Tobit 10–11

Chapter 10

But as Tobias made longer stay upon occasion of the marriage, Tobias his father was solicitous, saying: Why thinkest thou doth my son tarry, or why is he detained there?

²Is Gabelus dead, thinkest thou, and no man will pay him the money?

³And he began to be exceeding sad, both he and Anna his wife with him: and they began both to weep together, because their son did not return to them on the day appointed.

⁴But his mother wept and was quite disconsolate, and said: Woe, woe is me, my son; why did we send thee to go to a strange country, the light of our eyes, the staff of our old age, the comfort of our life, the hope of our posterity?

⁵We having all things together in thee alone, ought not to have let thee go from us.

⁶And Tobias said to her: Hold thy peace, and be not troubled, our son is safe: that man with whom we sent him is very trusty.

⁷But she could by no means be comforted, but daily running out looked round about, and went into all the ways by which there seemed any hope he might return, that she might if possible see him coming afar off.

⁸But Raguel said to his son in law: Stay here, and I will send a messenger to Tobias thy father, that thou art in health.

⁹And Tobias said to him: I know that my father and mother now count the days, and their spirit is grievously afflicted within them.

¹⁰And when Raguel had pressed Tobias with many words, and he by no means would hearken to him, he delivered Sara unto him, and half of all his substance in menservants, and womenservants, in cattle, in camels, and in kine, and in much money, and sent him away safe and joyful from him,

¹¹Saying: The holy angel of the Lord be with you in your journey, and bring you through safe, and that you may find all things well about your parents, and my eyes may see your children before I die.

¹²And the parents taking their daughter kissed her, and let her go:

¹³Admonishing her to honour her father and mother in law, to love her husband, to take care of the family, to govern the house, and to behave herself irreprehensibly.

Chapter 11

And as they were returning they came to Charan, which is in the midway to Ninive, the eleventh day.

²And the angel said: Brother Tobias, thou knowest how thou didst leave thy father.

³If it please thee therefore, let us go before, and let the family follow softly after us, together with thy wife, and with the beasts.

⁴And as this their going pleased him, Raphael said to Tobias: Take with thee of the gall of the fish, for it will be necessary. So Tobias took some of that gall and departed.

⁵But Anna sat beside the way daily, on the top of a hill, from whence she might see afar off.

⁶And while she watched his coming from that place, she saw him afar off, and presently perceived it was her son coming: and returning she told her husband, saying: Behold thy son cometh.

⁷And Raphael said to Tobias: As soon as thou shalt come into thy house, forthwith adore the Lord thy God: and giving thanks to him, go to thy father, and kiss him.

⁸And immediately anoint his eyes with this gall of the fish, which thou carriest with thee. For be assured that his eyes shall be presently opened, and thy father shall see the light of heaven, and shall rejoice in the sight of thee.

⁹Then the dog, which had been with them in the way, ran before, and coming as if he had brought the news, shewed his joy by his fawning and wagging his tail.

¹⁰And his father that was blind, rising up, began to run stumbling with his feet: and giving a servant his hand, went to meet his son.

¹¹And receiving him kissed him, as did also his wife, and they began to weep for joy.

¹²And when they had adored God, and given him thanks, they sat down together.

¹³Then Tobias taking of the gall of the fish, anointed his father’s eyes.

¹⁴And he stayed about half an hour: and a white skin began to come out of his eyes, like the skin of an egg.

¹⁵And Tobias took hold of it, and drew it from his eyes, and recovered his sight.

¹⁶And they glorified God, both he and his wife and all that knew him.

¹⁷And Tobias said: I bless thee, O Lord God of Israel, because thou hast chastised me, and thou hast saved me and behold I see Tobias my son.

¹⁸And after seven days Sara his son’s wife and all the family arrived safe, and the cattle, and the camels, and an abundance of money of his wife’s: and that money also which he had received of Gabelus,

¹⁹And he told his parents all the benefits of God, which he had done to him by the man that conducted him.

²⁰And Achior and Nabath the kinsmen of Tobias came, rejoicing for Tobias, and congratulating with him for all the good things that God had done for him.

²¹And for seven days they feasted and rejoiced all with great joy.