Tobit 10–11

Chapter 10

¹Now his father Tobit was counting each day, and when the days for the journey had expired and they did not arrive, ²he said, “Is it possible that he has been detained?^y Or is it possible that Gabael has died and there is no one to give him the money?” ³And he was greatly distressed. ⁴And his wife said to him, “The lad has perished; his long delay proves it.” Then she began to mourn for him, and said, ⁵“Am I not distressed, my child, that I let you go, you who are the light of my eyes?” ⁶But Tobit said to her, “Be still and stop worrying; he is well.” ⁷And she answered him, “Be still and stop deceiving me; my child has perished.” And she went out every day to the road by which they had left; she ate nothing in the daytime, and throughout the nights she never stopped mourning for her son Tobias, until the fourteen days of the wedding feast had expired which Raguel had sworn that he should spend there.

At that time Tobias said to Raguel, “Send me back, for my father and mother have given up hope of ever seeing me again.” ⁸But his father-in-law said to him, “Stay with me, and I will send messengers to your father, and they will inform him how things are with you.” ⁹Tobias replied, “No, send me back to my father.” ¹⁰So Raguel arose and gave him his wife Sarah and half of his property in slaves, cattle, and money. ¹¹And when he had blessed them he sent them away, saying, “The God of heaven will prosper you, my children, before I die.” ¹²He said also to his daughter, “Honor your father-in-law and your mother-in-law; they are now your parents. Let me hear a good report of you.” And he kissed her. And Edna said to Tobias, “The Lord of heaven bring you back safely, dear brother, and grant me to see your children by my daughter Sarah, that I may rejoice before the Lord. See, I am entrusting my daughter to you; do nothing to grieve her.”

Chapter 11

¹After this Tobias went on his way, praising God because he had made his journey a success. And he blessed Raguel and his wife Edna.

So he continued on his way until they came near to Nineveh. ²Then Raphael said to Tobias, “Are you not aware, brother, of how you left your father? ³Let us run ahead of your wife and prepare the house. ⁴And take the gall of the fish with you.” So they went their way, and the dog went along behind them.

⁵Now Anna sat looking intently down the road for her son. ⁶And she caught sight of him coming, and said to his father, “Behold, your son is coming, and so is the man who went with him!”

⁷Raphael said, “I know, Tobias, that your father will open his eyes. ⁸You therefore must anoint his eyes with the gall; and when they smart he will rub them, and will cause the white films to fall away, and he will see you.”

⁹Then Anna ran to meet them, and embraced her son, and said to him, “I have seen you, my child; now I am ready to die.” And they both wept. ¹⁰Tobit started toward the door, and stumbled. But his son ran to him ¹¹and took hold of his father, and he sprinkled the gall upon his father’s eyes, saying, “Be of good cheer, father.” ¹²And when his eyes began to smart he rubbed them, ¹³and the white films scaled off from the corners of his eyes. ¹⁴Then he saw his son and embraced him, and he wept and said, “Blessed art thou, O God, and blessed is thy name for ever, and blessed are all thy holy angels. ¹⁵For thou hast afflicted me, but thou hast had mercy upon me; here I see my son Tobias!” And his son went in rejoicing, and he reported to his father the great things that had happened to him in Media.

¹⁶Then Tobit went out to meet his daughter-in-law at the gate of Nineveh, rejoicing and praising God. Those who saw him as he went were amazed because he could see. ¹⁷And Tobit gave thanks before them that God had been merciful to him. When Tobit came near to Sarah his daughter-in-law, he blessed her, saying, “Welcome, daughter! Blessed is God who has brought you to us, and blessed are your father and your mother.” So there was rejoicing among all his brethren in Nineveh. ¹⁸Ahikar and his nephew Nadab^z came, ¹⁹and Tobias’ marriage was celebrated for seven days with great festivity.