple of the habitation of the most High
was consecrated and built for all ages.
{1:5} Now all the tribes which together revolted, and the
house of my father Nephthali, sacrificed unto the heifer
Baal.
{1:6} But I alone went often to Jerusalem at the feasts, as
it was ordained unto all the people of Israel by an
everlasting decree, having the firstfruits and tenths of
increase, with that which was first shorn; and them gave I at
the altar to the priests the children of Aaron.
{1:7} The first tenth part of all increase I gave to the sons
of Aaron, who ministered at Jerusalem: another tenth part I
sold away, and went, and spent it every year at Jerusalem:
{1:8} And the third I gave unto them to whom it was
meet, as Debora my father’s mother had commanded me,
because I was left an orphan by my father.
{1:9} Furthermore, when I was come to the age of a man,
I married Anna of mine own kindred, and of her I begat
Tobias.
{1:10} And when we were carried away captives to
Nineve, all my brethren and those that were of my kindred
did eat of the bread of the Gentiles.
{1:11} But I kept myself from eating;
{1:12} Because I remembered God with all my heart.
{1:13} And the most High gave me grace and favour
before Enemessar, so that I was his purveyor.
{1:14} And I went into Media, and left in trust with
Gabael, the brother of Gabrias, at Rages a city of Media ten
talents of silver.
{1:15} Now when Enemessar was dead, Sennacherib his
son reigned in his stead; whose estate was troubled, that I
could not go into Media.
{1:16} And in the time of Enemessar I gave many alms to
my brethren, and gave my bread to the hungry,
{1:17} And my clothes to the naked: and if I saw any of
my nation dead, or cast about the walls of Nineve, I buried
him.
{1:18} And if the king Sennacherib had slain any, when
he was come, and fled from Judea, I buried them privily; for
in his wrath he killed many; but the bodies were not found,
when they were sought for of the king.
{1:19} And when one of the Ninevites went and
complained of me to the king, that I buried them, and hid
myself; understanding that I was sought for to be put to
death, I withdrew myself for fear.
{1:20} Then all my goods were forcibly taken away,
neither was there any thing left me, beside my wife Anna
and my son Tobias.
{1:21} And there passed not five and fifty days, before
two of his sons killed him, and they fled into the mountains
of Ararath; and Sarchedonus his son reigned in his stead;
who appointed over his father’s accounts, and over all his
affairs, Achiacharus my brother Anael’s son.
{1:22} And Achiacharus intreating for me, I returned to
Nineve. Now Achiacharus was cupbearer, and keeper of the
signet, and steward, and overseer of the accounts: and
Sarchedonus appointed him next unto him: and he was my
brother’s son.
{2:1} Now when I was come home again, and my wife
Anna was restored unto me, with my son Tobias, in the
feast of Pentecost, which is the holy feast of the seven
weeks, there was a good dinner prepared me, in the which I
sat down to eat.
{2:2} And when I saw abundance of meat, I said to my
son, Go and bring what poor man soever thou shalt find out
of our brethren, who is mindful of the Lord; and, lo, I tarry
for thee.
{2:3} But he came again, and said, Father, one of our
nation is strangled, and is cast out in the marketplace.
{2:4} Then before I had tasted of any meat, I started up,
and took him up into a room until the going down of the sun.
{2:5} Then I returned, and washed myself, and ate my
meat in heaviness,
{2:6} Remembering that prophecy of Amos, as he said,
Your feasts shall be turned into mourning, and all your
mirth into lamentation.
{2:7} Therefore I wept: and after the going down of the
sun I went and made a grave, and buried him.
{2:8} But my neighbours mocked me, and said, This man
is not yet afraid to be put to death for this matter: who fled
away; and yet, lo, he burieth the dead again.
{2:9} The same night also I returned from the burial, and
slept by the wall of my courtyard, being polluted and my
face was uncovered:
{2:10} And I knew not that there were sparrows in the
wall, and mine eyes being open, the sparrows muted warm
dung into mine eyes, and a whiteness came in mine eyes:
and I went to the physicians, but they helped me not:
moreover Achiacharus did nourish me, until I went into
Elymais.
{2:11} And my wife Anna did take women’s works to do.
{2:12} And when she had sent them home to the owners,
they paid her wages, and gave her also besides a kid.
{2:13} And when it was in my house, and began to cry, I
said unto her, From whence is this kid? is it not stolen?
render it to the owners; for it is not lawful to eat any thing
that is stolen.
{2:14} But she replied upon me, It was given for a gift
more than the wages. Howbeit I did not believe her, but
bade her render it to the owners: and I was abashed at her.
But she replied upon me, Where are thine alms and thy
righteous deeds? behold, thou and all thy works are known.
{3:1} Then I being grieved did weep, and in my sorrow
prayed, saying,
{3:2} O Lord, thou art just, and all thy works and all thy
ways are mercy and truth, and thou judgest truly and justly
for ever.
{3:3} Remember me, and look on me, punish me not for
my sins and ignorances, and the sins of mg fathers, who
have sinned before thee:
{3:4} For they obeyed not thy commandments: wherefore
thou hast delivered us for a spoil, and unto captivity, and
unto death, and for a proverb of reproach to all the nations
among whom we are dispersed.
{3:5} And now thy judgments are many and true: deal
with me according to my sins and my fathers’: because we
have not kept thy commandments, neither have walked in
truth before thee.
{3:6} Now therefore deal with me as seemeth best unto
thee, and command my spirit to be taken from me, that I
may be dissolved, and become earth: for it is profitable for
me to die rather than to live, because I have 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: turn not thy face away from me.
{3:7} It came to pass the same day, that in Ecbatane a city
of Media Sara the daughter of Raguel was also reproached
by her father’s maids;
{3:8} Because that she had been married to seven
husbands, whom Asmodeus the evil spirit had killed, before
they had lain with her. Dost thou not know, said they, that
thou hast strangled thine husbands? thou hast had already
seven husbands, neither wast thou named after any of them.
{3:9} Wherefore dost thou beat us for them? if they be
dead, go thy ways after them, let us never see of thee either
son or daughter.
{3:10} Whe she heard these things, she was very
sorrowful, so that she thought to have strangled herself; and
she said, I am the only daughter of my father, and if I do
this, it shall be a reproach unto him, and I shall bring his old
age with sorrow unto the grave.
{3:11} Then she prayed toward the window, and said,
Blessed art thou, O Lord my God, and thine holy and
glorious name is blessed and honourable for ever: let all thy
works praise thee for ever.
{3:12} And now, O Lord, I set I mine eyes and my face
toward thee,
{3:13} And say, Take me out of the earth, that I may hear
no more the reproach.
{3:14} Thou knowest, Lord, that I am pure from all sin
with man,
{3:15} And that 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, neither hath he 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; and why should I live? but if it please not thee
that I should die, command some regard to be had of me,
and pity taken of me, that I hear no more reproach.
{3:16} So the prayers of them both were heard before the
majesty of the great God.
{3:17} And Raphael was sent to heal them both, that is, to
scale away the whiteness of Tobit’s eyes, and to give Sara
the daughter of Raguel for a wife to Tobias the son of Tobit;
and to bind Asmodeus the evil spirit; because she belonged
to Tobias by right of inheritance. The selfsame time came
Tobit home, and entered into his house, and Sara the
daughter of Raguel came down from her upper chamber.
{4:1} In that day Tobit remembered the money which he
had committed to Gabael in Rages of Media,
{4:2} And said with himself, I have wished for death;
wherefore do I not call for my son Tobias that I may signify
to him of the money before I die?
{4:3} And when he had called him, he said, My son, when
I am dead, bury me; and despise not thy mother, but honour
her all the days of thy life, and do that which shall please
her, and grieve her not.
{4:4} Remember, my son, that she saw many dangers for
thee, when thou wast in her womb: and when she is dead,
bury her by me in one grave.
{4:5} My son, be mindful of the Lord our God all thy
days, and let not thy will be set to sin, or to transgress his
commandments: do uprightly all thy life long, and follow
not the ways of unrighteousness.
{4:6} For if thou deal truly, thy doings shall prosperously
succeed to thee, and to all them that live justly.
{4:7} Give alms of thy substance; and when thou givest
alms, let not thine eye be envious, neither turn thy face from
any poor, and the face of God shall not be turned away from
thee.
{4:8} If thou hast abundance give alms accordingly: if
thou have but a little, be not afraid to give according to that
little:
{4:9} For thou layest up a good treasure for thyself
against the day of necessity.
{4:10} Because that alms do deliver from death, and
suffereth not to come into darkness.
{4:11} For alms is a good gift unto all that give it in the
sight of the most High.
{4:12} Beware of all whoredom, my son, and chiefly take
a wife of the seed of thy fathers, and take not a strange
woman to wife, which is not of thy father’s tribe: for we are
the children of the prophets, Noe, Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob: remember, my son, that our fathers from the
beginning, even that they all married wives of their own
kindred, and were blessed in their children, and their seed
shall inherit the land.
{4:13} Now therefore, my son, love thy brethren, and
despise not in thy heart thy brethren, the sons and daughters
of thy people, in not taking a wife of them: for in pride is
destruction and much trouble, and in lewdness is decay and
great want: for lewdness is the mother of famine.
{4:14} Let not the wages of any man, which hath wrought
for thee, tarry with thee, but give him it out of hand: for if
thou serve God, he will also repay thee: be circumspect my
son, in all things thou doest, and be wise in all thy
conversation.
{4:15} Do that to no man which thou hatest: drink not
wine to make thee drunken: neither let drunkenness go with
thee in thy journey.
{4:16} Give of thy bread to the hungry, and of thy
garments to them that are naked; and according to thine
abundance give alms: and let not thine eye be envious,
when thou givest alms.
{4:17} Pour out thy bread on the burial of the just, but
give nothing to the wicked.
{4:18} Ask counsel of all that are wise, and despise not
any counsel that is profitable.
{4:19} Bless the Lord thy God alway, and desire of him
that thy ways may be directed, and that all thy paths and
counsels may prosper: for every nation hath not counsel; but
the Lord himself giveth all good things, and he humbleth
whom he will, as he will; now therefore, my son, remember
my commandments, neither let them be put out of thy mind.
{4:20} And now I signify this to they that I committed ten
talents to Gabael the son of Gabrias at Rages in Media.
{4:21} And fear not, my son, that we are made poor: for
thou hast much wealth, if thou fear God, and depart from all
sin, and do that which is pleasing in his sight.
{5:1} Tobias then answered and said, Father, I will do all
things which thou hast commanded me:
{5:2} But how can I receive the money, seeing I know
him not?
{5:3} Then he gave him the handwriting, and said unto
him, Seek thee a man which may go with thee, whiles I yet
live, and I will give him wages: and go and receive the
money.
{5:4} Therefore when he went to seek a man, he found
Raphael that was an angel.
{5:5} But he knew not; and he said unto him, Canst thou
go with me to Rages? and knowest thou those places well?
{5:6} To whom the angel said, I will go with thee, and I
know the way well: for I have lodged with our brother
Gabael.
{5:7} Then Tobias said unto him, Tarry for me, till I tell
my father.
{5:8} Then he said unto him, Go and tarry not. So he went
in and said to his father, Behold, I have found one which
will go with me. Then he said, Call him unto me, that I may
know of what tribe he is, and whether he be a trusty man to
go with thee.
{5:9} So he called him, and he came in, and they saluted
one another.
{5:10} Then Tobit said unto him, Brother, shew me of
what tribe and family thou art.
{5:11} To whom he said, Dost thou seek for a tribe or
family, or an hired man to go with thy son? Then Tobit said
unto him, I would know, brother, thy kindred and name.
{5:12} Then he said, I am Azarias, the son of Ananias the
great, and of thy brethren.
{5:13} Then Tobit said, Thou art welcome, brother; be
not now angry with me, because I have enquired to know
thy tribe and thy family; for thou art my brother, of an
honest and good stock: for I know Ananias and Jonathas,
sons of that great Samaias, as we went together to Jerusalem
to worship, and offered the firstborn, and the tenths of the
fruits; and they were not seduced with the error of our
brethren: my brother, thou art of a good stock.
{5:14} But tell me, what wages shall I give thee? wilt
thou a drachm a day, and things necessary, as to mine own
son?
{5:15} Yea, moreover, if ye return safe, I will add
something to thy wages.
{5:16} So they were well pleased. Then said he to Tobias,
Prepare thyself for the journey, and God send you a good
journey. And when his son had prepared all things far the
journey, his father said, Go thou with this man, and God,
which dwelleth in heaven, prosper your journey, and the
angel of God keep you company. So they went forth both,
and the young man’s dog with them.
{5:17} But Anna his mother wept, and said to Tobit, Why
hast thou sent away our son? is he not the staff of our hand,
in going in and out before us?
{5:18} Be not greedy to add money to money: but let it be
as refuse in respect of our child.
{5:19} For that which the Lord hath given us to live with
doth suffice us.
{5:20} Then said Tobit to her, Take no care, my sister; he
shall return in safety, and thine eyes shall see him.
{5:21} For the good angel will keep him company, and
his journey shall be prosperous, and he shall return safe.
{5:22} Then she made an end of weeping.
{6:1} And as they went on their journey, they came in the
evening to the river Tigris, and they lodged there.
{6:2} And when the young man went down to wash
himself, a fish leaped out of the river, and would have
devoured him.
{6:3} Then the angel said unto him, Take the fish. And
the young man laid hold of the fish, and drew it to land.
{6:4} To whom the angel said, Open the fish, and take the
heart and the liver and the gall, and put them up safely.
{6:5} So the young man did as the angel commanded him;
and when they had roasted the fish, they did eat it: then they
both went on their way, till they drew near to Ecbatane.
{6:6} Then the young man said to the angel, Brother
Azarias, to what use is the heart and the liver and the gal of
the fish?
{6:7} And he said unto him, Touching the heart and the
liver, if a devil or an evil spirit trouble any, we must make a
smoke thereof before the man or the woman, and the party
shall be no more vexed.
{6:8} As for the gall, it is good to anoint a man that hath
whiteness in his eyes, and he shall be healed.
{6:9} And when they were come near to Rages,
{6:10} The angel said to the young man, Brother, to day
we shall lodge with Raguel, who is thy cousin; he also hath
one only daughter, named Sara; I will speak for her, that she
may be given thee for a wife.
{6:11} For to thee doth the right of her appertain, seeing
thou only art of her kindred.
{6:12} And the maid is fair and wise: now therefore hear
me, and I will speak to her father; and when we return from
Rages we will celebrate the marriage: for I know that
Raguel cannot marry her to another according to the law of
Moses, but he shall be guilty of death, because the right of
inheritance doth rather appertain to thee than to any other.
{6:13} Then the young man answered the angel, I have
heard, brother Azarias that this maid hath been given to
seven men, who all died in the marriage chamber.
{6:14} And now I am the only son of my father, and I am
afraid, lest if I go in unto her, I die, as the other before: for a
wicked spirit loveth her, which hurteth no body, but those
which come unto her; wherefore I also fear lest I die, and
bring my father’s and my mother’s life because of me to the
grave with sorrow: for they have no other son to bury them.
{6:15} Then the angel said unto him, Dost thou not
remember the precepts which thy father gave thee, that thou
shouldest marry a wife of thine own kindred? wherefore
hear me, O my brother; for she shall be given thee to wife;
and make thou no reckoning of the evil spirit; for this same
night shall she be given thee in marriage.
{6:16} And when thou shalt come into the marriage
chamber, thou shalt take the ashes of perfume, and shalt lay
upon them some of the heart and liver of the fish, and shalt
make a smoke with it:
{6:17} And the devil shall smell it, and flee away, and
never come again any more: but when thou shalt come to
her, rise up both of you, and pray to God which is merciful,
who will have pity on you, and save you: fear not, for she is
appointed unto thee from the beginning; and thou shalt
preserve her, and she shall go with thee. Moreover I
suppose that she shall bear thee children. Now when Tobias
had heard these things, he loved her, and his heart was
effectually joined to her.
{7:1} And when they were come to Ecbatane, they came
to the house of Raguel, and Sara met them: and after they
had saluted one another, she brought them into the house.
{7:2} Then said Raguel to Edna his wife, How like is this
young man to Tobit my cousin!
{7:3} And Raguel asked them, From whence are ye,
brethren? To whom they said, We are of the sons of
Nephthalim, which are captives in Nineve.
{7:4} Then he said to them, Do ye know Tobit our
kinsman? And they said, We know him. Then said he, Is he
in good health?
{7:5} And they said, He is both alive, and in good health:
and Tobias said, He is my father.
{7:6} Then Raguel leaped up, and kissed him, and wept,
{7:7} And blessed him, and said unto him, Thou art the
son of an honest and good man. But when he had heard that
Tobit was blind, he was sorrowful, and wept.
{7:8} And likewise Edna his wife and Sara his daughter
wept. Moreover they entertained them cheerfully; and after
that they had killed a ram of the flock, they set store of meat
on the table. Then said Tobias to Raphael, Brother Azarias,
speak of those things of which thou didst talk in the way,
and let this business be dispatched.
{7:9} So he communicated the matter with Raguel: and
Raguel said to Tobias, Eat and drink, and make merry:
{7:10} For it is meet that thou shouldest marry my
daughter: nevertheless I will declare unto thee the truth.
{7:11} I have given my daughter in marriage te seven
men, who died that night they came in unto her:
nevertheless for the present be merry. But Tobias said, I will
eat nothing here, till we agree and swear one to another.
{7:12} Raguel said, Then take her from henceforth
according to the manner, for thou art her cousin, and she is
thine, and the merciful God give you good success in all
things.
{7:13} Then he called his daughter Sara, and she came to
her father, and he took her by the hand, and gave her to be
wife to Tobias, saying, Behold, take her after the law of
Moses, and lead her away to thy father. And he blessed
them;
{7:14} And called Edna his wife, and took paper, and did
write an instrument of covenants, and sealed it.
{7:15} Then they began to eat.
{7:16} After Raguel called his wife Edna, and said unto
her, Sister, prepare another chamber, and bring her in thither.
{7:17} Which when she had done as he had bidden her,
she brought her thither: and she wept, and she received the
tears of her daughter, and said unto her,
{7:18} Be of good comfort, my daughter; the Lord of
heaven and earth give thee joy for this thy sorrow: be of
good comfort, my daughter.
{8:1} And when they had supped, they brought Tobias in
unto her.
{8:2} And as he went, he remembered the words of
Raphael, and took the ashes of the perfumes, and put the
heart and the liver of the fish thereupon, and made a smoke
therewith.
{8:3} The which smell when the evil spirit had smelled,
he fled into the utmost parts of Egypt, and the angel bound
him.
{8:4} And after that they were both shut in together,
Tobias rose out of the bed, and said, Sister, arise, and let us
pray that God would have pity on us.
{8:5} Then began Tobias to say, Blessed art thou, O God
of our fathers, and blessed is thy holy and glorious name for
ever; let the heavens bless thee, and all thy creatures.
{8:6} Thou madest Adam, and gavest him Eve his wife
for an helper and stay: of them came mankind: thou hast
said, It is not good that man should be alone; let us make
unto him an aid like unto himself.
{8:7} And now, O Lord, I take not this my sister for lush
but uprightly: therefore mercifully ordain that we may
become aged together.
{8:8} And she said with him, Amen.
{8:9} So they slept both that night. And Raguel arose, and
went and made a grave,
{8:10} Saying, I fear lest he also be dead.
{8:11} But when Raguel was come into his house,
{8:12} He said unto his wife Edna. Send one of the maids,
and let her see whether he be alive: if he be not, that we
may bury him, and no man know it.
{8:13} So the maid opened the door, and went in, and
found them both asleep,
{8:14} And came forth, and told them that he was alive.
{8:15} Then Raguel praised God, and said, O God, thou
art worthy to be praised with all pure and holy praise;
therefore let thy saints praise thee with all thy creatures; and
let all thine angels and thine elect praise thee for ever.
{8:16} Thou art to be praised, for thou hast made me
joyful; and that is not come to me which I suspected; but
thou hast dealt with us according to thy great mercy.
{8:17} Thou art to be praised because thou hast had
mercy of two that were the only begotten children of their
fathers: grant them mercy, O Lord, and finish their life in
health with joy and mercy.
{8:18} Then Raguel bade his servants to fill the grave.
{8:19} And he kept the wedding feast fourteen days.
{8:20} For before the days of the marriage were finished,
Raguel had said unto him by an oath, that he should not
depart till the fourteen days of the marriage were expired;
{8:21} And then he should take the half of his goods, and
go in safety to his father; and should have the rest when I
and my wife be dead.
{9:1} Then Tobias called Raphael, and said unto him,
{9:2} Brother Azarias, take with thee a servant, and two
camels, and go to Rages of Media to Gabael, and bring me
the money, and bring him to the wedding.
{9:3} For Raguel hath sworn that I shall not depart.
{9:4} But my father counteth the days; and if I tarry long,
he will be very sorry.
{9:5} So Raphael went out, and lodged with Gabael, and
gave him the handwriting: who brought forth bags which
were sealed up, and gave them to him.
{9:6} And early in the morning they went forth both
together, and came to the wedding: and Tobias blessed his
wife.
{10:1} Now Tobit his father counted every day: and when
the days of the journey were expired, and they came not,
{10:2} Then Tobit said, Are they detained? or is Gabael
dead, and there is no man to give him the money?
{10:3} Therefore he was very sorry.
{10:4} Then his wife said unto him, My son is dead,
seeing he stayeth long; and she began to wail him, and said,
{10:5} Now I care for nothing, my son, since I have let
thee go, the light of mine eyes.
{10:6} To whom Tobit said, Hold thy peace, take no care,
for he is safe.
{10:7} But she said, Hold thy peace, and deceive me not;
my son is dead. And she went out every day into the way
which they went, and did eat no meat on the daytime, and
ceased not whole nights to bewail her son Tobias, until the
fourteen days of the wedding were expired, which Raguel
had sworn that he should spend there. Then Tobias said to
Raguel, Let me go, for my father and my mother look no
more to see me.
{10:8} But his father in law said unto him, Tarry with me,
and I will send to thy father, and they shall declare unto him
how things go with thee.
{10:9} But Tobias said, No; but let me go to my father.
{10:10} Then Raguel arose, and gave him Sara his wife,
and half his goods, servants, and cattle, and money:
{10:11} And he blessed them, and sent them away,
saying, The God of heaven give you a prosperous journey,
my children.
{10:12} And he said to his daughter, Honour thy father
and thy mother in law, which are now thy parents, that I
may hear good report of thee. And he kissed her. Edna also
said to Tobias, The Lord of heaven restore thee, my dear
brother, and grant that I may see thy children of my
daughter Sara before I die, that I may rejoice before the
Lord: behold, I commit my daughter unto thee of special
trust; where are do not entreat her evil.
{11:1} After these things Tobias went his way, praising
God that he had given him a prosperous journey, and
blessed Raguel and Edna his wife, and went on his way till
they drew near unto Nineve.
{11:2} Then Raphael said to Tobias, Thou knowest,
brother, how thou didst leave thy father:
{11:3} Let us haste before thy wife, and prepare the house.
{11:4} And take in thine hand the gall of the fish. So they
went their way, and the dog went after them.
{11:5} Now Anna sat looking about toward the way for
her son.
{11:6} And when she espied him coming, she said to his
father, Behold, thy son cometh, and the man that went with
him.
{11:7} Then said Raphael, I know, Tobias, that thy father
will open his eyes.
{11:8} Therefore anoint thou his eyes with the gall, and
being pricked therewith, he shall rub, and the whiteness
shall fall away, and he shall see thee.
{11:9} Then Anna ran forth, and fell upon the neck of her
son, and said unto him, Seeing I have seen thee, my son,
from henceforth I am content to die. And they wept both.
{11:10} Tobit also went forth toward the door, and
stumbled: but his son ran unto him,
{11:11} And took hold of his father: and he strake of the
gall on his fathers’ eyes, saying, Be of good hope, my father.
{11:12} And when his eyes began to smart, he rubbed
them;
{11:13} And the whiteness pilled away from the corners
of his eyes: and when he saw his son, he fell upon his neck.
{11:14} And he wept, and said, Blessed art thou, O God,
and blessed is thy name for ever; and blessed are all thine
holy angels:
{11:15} For thou hast scourged, and hast taken pity on
me: for, behold, I see my son Tobias. And his son went in
rejoicing, and told his father the great things that had
happened to him in Media.
{11:16} Then Tobit went out to meet his daughter in law
at the gate of Nineve, rejoicing and praising God: and they
which saw him go marvelled, because he had received his
sight.
{11:17} But Tobias gave thanks before them, because
God had mercy on him. And when he came near to Sara his
daughter in law, he blessed her, saying, Thou art welcome,
daughter: God be blessed, which hath brought thee unto us,
and blessed be thy father and thy mother. And there was joy
among all his brethren which were at Nineve.
{11:18} And Achiacharus, and Nasbas his brother’s son,
came:
{11:19} And Tobias’ wedding was kept seven days with
great joy.
{12:1} Then Tobit called his son Tobias, and said unto
him, My son, see that the man have his wages, which went
with thee, and thou must give him more.
{12:2} And Tobias said unto him, O father, it is no harm
to me to give him half of those things which I have brought:
{12:3} For he hath brought me again to thee in safety, and
made whole my wife, and brought me the money, and
likewise healed thee.
{12:4} Then the old man said, It is due unto him.
{12:5} So he called the angel, and he said unto him, Take
half of all that ye have brought and go away in safety.
{12:6} Then he took them both apart, and said unto them,
Bless God, praise him, and magnify him, and praise him for
the things which he hath done unto you in the sight of all
that live. It is good to praise God, and exalt his name, and
honourably to shew forth the works of God; therefore be not
slack to praise him.
{12:7} It is good to keep close the secret of a king, but it
is honourable to reveal the works of God. Do that which is
good, and no evil shall touch you.
{12:8} Prayer is good with fasting and alms and
righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than
much with unrighteousness. It is better to give alms than to
lay up gold:
{12:9} For alms doth deliver from death, and shall purge
away all sin. Those that exercise alms and righteousness
shall be filled with life:
{12:10} But they that sin are enemies to their own life.
{12:11} Surely I will keep close nothing from you. For I
said, It was good to keep close the secret of a king, but that
it was honourable to reveal the works of God.
{12:12} Now therefore, when thou didst pray, and Sara
thy daughter in law, I did bring the remembrance of your
prayers before the Holy One: and when thou didst bury the
dead, I was with thee likewise.
{12:13} And when thou didst not delay to rise up, and
leave thy dinner, to go and cover the dead, thy good deed
was not hid from me: but I was with thee.
{12:14} And now God hath sent me to heal thee and Sara
thy daughter in law.
{12:15} I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels,
which present the prayers of the saints, and which go in and
out before the glory of the Holy One.
{12:16} Then they were both troubled, and fell upon their
faces: for they feared.
{12:17} But he said unto them, Fear not, for it shall go
well with you; praise God therefore.
{12:18} For not of any favour of mine, but by the will of
our God I came; wherefore praise him for ever.
{12:19} All these days I did appear unto you; but I did
neither eat nor drink, but ye did see a vision.
{12:20} Now therefore give God thanks: for I go up to
him that sent me; but write all things which are done in a
book.
{12:21} And when they arose, they saw him no more.
{12:22} Then they confessed the great and wonderful
works of God, and how the angel of the Lord had appeared
unto them.
{13:1} Then Tobit wrote a prayer of rejoicing, and said,
Blessed be God that liveth for ever, and blessed be his
kingdom.
{13:2} For he doth scourge, and hath mercy: he leadeth
down to hell, and bringeth up again: neither is there any that
can avoid his hand.
{13:3} Confess him before the Gentiles, ye children of
Israel: for he hath scattered us among them.
{13:4} There declare his greatness, and extol him before
all the living: for he is our Lord, and he is the God our
Father for ever.
{13:5} And he will scourge us for our iniquities, and will
have mercy again, and will gather us out of all nations,
among whom he hath scattered us.
{13:6} If ye turn to him with your whole heart, and with
your whole mind, and deal uprightly before him, then will
he turn unto you, and will not hide his face from you.
Therefore see what he will do with you, and confess him
with your whole mouth, and praise the Lord of might, and
extol the everlasting King. In the land of my captivity do I
praise him, and declare his might and majesty to a sinful
nation. O ye sinners, turn and do justice before him: who
can tell if he will accept you, and have mercy on you?
{13:7} I will extol my God, and my soul shall praise the
King of heaven, and shall rejoice in his greatness.
{13:8} Let all men speak, and let all praise him for his
righteousness.
{13:9} O Jerusalem, the holy city, he will scourge thee for
thy children’s works, and will have mercy again on the sons
of the righteous.
{13:10} Give praise to the Lord, for he is good: and praise
the everlasting King, that his tabernacle may be builded in
thee again with joy, and let him make joyful there in thee
those that are captives, and love in thee for ever those that
are miserable.
{13:11} Many nations shall come from far to the name of
the Lord God with gifts in their hands, even gifts to the
King of heaven; all generations shall praise thee with great
joy.
{13:12} Cursed are all they which hate thee, and blessed
shall all be which love thee for ever.
{13:13} Rejoice and be glad for the children of the just:
for they shall be gathered together, and shall bless the Lord
of the just.
{13:14} O blessed are they which love thee, for they shall
rejoice in thy peace: blessed are they which have been
sorrowful for all thy scourges; for they shall rejoice for thee,
when they have seen all thy glory, and shall be glad for ever.
{13:15} Let my soul bless God the great King.
{13:16} For Jerusalem shall be built up with sapphires
and emeralds, and precious stone: thy walls and towers and
battlements with pure gold.
{13:17} And the streets of Jerusalem shall be paved with
beryl and carbuncle and stones of Ophir.
{13:18} And all her streets shall say, Alleluia; and they
shall praise him, saying, Blessed be God, which hath
extolled it for ever.
{14:1} So Tobit made an end of praising God.
{14:2} And he was eight and fifty years old when he lost
his sight, which was restored to him after eight years: and
he gave alms, and he increased in the fear of the Lord God,
and praised him.
{14:3} And when he was very aged he called his son, and
the sons of his son, and said to him, My son, take thy
children; for, behold, I am aged, and am ready to depart out
of this life.
{14:4} Go into Media my son, for I surely believe those
things which Jonas the prophet spake of Nineve, that it shall
be overthrown; and that for a time peace shall rather be in
Media; and that our brethren shall lie scattered in the earth
from that good land: and Jerusalem shall be desolate, and
the house of God in it shall be burned, and shall be desolate
for a time;
{14:5} And that again God will have mercy on them, and
bring them again into the land, where they shall build a
temple, but not like to the first, until the time of that age be
fulfilled; and afterward they shall return from all places of
their captivity, and build up Jerusalem gloriously, and the
house of God shall be built in it for ever with a glorious
building, as the prophets have spoken thereof.
{14:6} And all nations shall turn, and fear the Lord God
truly, and shall bury their idols.
{14:7} So shall all nations praise the Lord, and his people
shall confess God, and the Lord shall exalt his people; and
all those which love the Lord God in truth and justice shall
rejoice, shewing mercy to our brethren.
{14:8} And now, my son, depart out of Nineve, because
that those things which the prophet Jonas spake shall surely
come to pass.
{14:9} But keep thou the law and the commandments, and
shew thyself merciful and just, that it may go well with thee.
{14:10} And bury me decently, and thy mother with me;
but tarry no longer at Nineve. Remember, my son, how
Aman handled Achiacharus that brought him up, how out of
light he brought him into darkness, and how he rewarded
him again: yet 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 had set for
him: but Aman fell into the snare, and perished.
{14:11} Wherefore now, my son, consider what alms
doeth, and how righteousness doth deliver. When he had
said these things, he gave up the ghost in the bed, being an
hundred and eight and fifty years old; and he buried him
honourably.
{14:12} And when Anna his mother was dead, he buried
her with his father. But Tobias departed with his wife and
children to Ecbatane to Raguel his father in law,
{14:13} Where he became old with honour, and he buried
his father and mother in law honourably, and he inherited
their substance, and his father Tobit’s.
{14:14} And he died at Ecbatane in Media, being an
hundred and seven and twenty years old.
{14:15} But before he died he heard of the destruction of
Nineve, which was taken by Nabuchodonosor and
Assuerus: and before his death he rejoiced over Nineve.
APOCRYPHA
 TOBIT OF THE KING JAMES BIBLE 1611