Tobit 3:6–6:18

6 And now deal with me according to thy pleasure, and command my spirit to be taken from me, that I may be released from off the earth and become earth: for it is more profitable for me to die than to live, because I have heard false reproaches, and there is much sorrow in me. Lord, command that I be released from this distress, let me go to the everlasting place, and turn not thy face, O Lord, away from me. For it is more profitable for me to die, than to see much distress in my life, and not to hear reproaches.

B. Sarah’s Previous History, vv. 7–15.

7 On this day it happened unto Sarah the daughter of Raguel who was in Ecbatana of Media, that she also heard reproaches by one of her father’s maidservants; 8 because that she had been given to seven husbands, and Asmodaeus the evil demon had slain them, before they had been with her as it is appointed for women. And the maidservant said unto her, It is thou that slayest thy husbands; behold thou hast already been given to seven husbands, and thou hast not been named of one of them. 9 Wherefore dost thou scourge us on account of thy husbands because they have died? Go thy ways with them and let us see neither son nor daughter of thine for ever. 10 In that day she was grieved in her soul and wept; and she went up into her father’s upper room, and desired to hang herself; and again she considered and said, Nay, lest they reproach my father; and shall say unto him, Thou hadst one beloved daughter, and she hath hanged herself because of her calamities! and I shall bring down my father’s old age with sorrow to Hades. It is fitter for me not to hang myself, but to supplicate the Lord that I may die and no longer hear reproaches during my life. 11 At the self-same time she stretched forth her hands towards the window and prayed, and said, Blessed art thou, O merciful God, and blessed is thy name for ever: and let all thy works bless thee for ever. 12 And now unto thee my face and mine eyes I lift up: 13 command that I be released from the earth, and that I no more hear reproaches. 14 Thou knowest, Master, that I am pure from all uncleanness with man, 15 and that I never polluted my name, nor the name of my father either, in the land of my captivity. I am the only daughter of my father, and he hath no other child to be his heir, nor has he kinsman near him, nor has he relation, that I should keep myself for a wife unto him. Seven husbands of mine are dead already; and why should it be mine to live on? And if it pleaseth thee not to slay me—O Lord, now hear my reproach.

C. The Union of Sarah’s and Tobit’s Destinies, vv. 16, 17.

16 At the self-same time the prayer of both was heard before the glory of God. 17 And Raphael was sent to heal them both: in the case of Tobit to remove the white films from his eyes, that he might see the light of God with his eyes; and in the case of Sarah the daughter of Raguel, to give her for a wife to Tobias the son of Tobit, and to unbind Asmodaeus the evil demon from her; because it belonged to Tobias that he should inherit her rather than all those which wished to take her. At that time did Tobit return from the courtyard into his house, and Sarah the daughter of Raguel herself also came down from the upper chamber.

The Journey of Tobias, 4–13.

A. Its Cause and The Preparations, 4:1–5. 17a.

1. THE CAUSE, VV. 1, 2.

41 In that day Tobit remembered the money which he had left in trust with Gabael in Rages of Media, and he said in his heart, Behold, I have asked for death. 2 Why do I not call my son Tobias and shew unto him concerning this money before I die?

2. THE ‘TEACHING’ OF TOBIT, VV. 3–21.

3 And he called Tobias his son and he came unto him and he said unto him, Bury me well, and honour thy mother; and forsake her not all the days of her life, and do that which is pleasing before her, and grieve not her spirit in any matter. 4 Remember her, child, that she hath experienced many dangers for thee in her womb; and when she is dead, bury her by me in one grave. 5 My child, be mindful of the Lord all thy days, and let not thy will be set to sin and to transgress his commandments: do acts of righteousness all the days of thy life, and walk not in the ways of unrighteousness. 6 〈 For if thou doest the truth, success shall be in thy works, and so it shall be unto all that do righteousness. 7 Give alms of thy substance: turn not away thy face from any poor man, and the face of God shall not be turned away from thee. 8 As thy substance is, give alms of it according to thine abundance: if thou have much, according to the abundance thereof, give alms; if thou have little bestow it, and be not afraid to give alms according to that little: 9 for thou layest up a good treasure for thyself against the day of necessity: 10 because alms delivereth from death, and suffereth not to come into darkness. 11 Alms is a good offering in the sight of the Most High for all that give it. 12 Beware, my child, of all whoredom, and take first a wife of the seed of thy fathers, take not a strange wife, which is not of thy father’s tribe; for we are the sons of the prophets. Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, our fathers of old time, remember, my child, that they all took wives of their kinsmen, and were blessed in their children, and their seed shall inherit the land. 13 And now, my child, love thy brethren, and scorn not in thy heart thy brethren and the sons and the daughters of thy people so as not to take one of them; for in scornfulness is destruction and much trouble, and in idleness is decay and great want, for idleness is the mother of famine. 14 Let not the wages of any man, which shall work for thee, tarry with thee, but render it unto him out of hand: and if thou serve God, recompense shall be made unto thee. Take heed to thyself, my child, in all thy works, and be discreet in all thy behaviour. 15 And what thou thyself hatest, do to no man. Drink not wine unto drunkenness, and let not drunkenness go with thee on thy way. 16 Give of thy bread to the hungry, and of thy garments to them that are naked: of all thine abundance give alms; and let not thine eye be grudging when thou givest alms. 17 Pour out thy bread and thy wine on the tomb of the just, and give not to sinners. 18 Ask counsel of every man that is wise, and despise not any counsel that is profitable. 19 And bless the Lord thy God at all times, and ask of him that thy ways may be made straight, and that all thy paths and counsels may prosper: for every nation hath not good counsel; 〈but〉 the Lord will give to them 〈all good things〉; and whom he will the Lord humbleth unto the nethermost Hades. And now, child, remember these commandments, and let them not be blotted out of thy heart. 20 And now, child, I shew thee that I left ten talents of silver in trust with Gabael the brother of Gabri at Rages of Media. 21 And fear not, my child, because we have become poor: thou hast much wealth, if thou fear God and avoid every kind of sin and do the things which are good in the sight of the Lord thy God.

3. THE PREPARATIONS, 5:1–17.

51 Then answered Tobias and said unto Tobit his father, All things, whatsoever thou hast commanded me, I will do, father. 2 But how shall I be able to fetch it from him, seeing he knoweth me not nor do I know him? What token shall I give him that he may recognize me and trust me and give me the money? And the roads to Media I know not to journey there. 3 Then answered Tobit and said unto Tobias his son, His note of hand he gave me and a note of hand I gave him and I parted it in two and we took to each of us a part, and I put it with the money, and now lo, it is twenty years since I left this money in trust. And now, child, seek thee a trusty man which shall go with thee, and we will give him wages, until thou return: and fetch thou this money from him. 4 And Tobias went out to seek a man who would go with him into Media and knew the way well; and he went out and found Raphael, the angel, standing before him. (5)And he knew not that he was an angel of God, and said unto him, Whence art thou, young man? 5 And he said unto him, Of the children of Israel thy brethren; and I am come hither to work. And he said unto him, Knowest thou the way to go to Media? 6 And he said unto him, Yea, I have often been there, and I know it well and I know all the ways; many times did I go unto Media and lodged with Gabael our kinsman, who dwelleth in Rages of Media; and it is two regular days’ journey from Ecbatana to Rages; for it lieth in the hill country, but Ecbatana in the middle of the plain. 7 And he said unto him, Wait for me, young man, until I go in and shew my father; for I need that thou go with me and I will give thee thy hire. 8 And he said unto him, Behold, I will wait, only tarry not. 9 And Tobias went in and shewed Tobit his father and said unto him, Behold, I have found a man of our brethren the children of Israel. And he said unto him, Call me the man, that I may know what is his family and of what tribe he is, and whether he be a trusty man to go with thee, child.

10(9) And Tobias went forth, and called him and said unto him, Young man, my father calleth thee. And he came in to him, and Tobit saluted him first. And he said unto him, Much cheer to thee! And Tobit answered and said unto him, What cheer have I any more, who am a man impotent in the eyes, and I behold not the light of heaven, but lie in darkness like the dead which no more see the light; while I live I am among the dead; the voice of men I hear, and themselves I behold not. And he said unto him, Be of good cheer! it is nigh with God to heal thee; be of good cheer! And Tobit said unto him, My son Tobias wisheth to go unto Media; canst thou go with him and direct him? And I will give thee thy hire, brother. And he said unto him, I shall be able to go with him, and I know all the ways, and often have I gone to Media and passed through all its plains and mountains, and all its ways I know. 11(10) And he said unto him, Brother, of what…