 多:1.(tb)  [多俾亞傳]  Tobia  [共 14 章]  [思高聖經]
  
 多:1.1      彼特的言行錄：托彼特出自納斐塔里支派的阿息耳族。他是托彼耳的兒子，阿納尼耳的孫子，阿杜耳的曾孫，加巴耳的玄孫，辣法耳的四世孫，辣古的五世孫。
 多:1.2      亞述王己厏默撒在位時，他從提斯貝被擄去。提斯貝是在加里肋亞山區，位於納斐塔里的刻德士之南，哈祚爾之西，缶哥之北偏西。
 多:1.3      托彼特一生歲月常遵行正義的路，時常大方賙濟與我一同被擄到亞述國尼尼微的兄弟和同胞。
 多:1.4      我年在我鄉以色列時，我的宗族全納斐塔里支派離棄了達味家和耶路撒冷城；這城是由以色列眾支派中選出，為叫以色列眾支派祭獻的地方，在那裏為世世代代建祝聖天主的居所聖殿。
 多:1.5      所有的弟兄和我的宗族納斐塔里全家，都向以色列王雅洛貝罕，在靠近加里肋亞山區的丹所建立的牛犢舉行祭獻。
 多:1.6      有我一人按照給以色列所規定的永久法律，每逢慶節，常到耶路撒冷去。我帶著初熟的田產，頭胎的畜牲，什一的牲畜和初剪的羊毛，急速前往耶路撒冷，
 多:1.7      給亞郎的後裔們，以作祭品。我又把十分之一的麥子、酒、油、石榴、無花果，以及其餘的硬殼果實，送給在耶路撒冷供職的肋未後裔；又將六年內應交繳納的什一稅變為金錢，作我每年在耶路撒冷的費用。
 多:1.8      外，我還帶去第三種什一之物，施捨給孤兒寡婦和那些依附以色列子民的外方人。我每三年施捨一次，並且我們還一起聚餐：這是梅瑟法律規定的命令，也是家父的母親，阿納尼耳的妻子德波辣的吩咐；因為我父親去了世，遺下了我作孤兒。
 多:1.9      至成年，我由同族中娶了一個名叫亞納的女子，她生了一個兒子，給他起名叫多俾亞。
 多:1.10     我被擄到亞述作俘擄時，曾流徒到尼尼微。那時，我的眾食物弟兄和同胞都吃異民的食物，
 多:1.11     但是，我卻自律，總不吃異民的食物，
 多:1.12     因為我全心想念我的天主。
 多:1.13     所以至高者賜我在厄默撒面前，得到恩愛和榮幸，我竟成了他們的買辦，給他買辦各種用品。
 多:1.14     因此，我常到瑪待去為他購買貨物，直到他死去為止。我在瑪待國辣傑斯，加彼黎的兒子加貝羅兄弟那裏，存放了幾袋錢，共計十「塔冷通」銀子。
 多:1.15     厄默撒死後，他的兒子散乃黑黎布繼位為王的時候，與瑪待的交通繼絕了，因此我再不能到瑪待那裏去。
 多:1.16     在厄乃默撒年間，我對同族的兄弟常大方施捨。
 多:1.17     我把我的衣服施捨給裸體的人；我若看見同族的屍體，被拋在尼尼微城牆外，我便一一埋葬。
 多:1.18     當散乃黑黎布說了詛咒的褻語，在上天大主懲罰他之日，由猶太逃回之後，無論殺了誰，我都予以埋葬，他因為他在盛怒之下，殺了許多以色列子民，我便把他們的屍體收藏起來，予以埋葬。因此，散乃黑黎布尋找屍首，一個也沒有找到。
 多:1.19     有一個尼尼微人上去報告君王，說是我埋葬了，我便隱藏起來。當我聽說君王知道了我的下落，正在追捕我來處死時，我很害怕，就逃跑了。
 多:1.20     但是我所有的一切財產，除了我的妻子亞納和我的兒子多俾亞外，都毫不留情地沒收了去，歸入王庫。
 多:1.21     然後還沒有迥四十天，他的兩個兒子把他殺死，逃到阿辣辣特山裏去了。他另一個兒子厄撒哈冬繼位為王，並且任命我的兄弟阿納耳的兒子阿希加，總理他全國的財務，有權掌管一切事務。
 多:1.22     那時阿希冬為我求情，我才得以回到尼尼微，因為阿希加曾在亞述王散乃黑黎布執政時，作過酒正，又掌過指璽，當過家宰和財政等職，而厄撒哈冬又重用他；他是我的侄子，又是我的血親。
  
 多:2.1      厄撒哈冬為王時，我回了家，我的妻子亞納和我的兒子多俾亞也歸還了我。在我們的五旬節日，即七七節日，他們為預備了盛筳，我便坐下準備進膳。
 多:2.2      在給我預備桌子，擺上豐盛的食品時，我我的兒子說：「孩子，你去! 在擄到尼尼微的同族弟兄中，尋找一個全心懷念上主的窮人，領他來與我們一同進膳。孩子，我等你回來」。
 多:2.3      多俾亞便出去，在同族兄弟中尋找一個窮人，他回來時說：「父親! 」我對他說：「孩子! 我在這裏」。他接著說：「父親! 我看見我們同族中的一個人被殺，扔在市場上，他是剛在那裏被絞死的」。
 多:2.4      我立刻跳起來，離開了筳席，連什麼都沒有嚐，就去把從大街上抬回來，放在一間小屋裏，等到太陽西落以後，再去埋葬。
 多:2.5      我回來沐浴之後，悲傷著吃了些食物；
 多:2.6      於是記起了亞毛斯先知對貝特耳發的預言說：「你們的慶節將變為悲哀，你們的一切歌曲將變為傷歎」。我便哭起來，
 多:2.7      太陽西落以後，我去掘了墳，把他埋葬了。
 多:2.8      我的鄰居譏諷說：「他還不怕! 他以前為了這事曾被通緝處死，以致必須逃命。看，他又埋葬死人」。
 多:2.9      當夜，我沐浴之後，便進了我的庭院，靠著庭院的牆睡下了。當時因為天熱，我的臉沒有蓋上，
 多:2.10     也沒有看見小鳥在我上面的牆上，牠們的熱糞落到我的眼裏，即起了一層白膜；我去求醫診治，但是愈給我敷藥，愈被白膜所遮蔽，以致完全失明。四年之久，我什麼也看不見。我的眾兄弟都為我悲傷，阿希加養了我兩年，直到他死去厄藍為止。
 多:2.11     那時，我的妻子亞納去做各種女工，
 多:2.12     她把做好的工作交給雇主，雇主便付給她工錢；到「狄斯托」七日，她把布匹剪下，交給雇主，雇主便付給她全部工資，並且還送給她一隻小山羊吃。
 多:2.13     但是小一到我的家裏，便開始叫起來；我便叫她來，對她說：「這隻小山羊是那裏來的﹖是不是偷來的﹖好應該把牠還給原主，因為我們不可以吃偷竊的東西」。
 多:2.14     她對我說：「這是在工資以外送給我的」。但是，我仍不相信，命她歸還原主；我且為了這事替她害羞。但是，她回答我說：「你的施捨在哪裏﹖你的善行在哪裏﹖看，人都知道你得了什麼報應! 」
  
 多:3.1      我心中悲傷至極，痛哭流淚，開始呻吟祈求道：
 多:3.2      「上主 !你是正義的，你的一切作為都公正，你的一切措施都慈愛忠誠，你審判萬世。
 多:3.3      上主! 現在求你顧念我，看護我，不要因我和我的祖先在你面前所犯的罪惡和愚昧而懲罰我。
 多:3.4      因為沒有遵守你的誡命，所以你使我們遭遇劫掠、俘擄、死亡，使我們流亡到一切外邦人中，受他們的諷刺、嘲笑、詛咒。
 多:3.5      如今，你因我和我的祖先而加給我的種種型罰，都是針對事實的，因為我們沒有遵守你的誡命，在你面前沒有忠誠行事。
 多:3.6      如今請你按你的聖意對待我吧! 請你收去我的靈魂，使我從地面上消逝，化為灰土，因為死比生為我更好! 因為我聽見了虛偽的辱罵，我心中很是憂傷。上主! 請你救脫離這種苦難．領我進入永遠的安所吧! 上主! 求你不要轉面不顧我，因為死了比活著看見這許多苦難，為我更好。這樣，我再聽不見辱罵之聲了」。
 多:3.7      同日，在瑪待厄厄克巴塔納城內，辣古耳的女兒撒辣聽到了她父親的一個使女的辱罵，
 多:3.8      因為她已嫁迥七個丈夫，而惡魔阿斯摩太在他們按禮俗與她合房以前，就一一殺死了。使女對她說：「是妳殺了好的丈夫，妳已嫁過七個丈夫，但是妳連他們中的一個姓氏也沒有得到。
 多:3.9      妳為什麼因妳丈夫死了，就責打我們呢﹖妳也跟他們去吧! 巴不得我們永遠見不到妳有子女! 」
 多:3.10     當日她心中非常憂傷，流淚痛苦，便走上她父親的樓台，想要懸樑自盡。但她一想，說道：「決不能讓人譏諷我的父親說：你只有一個愛女，但是她為了許多苦難而自縊了；這樣，我必使我年老的父親悲慘地進入間了! 還是苦求上主使我死去，總比我自縊為我更好；這樣我一生再也聽不到辱罵了」。
 多:3.11     那時，她便向窗戶伸手祈禱說：「慈悲的天主! 你是可頌揚的，你的聖名是永遠可讚頌的，你的一切造物永遠讚頌你!
 多:3.12     現在，我向你仰面舉目，
 多:3.13     請你發言，命我脫離現世，使我再聽不到辱罵之聲吧!
 多:3.14     主，你知道我是清白的，我從沒有受到男子的玷污。
 多:3.15     我在流徙之地，從沒有玷污過我的名和我父親的名。我是的我父親獨生女，他沒有別的兒子來繼承，他也沒有近支的兄弟或近親，可以讓我嫁給他為妻。我的七個丈夫業已死去，我為什麼還活著呢﹖假使使不願叫我死去，那麼，上主! 請你垂顧可憐我，使我再不聽見見辱罵吧! 」
 多:3.16     那時，二人的祈禱，在榮耀的天主前都獲得垂允。
 多:3.17     所以天主打發辣法耳來醫治他們二人：給托彼特除去了他眼中的白膜，使他再親眼見到天主的光芒；將辣古耳的女兒撒辣綻給托彼特的兒子多俾亞為妻，把惡魔阿斯摩從她身上趕出去，因為多俾亞比那一切願意娶她的人，更有權利佔有她。那時托彼特正從庭院回到屋裏，而辣古耳的女兒也正從樓台上下來。
  
 多:4.1      那日，托彼特想起了他在瑪待辣傑斯，存放在加貝羅那裏的銀子來，
 多:4.2      便自言自語說：「哎! 我已求了死，為什麼不把我的兒子多俾亞叫來，在我死前，給他說明這項銀子的事呢﹖」
 多:4.3      他遂叫他兒子多俾亞來到他跟前，對他說：「孩子! 我若死了，你要好好安葬我；要孝敬你母親，在她一生的日子裏，不可離開她；要履行她喜歡的事，在一切事上不可使她傷心。
 多:4.4      孩子! 你要記住：你在母胎時，她為你經歷過種種危險；她死後，你要把她葬在我旁邊，與我堙在一個墳墓裏。
 多:4.5      孩子! 你要一生想念上主，不可隨意犯罪，違反祂的誡命；你要一生行義，不可走邪惡的路，
 多:4.6      因為你若作正義的事，你的事業必順利成功。
 多:4.7      你當用你的財產，救濟一切行義的人。施捨時，你的眼不可睥視；對一切窮人不可轉面不顧，這樣天主也總不會輚面不顧你。
 多:4.8      若你多有，就該多施捨；若你少有，也不要怕少施捨。
 多:4.9      因為這樣作，是為你自己積蓄困厄時的寶藏，
 多:4.10     因為施捨能救人脫免死亡，防止人陷於黑暗，
 多:4.11     因為為一切施捨的人，施捨在至高者台前，是一項悅意的禮品。
 多:4.12     孩子! 你應戒絕一切淫行，尤其應從你祖先的後裔中娶妻，不可娶那不是你宗祖支派的外邦女子為妻，因為我們是先知的後裔。孩子，記住! 我們的祖先諾厄、亞巴郎、依撒格、雅各伯，一開始都是從自己兄弟中娶妻，因此他們在自己兒女身上得了祝福，他們的後裔也將繼承福地。
 多:4.13     孩子! 現在你要愛你的兄弟，內心不可輕視你的兄弟和你同族的兒女，而不從他們中娶妻，因為驕傲必使人敗壞不睦，好閒必使人窮困破產，因為好閒是飢餓之母。
 多:4.14     一切勞工者的工資，不可在你那裏過夜，要立刻付清。你若侍奉天主，祂必報答你。孩子! 在一切的事情上要謹慎，在一切的舉止上，要表示你受過好教育。
 多:4.15     你厭惡的事，不可對別人做；喝酒不要喝醉；醉酒不可在你的路上與你同行。
 多:4.16     該把你的食物施與飢餓的人，把你的衣服分給裸體的人。凡是富餘的都要用來施行哀矜；在行哀矜的時候，你的眼不可睥視。
 多:4.17     把酒和食物倒在義人的墳墓上，也不可施與惡人。
 多:4.18     應向一切有智慧的人求教；不要輕視任何有益的忠告。
 多:4.19     你該時時讚美上主天主，求祂使你的道路正直，使你的前途與計劃順遂，因為一切的人都沒有善意，唯有上主能賞賜各樣恩惠；祂願意舉揚的就舉揚，祂願意壓伏的就把他壓伏到陰府的底層。孩子! 現今，你要牢記這些勸言，總不可在你心中消夫。
 多:4.20     孩子! 現在我還要告訴你：我曾把十「塔冷通」銀子，寄存在住瑪待辣傑斯城的加彼黎的兒子加貝羅那裏。
 多:4.21     孩子! 不要害怕我們貧窮；如果你敬畏天主，遠避一切罪惡，在你的上主天主前行善，你必能富有」。
  
 多:5.1      那時多俾亞答應他父親托彼特說：「父親! 凡你命令我的，我必遵行；
 多:5.2      但是他不認識我，也不認識他，我怎能向他索回這項銀子呢﹖我拿什麼憑據給他，使他認識我，而把銀子交給我﹖再一說，我也不認識往瑪待去的路」。
 多:5.3      那時托彼特回答他的兒子多俾亞說：「他給我寫了契據，我也給他寫了契據，且分成了兩份，我們各致一份。我把那份與銀子放在一起，請想這錢存在他那裏，至今己有二十年了。孩子! 現在你去找一個忠實的人與你同去，你回來時，我們要給他酬報。趁我還活著，你去從他那裏取回這項銀子」。
 多:5.4      多俾亞便出去尋找一個能與同去瑪待，並且熟識路途的人。他一出門，遇見辣法耳天使站在他面前；但是他不知道他是天主的使者，
 多:5.5      便向他說：「朋友! 你是哪裏的﹖」天使對他說：「我是你的同胞叵的子民，我到這裏來找工作」。多俾亞對他說：「你認識往瑪待去的路嗎﹖」
 多:5.6      天使對他說：「是，我多次到過那裏，全條路線我都熟悉，並且很多次我到瑪待去的時候，在我們的同胞加貝羅借宿，他住在瑪待辣傑斯。厄克巴塔納與辣傑斯相隔兩天的路程；辣傑斯在山區，厄克巴塔納在平原」。
 多:5.7      多俾亞他對他說：「朋友! 請你等我進去報告我父親，因為我正需要你與我同去，我要給你酬報」。
 多:5.8      天使對他說：「好! 我等你，但是不可太久」。
 多:5.9      多俾亞便進去，告訴他父親托彼特說：「我從我的同胞以色列子民中找到了一個人」。托彼特對他說：「孩子! 你叫那個人到我這裏來，我好知道他是那一家族，那一支派的人，與你同去是否可靠」。
 多:5.10     多俾亞出去對他說：「朋友! 我父親叫你」。他便進去，托彼特先向他請安；天使對他說：「祝你快樂! 」托彼特回答說：「我這個眼睛失明，看不見天日的人，常躺在黑暗之中，像永遠看不見光明的死人一樣，還有什麼快樂呢﹖我像是生活死人中，只能聽人講話，卻看不見他們」。天使對他說：「放心! 天主快要醫好你。放心吧! 」托彼特對他說：「我的兒子多俾亞，要到瑪待去，你能領導他，與他同去嗎﹖老兄，我要給你酬報」。天使回答說：「我可以與他同去，全條路程我都熟悉，我多次到過瑪待，那裏的平原山地我都去過，那裏的一切道路，我都熟悉」。
 多:5.11     托彼特對他說：「老兄! 你是那一家族，那一支派的﹖老兄，請告訴我吧! 」
 多:5.12     他說：「你為什麼需要知道我是那一支派的呢﹖」托彼特對他說：「我願意知道清楚一切。老兄! 你是誰家的兒子﹖你叫什麼名字﹖」
 多:5.13     天使對他說：「我是是你同胞中的大阿納尼雅的兒子阿匝黎雅」。
 多:5.14     托彼特對他說：「老兄! 歡迎! 歡迎! 老兄! 你不要因為我想知道清楚你的家族而見怪! 很幸運你是我的同胞，又是出自良善尊貴的家庭，我認識大舍默雅的兩個兒子，阿納尼雅和納堂，他們曾與我一同去過耶路撒冷，在那裏一同朝拜過上主；雖然我們的同胞已走入岐途，他們卻沒有失去正道；你的弟兄們都是好人，你又是出自良好的家族，你來的正巧」。
 多:5.15     又說：「每天我要給你一「達瑪」作酬報，又給你一切所需，完全和卜兒子一樣。
 多:5.16     你同我兒一同去吧! 若你們平安回來，我還要多給你報酬」
 多:5.17     他們就如此接洽好了。天使對他說：「我與他一同去，你不要害怕。我們平安去，休要平安回到你這裏來，因為道上很太平」。托彼特對他說：「老兄! 祝你一路平安! 」他便他的兒子說：「孩子! 你去預備路上所需的一切，與你的兄弟一同去吧! 孩子! 願天上的天主使你們一路平安，保護你們在平安，也領你們平安回到我跟前來! 願他的天使與你們同行，救助你們! 」多俾亞便預備路上需要的一切；臨動身時，口親了他的父母。托彼特對他說：「祝你一路平安! 」
 多:5.18     他的母親亞納哭著對托彼特說：「你為什麼打發兒子出去呢﹖他不是我們的扶手杖常在我們面前出入嗎﹖
 多:5.19     錢又加不上錢，寧願失去那筆錢，而使我們的兒子安全。
 多:5.20     其實上主賜與我們的生活，為我們已足夠了」。
 多:5.21     他對她說：「妹妹，妳不要掛心! 我們的兒子平安去，也平安回到我們跟前來。在他平安回到妳跟的那一天，妳要親眼看見他。
 多:5.22     妹妹! 你不要掛慮，也不要為他們擔心，因為良善的天使陪伴著他，他的旅途必定順利，也必會平安回來」。
 多:5.23     於是她就止淚不哭了。
  
 多:6.1      少年人出門以後，天使陪伴著他，他的狗休隨著出去，與他們同行；他們二人取道前行，第一夜，宿在底格里斯河畔，
 多:6.2      當少年人下到底格里斯河邊去洗腳時，忽然從水裏跳出一條大魚，要吞噬少年人的腳，他便喊叫起來。
 多:6.3      天使對少年人說：「用力捉住這條魚吧! 」少年人就用力捉住了那條魚，拖到岸上。
 多:6.4      天使對他說：「剖開這條魚，挖牠的膽、心和肝來，保存著，把臟腑等都拋掉，因為膽、心和肝能作良好的藥材」。
 多:6.5      少年人便把魚剖開，取出膽、心和肝來；然後烤了幾塊魚肉吃了，又腌起幾塊存著。
 多:6.6      二人又一起向前行，直到來到瑪待。
 多:6.7      少年人問天使說：「阿匝黎雅兄! 魚的心、肝和膽，可作什麼藥材﹖」
 多:6.8      他回答說：「魚的心肝，若在魔鬼或惡神纏身的男女面前焚化成煙，一切惡魔都要從他身上逃走，永不再住在他內；
 多:6.9      至於魚膽，若敷在患白膜的人的眼上，再向眼上的白膜一吹，眼便會痊愈」。
 多:6.10     他們進了瑪待，離厄克巴塔納已近，
 多:6.11     辣法耳對少年人說：「多俾亞弟弟! 」他答說：「我在這裏。」天使對他說：「今夜我們應住在辣古耳的家裏，他是你的親戚，他有一個女兒名叫撒辣。
 多:6.12     除了撒辣獨女外，沒有別的女兒，你與他的親屬關係比別人更近，所以你有權利娶她為妻，並繼承她父親所有的一切。這女孩又明智，又勇敢，又美麗絕倫，她的父親又是好人」。
 多:6.13     他又說：「老弟! 你聽我的話吧! 娶她是你的權利；今夜向她父親提及這女孩，使他們記配與你為妻；我們從辣傑斯回來時，你就娶她為妻。我深知辣古斯決不能拒絕你，而許配與別人，因為他知道你比任何人便有權利娶他的女兒；不然，按梅瑟書的規定，他應受死刑。老弟! 現今你聽我的話吧! 今晚我們就提起這女孩的事，希望能把她許配與你；當我們從辣傑斯回來的時候，我們帶著她，領她與我們一起回到你的家裏去」。
 多:6.14     那時，多俾亞回答辣法耳說：「阿匝黎雅兄! 我聽說她已經嫁過七個丈夫，但是，夜裏他們都一一死在房裏；當他們正接近她時，便死去了。還聽見人說：是惡魔殺死了他們。
 多:6.15     現今很害怕，因為惡魔並不危害她，只殺害願意接近她人；而我又是我父親的獨子，我怕我一旦死去，我必使我的父母因哀哭我而進入墳墓裏去，他們也再沒有別的兒子去埋葬他們」。
 多:6.16     天使對他說：「你不記得你父親命你從你宗族中娶妻的命令嗎﹖所以，老弟! 如今請你聽從我! 不要理這個惡魔，你娶她吧! 我知道，今天晚上她必許配與你為妻。
 多:6.17     但是，你進入洞房以後，當拿出魚肝和魚心來，放在香爐的火炭上，接著便會發出一種氣味，惡魔一聞到，必定逃走，永不再出現在她左右。
 多:6.18     當你要與她接合時，你們二人先要醒寤祈禱，求天上的大主可憐救助你們。不要害怕，因為從永遠她就命定配與你了；你要救她，她要與你一同生活。並且我預科她要為你生子養女，他們對你像就一般。所以，你不必憂慮! 」
 多:6.19     多俾亞聽了辣法耳的話，知道她是出於自己宗族後裔的姊妹，便十分愛她，心裏也起了戀慕之情。
  
 多:7.1      當他們進入厄克巴塔納時，多俾亞對天使說：「阿匝黎雅兄，請領我一直到我的同胞辣卉耳的家! 「天使便領他到了辣卉耳的家；他們看見他正坐在庭院門口，便先向他請安。他對他們說：「兄弟，歡迎! 歡迎! 祝你們安好! 」隨後領他們進了自己的家。
 多:7.2      辣古耳對妻子厄得納說：「這個少年人多麼相似我的兄弟托彼特呀!」
 多:7.3      厄得納於是問他們說：「兄弟，你們是哪裏的﹖」他們回答說：「我們是被擄到尼尼微的納斐塔里的後裔」。
 多:7.4      她又間說：「你們認識我們的弟兄托彼特嗎﹖」他們回答說：「我們認識」。
 多:7.5      她又問說：「他好嗎﹖」他們回答說：「他好，還活著」。多俾亞說：「他是我的父親」。
 多:7.6      辣古耳便跳起來，口親他，哭著對說：「孩子，正直善良的的兒子，願你獲得祝福! 」但當他聽說托彼特已雙目失明，便很難過說：「啊! 一個正直好施的人，成了一個瞎子，多麼可憐啊! 」於是他抱著親人多俾亞的脖子，哭起來來了。
 多:7.7      他的妻子厄得納和他們的女兒撒辣也都哭了。
 多:7.8      隨後，殺了羊群裏的一隻公羊，親熱地款待他們。
 多:7.9      沐浴以後，當入席用飯時，多俾亞對辣法耳說：「阿匝黎雅兄，請你向辣古耳請求，把我的妹妹許配給我! 」
 多:7.10     辣古耳聽了這話，便對少年人說：「今晚你吃喝快樂吧! 親家，因為除你以外，沒有別人有權利娶我的女兒撒辣；同樣，除你以外，我也沒有權利把她嫁給別人。因為你是我的至親。但是，孩子，我必須把真情告訴你：
 多:7.11     我已把她嫁過我們同胞七個人，但是，他們都在當夜接近她時死去了。但是，孩子；現今你吃喝吧! 上主必要在你們中行事」。
 多:7.12     多俾亞說：「若你不決定我的事，我在這裏也不吃，也不喝」。辣古耳對他說：「好! 我決定按照梅瑟書上所規定的，把她嫁與你，她嫁與你也是上天命定的，所以你娶你的妹妹吧! 從今以後，你是她的哥哥，她是你的妹妹。從今天起，她永遠歸與你。孩子! 盻望天上的大主今夜賜你們幸福，在你們身上施行仁慈與平安! 」
 多:7.13     接著，辣古耳叫了自己的女兒撒辣來；她來到他跟前，他便握著她的手，遞給多俾亞說：「按照梅瑟書上的法律與規定，你娶她為她妻吧! 她已歸你所有，你領她平安到你父親那裏去，天上的大主必使你們和平順遂! 」
 多:7.14     於是又叫撒辣的母親拿出書卷來，寫了婚書，並寫下他們怎樣按照梅瑟法律的規定，把她嫁給他為妻，並蓋了印。此後，他們便開始吃喝。
 多:7.15     辣古耳喚自己的妻子厄得納說：「妹妹，請妳準備另一間房子，領她進去吧!」
 多:7.16     她便照吩咐的，到房裏去準備蓆榻，然後領她進去。這時她竟為她的女兒痛哭起來，然後擦乾眼淚，對她說：
 多:7.17     「女兒，妳放心! 願天上的大主使妳變憂為喜。女兒，妳放心吧!」
  
 多:8.1      吃喝完畢以後，他們要睡覺去，便少年人進了那間小房。
 多:8.2      那時多俾亞想起辣法耳的話，便從袋中拿出魚肝和魚肝和魚心，放在香爐的火炭上。
 多:8.3      魚的氣味制服了惡魔，使他逃往埃及的內陸去。辣法耳也追上去，把他梱在那裏，霎忽間就回來了。
 多:8.4      人們出去以後，他們倆關上房門。多俾亞便從床上坐起來，對她說：「妹妹，起來! 我們一同祈禱，祈求我們的上主，在我們身上施行仁慈和保佑。
 多:8.5      她便起來，於是一起開始祈禱，祈求上主保佑他們；他便開始祈禱說：「我們祖宗的天主，你是應受讚美的! 你的名號是世世代代應受頌揚的。諸天及你的一切造物，都應讚頌你於無窮之世。
 多:8.6      是你造了亞當，是你造了厄娃作他的妻子，作他的扶助和倚靠，好從他們二人傳生人類。你曾說過：一個人獨處不好，我要給他造個相稱的助手。
 多:8.7      上主，現在我娶我這個妹妹，並不是由於情慾，而是出於純正的意向。求你憐憫我和她，賜我們白頭偕老! 」
 多:8.8      他們彼此答說：「阿們! 阿們! 」
 多:8.9      隨後便睡了一夜。
 多:8.10     那時，辣古耳也起來，便叫他的僕人同他一起出去掘墳，因為他說：「恐怕他死了，我們又要受到譏笑與辱罵」。
 多:8.11     他們掘完了墳墓，辣古耳回來了，叫了妻子來，說：
 多:8.12     「妳打發一個女僕進去看看他是死是活，假如他死了，我們馬上埋了他，不讓外人知道」。
 多:8.13     她遂打發女僕去，女僕拿著燈，開了門，進去，看見他們還在一起安睡。
 多:8.14     女僕便出來，報告說：「他還活著，沒有什麼不好」。
 多:8.15     他們便讚美天上的大主說：「天主，你應受一切純潔和神聖的讚揚，願眾人永遠讚美你!
 多:8.16     你是應受讚揚的，因為你使我快慰，沒有讓我預料的事發生，卻按你的大慈大悲恩待了我們。
 多:8.17     你是應受讚揚的，因為你憐憫了這兩個獨子獨女。主啊! 賜予他們慈惠和保佑，使他們一生滿享快樂慈惠吧! 」
 多:8.18     隨後，吩咐僕人在天亮以前，把墳墓填平。
 多:8.19     他又吩咐他的妻子預備很多食物；他自己走到家畜群裏，牽出兩頭牛和四隻羊來，命人宰殺了，開始準備一連十四天的婚筳。
 多:8.20     隨後，他叫了多俾亞來，向他宣誓說：「這十四天婚筳完結以前，你不可離開這裏，你要在我這裏住下吃喝，好撫慰我女兒破碎了的心靈。
 多:8.21     凡我所有的，你立刻可帶去一半，平安回到你那裏。那另一半，待我和我妻子死後，也是你們的。孩子，放心吧! 我是你的父親，厄得納是你的母親。從現在起，我們永遠是你的，也是你妹妹的。孩子，放心吧! 」
  
 多:9.1      那時，多俾亞叫了辣法耳來，對他說：
 多:9.2      「阿匝黎雅兄! 請你帶上四個僕人，兩匹駱駝，到辣傑斯，往加貝貝羅那裏去，把契約交給他，好把銀子索回來；並請他與你同來參與婚禮。
 多:9.3      你知道我父親在許算著日期，若我耽誤了一天，必使他十分掛心。
 多:9.4      你也看見了辣古耳發了什麼誓，因此，我不能反抗他的約」。
 多:9.5      辣法耳於是帶了四個僕人，兩匹駱駝，往瑪待辣傑斯去了，住在加貝羅的家裏，把契約交給了他，並且把托彼特的兒子多俾亞娶妻，和請他參與婚禮的事，也報告給他。他便起來，給他按原數數了幾個尚封住口的袋子，放在駱駝上，
 多:9.6      清早一起動身；前來參與婚禮。當他們進到辣古耳家時，看見多俾亞正在坐席。多俾亞便跳起來，向他請安。加貝羅不禁哭起來了，祝福他說：「善良無比的人啊! 你是善良無比和正義好施的人的兒子，願上主賜予你、你的妻子和你的岳父岳母天上的祝福! 願天主受讚美! 因為看見了肖似我表弟托彼特的多俾亞」。
  
 多:10.1     托彼特天天計算日期：需要多天前去，多少天回來。但是當日期滿了，他的兒子還未回來時；
 多:10.2     便說：「莫非他在那裏被人留往了。或是加貝羅死了，沒有人把銀子還給他﹖」
 多:10.3     便憂悶起來。
 多:10.4     他的妻子亞納說：「我的兒子早已死了，不在人間了! 」於是哭起來了，哀悼兒子說：
 多:10.5     「兒啊! 可苦了我! 你是我眼中的光，我竟把你放走了! 」
 多:10.6     托彼特對她說：「妹妹，住聲，不要憂慮! 他必定平安。他們在定有了什麼不湊巧的事! 與他同去的人，又是我們的同族。妹妹，妳不必為他憂傷，他快回來了! 」
 多:10.7     她答說：「給我住嘴! 別騙我啦! 我的孩子已經死了! 」她每天出去向她兒子去的地方四處觀望，也不吃飯，太陽落了，她才回家；終夜飲泣痛哭，不能入睡。
 多:10.8     辣古耳誓許為自己的女兒設的十四天婚筳日期滿了，多俾亞便進去對他說：「讓我回去吧，因為我知道，我的父母一定不相信再能見我了。所以，岳父! 如今我求你讓我回去，到我父親那裏去，我已經給你說了，我是怎麼離開了他們」
 多:10.9     但是辣古耳向多俾亞說：「住下吧! 孩子! 住在我這裏吧! 打發送信的到你父親托彼特那裏，把你的消息告訴他」。多俾亞回答說：「不必! 還是讓我離開這裏，回到我父親那裏去吧! 」
 多:10.10    辣古耳遂起來，把多俾亞的妻子撒辣交給他，又把他所有的家產：僕人、婢女、牛羊、驢、駱馲、衣服。金錢和家具，送給他一半。
 多:10.11    然後遣送他們平安離去，辭別他說：「孩子，祝你平安，願天上的大主降福你和你的妻子辣撒! 希望我未死之前，能見到到你們的子女! 」
 多:10.12    又對他的女兒撒辣說：「妳到妳公公的家裏去，要孝順妳的公婆，因為從今天以後，你們便是妳的父母，就如他們生了妳一般」。女兒，妳平安去吧! 盻望我活著的時候，常能聽到妳的好消息「。他遂口親了他們，送他們離去。
 多:10.13    厄得納又向多俾亞說：「親愛的孩子和兄弟! 願上主護立送你回去! 巴不得我生時，在未死之前能看見你和我女兒撒辣的子女，好使我在上主面前得到慰藉。我把我的女兒託付給你你一生不要使她難受。孩子，平安去吧! 從今以後，我是你的母親，撒辣是你的妹妹，盻望我們一生一世，都一樣順利才好! 」她口親了你們二人，便送他們平安離去。
 多:10.14    多俾亞便平安喜歡地，讚美著使他一路順遂的天地主宰，萬有的君王，離開了辣古耳；他也祝福辣古耳和他的妻子厄得納說：「願上主賜我能一生幸福地孝敬你們」。
  
 多:11.1     當他們走近面對尼尼微的加色陵時，辣法耳對多俾亞說：
 多:11.2     「吾弟，你知道我們怎樣你的父親；
 多:11.3     所以我們要在你的妻子前面快些走，這樣，他們來到時，我們已準備了好了房屋」。
 多:11.4     他們二人於是一起前行。辣法耳又對他說：「你要隨手帶著魚膽」。那隻小狗也在他和多俾亞的後面，跟著同行。
 多:11.5     那時亞納正坐著，向兒子必經之路上觀望，
 多:11.6     待她發現是她的兒子回來時，便對孩子的父親說：「看，你的兒子和與他同去的人回來了!」
 多:11.7     當多俾亞快要走到他父親前時，辣法耳對他說：「我知道他的眼睛必將復明；
 多:11.8     你要把魚膽敷在他的眼睛上；這藥要把白翳聚在一起，使白翳從他眼中脫落，這樣你父親便得復明，重見天日」。
 多:11.9     那時亞納跑過來，抱著她兒子的頭頸，說：「孩子! 我看見了仔，現今我可以死了」。兩人都哭了起來。
 多:11.10    托彼特也起來，踉蹌地走出庭院的大門。
 多:11.11    多俾亞便向他走去，手中拿著魚膽，向他的眼睛吹了一吹，隨後抱住他說：「父親! 放心吧! 」接著把藥給他敷上。
 多:11.12    隨後多俾亞雙手把白翳從眼角裏剝了出來。
 多:11.13    他一看見自己的兒子，便撲到他的頸項上，流著淚對他說：「孩子，我眼中的光! 我看          見你了! 」
 多:11.14    他又說：「天主是可讚美的! 祂的大名應永遠受讚揚! 眾聖天使也是可讚揚的! 願祂的大名永遠受讚頌，因為祂懲罰我，卻又憐憫了我，使我現在得見我的兒子多俾亞」。
 多:11.15    多俾亞於是歡天喜地滿口讚美著天主，住了家門，然後給他的父親講述了他怎樣一路順利，怎樣索回銀子，並且怎樣娶了辣古耳的女兒撒辣為妻。他並說：「她已來近了，快到尼尼微的城門口」。
 多:11.16    托彼特於是歡喜讚美著天主，走到尼尼微城門前，去迎接自己的兒媳。尼尼微人看見他獨自行走，用不著人扶助，都驚訝得很。托彼特便當眾承認天主憐憫了他，開了他的眼睛。
 多:11.17    及至托彼特走近自己是兒子多俾亞的妻子撒辣面前，遂祝福她說：「女兒，歡迎! 歡迎! 願領妳到我們這裏來的天主受讚揚! 女兒，願妳的父母獲得祝福! 願我的兒子多俾亞獲得祝福! 女兒，也願妳獲得祝福! 妳懷著祝福和喜樂，平安進入妳的家吧! 女兒，進來! 」
 多:11.18    這一天，尼尼微城內的猶太人皆大喜歡。
 多:11.19    他的侄子阿希加和納達布也歡樂地來到托彼特的家裏。多俾亞的婚筳舉行了七天。
  
 多:12.1     婚筳完畢，托彼特叫他的兒子多俾亞來，對他說：「孩子，你去把工資交給與你同行的人吧! 並且要多給他些作酬報」。
 多:12.2     他回答說：「父親，我該對他多少工資呢﹖即便把他與我帶回來的財產一半送給他，我也不吃虧。
 多:12.3     他領我平安回來，治好了我的妻子，給我索回了銀子來，又醫好了你。我應該對他多少工資呢﹖」
 多:12.4     托彼特說：「孩子，他實在堪當收下他回來時，所帶來的一切是一半」。
 多:12.5     多俾亞於是叫了他來，對他說：「請你收下你回來時，所帶來的財產的一半，作你的工資，然後平安回去吧! 」
 多:12.6     那時，他暗地裏叫了他們來，對他們說：「你們該讚美天主，感謝祂，顯揚祂! 該在眾人前把祂為你們所做的一切好事歸功於祂，為讚美歌頌祂的聖名；該向眾人隆重地宣示天主的工程，不要遲緩感謝祂!
 多:12.7     隱藏君王的秘密固然是好，但對天主的工程，卻應該隆重地宣示和公認。你們行善，凶禍便不會臨於你們。
 多:12.8     祈禱與齋戒固然是善功，但秉義施捨捨卻過前二者；秉義而少有，勝於不義而多有；施捨救濟，勝於儲蓄黃金，
 多:12.9     因為施捨救人脫免死亡，且滌除一切罪惡施捨行義的人必享高壽；
 多:12.10    犯罪與行不義的人，便是仇視自己的生命。
 多:12.11    我要向你們說出全部真情，決不向你們隱藏什麼。我已經向你們說過：隱藏君王的秘密固然是好，但傳揚天主的工程卻是應當的。
 多:12.12    當你和撒辣祈禱時，我便把你們的請求呈到上主的榮耀前；當你埋葬死者時，我也同樣地在你左右。
 多:12.13    當你毫不躊躇地起來，放下你的飲食，去埋葬那死者的時候，我便被差遺來試探你，
 多:12.14    同時，天主也差遺我來醫治你和你的兒媳撒辣。
 多:12.15    我是辣法耳，在上主的榮耀前，侍往立往來的七位天使之一」。
 多:12.16    二人便驚慌起來，害怕得很。
 多:12.17    天使對他們說：「不必害怕，願你們平安! 你們該永遠讚美天主。
 多:12.18    我與你們在一起，並不是出於我好心，而是出於天主的聖意。因此，你們該天天讚美祂，歌頌祂。
 多:12.19    你們雖然天天見我吃喝，其實我並沒有吃喝什麼；你們看見的，只是現象而已。
 多:12.20    你們現在該在世上讚美上主，感謝天主。看，我要升到遺發我來者那裏去了。
 多:12.21    當他們起來時，已經再看不見他了。
 多:12.22    他們便讚美歌頌天主，並且感謝祂行了這一切偉大的事業，因為天主的天使顯現給他們。
  
 多:13.1     特為表達自己的歡樂，寫了一篇禱文說：
 多:13.2     永生的天主應受讚頌，祂的王權永遠常存，因為祂懲罰而又憐憫，把人拋在陰府裏的深處，而又把他從悽慘的禍患中救出，沒有誰能逃出祂的掌握。
 多:13.3     以色列子民! 你們當在外邦人的面前頌揚祂，因為祂使你們流徙到他們之中，
 多:13.4     是為叫你們在那裏顯揚祂的偉大。你們該在眾生之前歌頌祂，因為只有祂是我們的上主，只有祂是我們的天主，只有祂的我們的父親，只有祂永遠是天主。
 多:13.5     祂懲罰你們，是為了你們的不義；但祂要憐恤你們眾人，把你們這些分散於各民族中的聚集起來。
 多:13.6     若是你們全心全靈歸向祂，在祂面前履行正道，祂也必轉向你們，不再掩面不顧。
 多:13.7     若是你們如今知道應默觀祂向你們所作的一切，然後高聲感謝祂；該讚美公義的上主，該頌揚永世的君王。
 多:13.8     我要在被擄充軍之地讚美祂，向犯罪的國民宣揚祂的威能和偉大。罪人啊! 你們悔改吧! 你們在祂面前行義吧! 誰知道，或是祂會寬待你們而憐憫你們!
 多:13.9     我頌揚我的天主，我的靈魂欣悅於天上的君王。
 多:13.10    願眾人頌揚祂的偉大，在耶路撒冷讚美祂。耶路撒冷聖城! 因你弓女的惡行，祂必施行懲罰，但祂還要憐憫義人的子孫。
 多:13.11    你該適當地讚美上主，稱頌萬代的君王，因為祂的會幕在你內，將再歡欣地建築起來，
 多:13.12    為使眾俘擄在你內喜樂，為使一切不幸的人，在你內永遠獲得慈愛。
 多:13.13    那時，燦爛的光輝，將照耀大地四極；無數的外方人，將從遠方到你這裏來；大志四極的居民，將屬於上主天主的聖名之下，雙手帶著禮物獻給天上的君王；萬世萬代必將因你而喜樂，被選者的名號必永垂不杇。
 多:13.14    凡出言開罪你的人，必受詛咒；凡毀滅你，破壞你的墻垣，打倒你的堡壘，焚燒你房屋的人，必受詛咒；但興建你的人，必永遠受祝福。
 多:13.15    那時，你為義人的子孫歡欣喜樂吧! 因為他們都要再聚在一處，讚美永遠的上主。愛你的人是有福的，為你的福利而喜樂的人是有福的，
 多:13.16    因你種種困苦而為你憂傷的是有福的，因為他們要因你而歡樂，並且要得見你永遠的喜樂。我的靈魂，請你讚頌上主大君!
 多:13.17    因為耶路撒冷必要重建，永遠為祂的居所。若我後裔的遺民，能看見你的榮耀，而稱謝天上的大君王，那我多麼有福啊! 耶路撒冷的城門，將是用藍寶石和翡翠建造的；周圍的城牆，將是用寶石砌成的；耶路撒冷的守望台將是用金子築成的，堡壘將是用純金造成的；耶路撒冷的街道將是用紅寶石和敖非爾石鋪成的。
 多:13.18    耶路撒冷的城門都要高唱快樂的詩歌，家家戶戶都要歡呼；亞肋路亞，以色列的天主應受讚揚! 蒙福的人要讚美為聖的名號，至於無窮世之世」。
  
 多:14.1     托彼特的頌詞就此結束。
 多:14.2     他於一百一十二歲上平安去世，哀榮地葬在尼尼微。他雙目失明時六十二歲；復明以後，生活也很幸福，繼續施捨救濟，時常讚美天主，頌揚天主的偉大。
 多:14.3     當他臨終的時候，叫了他兒子多俾亞來，吩咐他說：「孩子! 你要領你的孩子，
 多:14.4     快往瑪待去，我確信天主藉納鴻先知論尼尼微所說的話，必要應驗，臨亞述國和尼尼微城。凡天主遣發到以色列的先知所說的一切，也要來臨，其中一字也不能刪去，必要一一按時應驗；只有瑪待比在亞述和巴比倫更為安全，因為我知道，天主所說的一切，必要成就應驗；預言一句也不會落空。但是，我那些住在以色列地的同胞也要被驅逐，並從福地裏被擄去；以色列全地必要荒蕪，撒馬黎雅和耶路撒冷也要變成荒地，天主的殿宇也要被燒毀，變成灰燼，直到芋一時期。
 多:14.5     可是，天主還要憐憫他們，天主要再領他們回到以色列地，重建殿宇，但不如從前的那一座，直到指定的日期圓滿為止。此後，眾人將要從流徙之地回來，重建耶路撒冷，恢復繁榮，其中也將重建天主的殿宇，照以色列的眾先知所預言的。
 多:14.6     普天下所有的外邦人，將回心轉意，離棄那些迷惑他們走入岐途的偶像，虔誠敬畏上主天主，以行來讚頌永生的天主。
 多:14.7     在那些時日內，凡得以逃生的以色列子民，必誠心誠意懷念天主，聚集，回到耶路撒冷，永遠在亞巴郎的土地上安居樂業，因為這土地應歸還於他們。凡誠心誠意敬畏天主的人，必要歡樂；作惡犯罪的人，必要從地上滅絕。
 多:14.8     孩子! 現我吩咐你們該誠心事奉天主，作祂喜歡的事。也該命令你們的子女，行善施捨，使他們時常記念天主，永遠全心全力讚美祂的聖名。
 多:14.9     孩子! 現今你該離開尼尼微，不要留在這裏。自你把你母親埋葬在我身傍的那天起，就要離開這裏，因為我看見城中充滿了不義，人任意欺詐，而不以為恥。
 多:14.10    孩子! 你看納達布怎樣對待了教養他的阿希加不是被他活也逼入地下嗎﹖但是天主，當面補償了他所受的淩辱，阿希加出來重見天日，納達布卻進入了永遠的黑暗中，原來他想謀殺阿希加。阿希加因為施拾哀矜，所以能脫離納達布為他預備的死亡圈套；納達布自己卻陷入了死亡的羅網，喪失了性命。
 多:14.11    孩子! 所以你們看：施拾的結果是什麼﹖不義的結果是什麼﹖是死亡。現在，我的靈魂要離開了」。於是眾人把他放在床上；他便死了。人們重地隆埋葬了他。
 多:14.12    多俾亞的母親亞納死後，他便把她同他的父親葬在一起；隨後，便同自己的妻子兒女離開了，到瑪待去，在厄克巴塔納與他的岳父辣古耳住在一起。
 多:14.13    他孝敬他們直至他們壽終正寢，把他們埋葬在瑪待厄克巴塔納，也承繼了辣古耳和父親托彼特的家產。
 多:14.14    生時很受尊榮，死在瑪待厄克巴塔納，年一百一十七歲。
 多:14.15    他死前，聽到了尼尼微毀滅的消息，也親眼見了瑪待王基雅撒勒擄到瑪待的俘擄，而讚美天主對尼尼微和亞述子民所作的一切。如此，他未死之前，能為尼尼微城的毀滅而喜樂，讚美上主天主於無窮之世。阿們。   [多俾亞傳完篇]
  
 tb:1.    [Tobia]    14 chapters   [多俾亞傳]   [英文版]
  
 tb:1.1   This book tells the story of Tobit, son of Tobiel, son of Hananiel, son of Aduel, son of Gabael of the family of Asiel, of the tribe of Naphtali,
 tb:1.2   who during the reign of Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, was taken captive from Thisbe, which is south of Kedesh Naphtali in upper Galilee, above and to the west of Asser, north of Phogor.
 tb:1.3   I, Tobit, have walked all the days of my life on the paths of truth and righteousness. I performed many charitable works for my kinsmen and my people who had been deported with me to Nineveh, in Assyria.
 tb:1.4   When I lived as a young man in my own country, Israel, the entire tribe of my forefather Naphtali had broken away from the house of David and from Jerusalem. This city had been singled out of all Israel's tribes, so that they all might offer sacrifice in the place where the temple, God's dwelling, had been built and consecrated for all generations to come.
 tb:1.5   All my kinsmen, like the rest of the tribe of my forefather Naphtali, used to offer sacrifice on all the mountains of Galilee as well as to the young bull which Jeroboam, king of Israel, had made in Dan.
 tb:1.6   I, for my part, would often make the pilgrimage alone to Jerusalem for the festivals, as is prescribed for all Israel by perpetual decree. Bringing with me the first fruits of the field and the firstlings of the flock, together with a tenth of my income and the first shearings of the sheep, I would hasten to Jerusalem
 tb:1.7   and present them to the priests, Aaron's sons, at the altar. To the Levites who were doing service in Jeusalem I would give the tithe of grain, wine, olive oil, pomegranates, figs, and other fruits. And except for sabbatical years, I used to give a second tithe in money, which each year I would go and disburse in Jerusalem.
 tb:1.8   The third tithe I gave to orphans and widows, and to converts who were living with the Israelites. Every third year I would bring them this offering, and we ate it in keeping with the decree of the Mosaic law and the commands of Deborah, the mother of my father Tobiel; for when my father died, he left me an orphan.
 tb:1.9   When I reached manhood, I married Anna, a woman of our own lineage. By her I had a son whom I named Tobiah.
 tb:1.10  Now, after I had been deported to Nineveh, all my brothers and relatives ate the food of heathens,
 tb:1.11  but I refrained from eating that kind of food.
 tb:1.12  Because of this wholehearted service of God,
 tb:1.13  the Most High granted me favor and status with Shalmaneser, so that I became purchasing agent for all his needs.
 tb:1.14  Every now and then until his death I would go to Media to buy goods for him. I also deposited several pouches containing a great sum of money with my kinsman Gabael, son of Gabri, who lived at Rages, in Media.
 tb:1.15  But when Shalmaneser died and his son Sennacherib succeeded him as king, the roads to Media became unsafe, so I could no longer go there.
 tb:1.16  During Shalmaneser's reign I performed many charitable works for my kinsmen and my people.
 tb:1.17  I would give my bread to the hungry and my clothing to the naked. If I saw one of my people who had died and been thrown outside the walls of Nineveh, I would bury him.
 tb:1.18  I also buried anyone whom Sennacherib slew when he returned as a fugitive from Judea during the days of judgment decreed against him by the heavenly King because of the blasphemies he had uttered. In his rage he killed many Israelites, but I used to take their bodies by stealth and bury them; so when Sennacherib looked for them, he could not find them.
 tb:1.19  But a certain citizen of Nineveh informed the king that it was I who buried the dead. When I found out that the king knew all about me and wanted to put me to death, I went into hiding; then in my fear I took to flight.
 tb:1.20  Afterward, all my property was confiscated; I was left with nothing. All that I had was taken to the king's palace, except for my wife Anna and my son Tobiah.
 tb:1.21  But less than forty days later the king was assassinated by two of his sons, who then escaped into the mountains of Ararat. His son Esarhaddon, who succeeded him as king, placed Ahiqar, my brother Anael's son, in charge of all the accounts of his kingdom, so that he took control over the entire administration.
 tb:1.22  Then Ahiqar interceded on my behalf, and I was able to return to Nineveh. For under Sennacherib, king of Assyria, Ahiqar had been chief cupbearer, keeper of the seal, administrator, and treasurer; and Esarhaddon reappointed him. He was a close relative-in fact, my nephew.
  
 tb:2.1   Thus under King Esarhaddon I returned to my home, and my wife Anna and my son Tobiah were restored to me. Then on our festival of Pentecost, the feast of Weeks, a fine dinner was prepared for me, and I reclined to eat.
 tb:2.2   The table was set for me, and when many different dishes were placed before me, I said to my son Tobiah: "My son, go out and try to find a poor man from among our kinsmen exiled here in Nineveh. If he is a sincere worshiper of God, bring him back with you, so that he can share this meal with me. Indeed, son, I shall wait for you to come back."
 tb:2.3   Tobiah went out to look for some poor kinsman of ours. When he returned he exclaimed, "Father!" I said to him, "What is it, son?" He answered, "Father, one of our people has been murdered! His body lies in the market place where he was just strangled!"
 tb:2.4   I sprang to my feet, leaving the dinner untouched; and I carried the dead man from the street and put him in one of the rooms, so that I might bury him after sunset.
 tb:2.5   Returning to my own quarters, I washed myself and ate my food in sorrow.
 tb:2.6   I was reminded of the oracle pronounced by the prophet Amos against Bethel: "Your festivals shall be turned into mourning, And all your songs into lamentation."
 tb:2.7   And I wept. Then at sunset I went out, dug a grave, and buried him.
 tb:2.8   The neighbors mocked me, saying to one another: "Will this man never learn! Once before he was hunted down for execution because of this very thing; yet now that he has escaped, here he is again burying the dead!"
 tb:2.9   That same night I bathed, and went to sleep next to the wall of my courtyard. Because of the heat I left my face uncovered.
 tb:2.10  I did not know there were birds perched on the wall above me, till their warm droppings settled in my eyes, causing cataracts. I went to see some doctors for a cure, but the more they anointed my eyes with various salves, the worse the cataracts became, until I could see no more. For four years I was deprived of eyesight, and all my kinsmen were grieved at my condition. Ahiqar, however, took care of me for two years, until he left for Elymais.
 tb:2.11  At that time my wife Anna worked for hire at weaving cloth, the kind of work women do.
 tb:2.12  When she sent back the goods to their owners, they would pay her. Late in winter she finished the cloth and sent it back to the owners. They paid her the full salary, and also gave her a young goat for the table.
 tb:2.13  On entering my house the goat began to bleat. I called to my wife and said: "Where did this goat come from? Perhaps it was stolen! Give it back to its owners; we have no right to eat stolen food!"
 tb:2.14  But she said to me, "It was given to me as a bonus over and above my wages." Yet I would not believe her, and told her to give it back to its owners. I became very angry with her over this. So she retorted: "Where are your charitable deeds now? Where are your virtuous acts? See! Your true character is finally showing itself!"
  
 tb:3.1   Grief-stricken in spirit, I groaned and wept aloud. Then with sobs I began to pray:
 tb:3.2   "You are righteous, O Lord, and all your deeds are just; All your ways are mercy and truth; you are the judge of the world.
 tb:3.3   And now, O Lord, may you be mindful of me, and look with favor upon me. Punish me not for my sins, nor for my inadvertent offenses, nor for those of my fathers. "They sinned against you,
 tb:3.4   and disobeyed your commandments. So you handed us over to plundering, exile, and death, till we were an object lesson, a byword, a reproach in all the nations among whom you scattered us.
 tb:3.5   "Yes, your judgments are many and true in dealing with me as my sins and those of my fathers deserve. For we have not kept your commandments, nor have we trodden the paths of truth before you.
 tb:3.6   "So now, deal with me as you please, and command my life breath to be taken from me, that I may go from the face of the earth into dust. It is better for me to die than to live, because I have heard insulting calumnies, and I am overwhelmed with grief. "Lord, command me to be delivered from such anguish; let me go to the everlasting abode; Lord, refuse me not. For it is better for me to die than to endure so much misery in life, and to hear these insults!"
 tb:3.7   On the same day, at Ecbatana in Media, it so happened that Raguel's daughter Sarah also had to listen to abuse, from one of her father's maids.
 tb:3.8   For she had been married to seven husbands, but the wicked demon Asmodeus killed them off before they could have intercourse with her, as it is prescribed for wives. So the maid said to her: "You are the one who strangles your husbands! Look at you! You have already been married seven times, but you have had no joy with any one of your husbands.
 tb:3.9   Why do you beat us? Because your husbands are dead? Then why not join them! May we never see a son or daughter of yours!"
 tb:3.10  That day she was deeply grieved in spirit. She went in tears to an upstairs room in her father's house with the intention of hanging herself. But she reconsidered, saying to herself: "No! People would level this insult against my father: 'You had only one beloved daughter, but she hanged herself because of ill fortune!' And thus would I cause my father in his old age to go down to the nether world laden with sorrow. It is far better for me not to hang myself, but to beg the Lord to have me die, so that I need no longer live to hear such insults."
 tb:3.11  At that time, then, she spread out her hands, and facing the window, poured out this prayer: "Blessed are you, O Lord, merciful God! Forever blessed and honored is your holy name; may all your works forever bless you.
 tb:3.12  And now, O Lord, to you I turn my face and raise my eyes.
 tb:3.13  Bid me to depart from the earth, never again to hear such insults.
 tb:3.14  "You know, O Master, that I am innocent of any impure act with a man,
 tb:3.15  And that I have never defiled my own name or my father's name in the land of my exile. "I am my father's only daughter, and he has no other child to make his heir, Nor does he have a close kinsman or other relative whom I might bide my time to marry. I have already lost seven husbands; why then should I live any longer? But if it please you, Lord, not to slay me, look favorably upon me and have pity on me; never again let me hear these insults!"
 tb:3.16  At that very time, the prayer of these two suppliants was heard in the glorious presence of Almighty God.
 tb:3.17  So Raphael was sent to heal them both: to remove the cataracts from Tobit's eyes, so that he might again see God's sunlight; and to marry Raguel's daughter Sarah to Tobit's son Tobiah, and then drive the wicked demon Asmodeus from her. For Tobiah had the right to claim her before any other who might wish to marry her.In the very moment that Tobit returned from the courtyard to his house, Raguel's daughter Sarah came downstairs from her room.
  
 tb:4.1   That same day Tobit remembered the money he had deposited with Gabael at Rages in Media, and he thought,
 tb:4.2   "Now that I have asked for death, why should I not call my son Tobiah and let him know about this money before I die?"
 tb:4.3   So he called his son Tobiah; and when he came, he said to him: "My son, when I die, give me a decent burial. Honor your mother, and do not abandon her as long as she lives. Do whatever pleases her, and do not grieve her spirit in any way.
 tb:4.4   Remember, my son, that she went through many trials for your sake while you were in her womb. And when she dies, bury her in the same grave with me.
 tb:4.5   "Through all your days, my son, keep the Lord in mind, and suppress every desire to sin or to break his commandments. Perform good works all the days of your life, and do not tread the paths of wrongdoing.
 tb:4.6   For if you are steadfast in your service, your good works will bring success, not only to you, but also to all those who live uprightly.
 tb:4.7   "Give alms from your possessions. Do not turn your face away from any of the poor, and God's face will not be turned away from you.
 tb:4.8   Son, give alms in proportion to what you own. If you have great wealth, give alms out of your abundance; if you have but little, distribute even some of that. But do not hesitate to give alms;
 tb:4.9   you will be storing up a goodly treasure for yourself against the day of adversity.
 tb:4.10  Almsgiving frees one from death, and keeps one from going into the dark abode.
 tb:4.11  Alms are a worthy offering in the sight of the Most High for all who give them.
 tb:4.12  "Be on your guard, son, against every form of immorality, and above all, marry a woman of the lineage of your forefathers. Do not marry a stranger who is not of your father's tribe, because we are sons of the prophets. My boy, keep in mind Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, our fathers from of old: all of them took wives from among their own kinsmen and were blessed in their children. Remember that their posterity shall inherit the land.
 tb:4.13  Therefore, my son, love your kinsmen. Do not be so proudhearted toward your kinsmen, the sons and daughters of your people, as to refuse to take a wife for yourself from among them. For in such arrogance there is ruin and great disorder. Likewise, in worthlessness there is decay and dire poverty, for worthlessness is the mother of famine.
 tb:4.14  "Do not keep with you overnight the wages of any man who works for you, but pay him immediately. If you thus behave as God's servant, you will receive your reward. Keep a close watch on yourself, my son, in everything you do, and discipline yourself in all your conduct.
 tb:4.15  Do to no one what you yourself dislike. Do not drink wine till you become drunk, nor let drunkenness accompany you on your way.
 tb:4.16  "Give to the hungry some of your bread, and to the naked some of your clothing. Whatever you have left over, give away as alms; and do not begrudge the alms you give.
 tb:4.17  Be lavish with your bread and wine at the burial of the virtuous, but do not share them with sinners.
 tb:4.18  "Seek counsel from every wise man, and do not think lightly of any advice that can be useful.
 tb:4.19  At all times bless the Lord God, and ask him to make all your paths straight and to grant success to all your endeavors and plans. For no pagan nation possesses good counsel, but the Lord himself gives all good things. If the Lord chooses, he raises a man up; but if he should decide otherwise, he casts him down to the deepest recesses of the nether world. So now, my son, keep in mind my commandments, and never let them be erased from your heart.
 tb:4.20  "And now, son, I wish to inform you that I have deposited a great sum of money with Gabri's son Gabael at Rages in Media.
 tb:4.21  Do not be discouraged, my child, because of our poverty. You will be a rich man if you fear God, avoid all sin, and do what is right before the Lord your God."
  
 tb:5.1   Then Tobiah replied to his father Tobit: "Everything that you have commanded me, father, I will do.
 tb:5.2   But how shall I be able to obtain the money from him, since he does not know me nor do I know him? What can I show him to make him recognize me and trust me, so that he will give me the money? I do not even know which roads to take for the journey into Media!"
 tb:5.3   Tobit answered his son Tobiah: "We exchanged signatures on a document written in duplicate; I divided it into two parts, and each of us kept one; his copy I put with the money. Think of it, twenty years have already passed since I deposited that money! So now, my son, find yourself a trustworthy man who will make the journey with you. We will, of course, give him a salary when you return; but get back that money from Gabael."
 tb:5.4   Tobiah went to look for someone acquainted with the roads who would travel with him to Media. As soon as he went out, he found the angel Raphael standing before him, though he did not know that this was an angel of God.
 tb:5.5   Tobiah said to him, "Who are you, young man?" He replied "I am an Israelite, one of your kinsmen. I have come here to work." Tobiah said, "Do you know the way to Media?"
 tb:5.6   The other replied: "Yes, I have been there many times. I know the place well and I know all the routes. I have often traveled to Media; I used to stay with our kinsman Gabael, who lives at Rages in Media. It is a good two days' travel from Ecbatana to Rages, for Rages is situated at the mountains, Ecbatana out on the plateau."
 tb:5.7   Tobiah said to him, "Wait for me, young man, till I go back and tell my father; for I need you to make the journey with me. I will, of course, pay you."
 tb:5.8   Raphael replied, "Very well, I will wait for you; but do not be long."
 tb:5.9   Tobiah went back to tell his father Tobit what had happened. He said to him, "I have just found a man who is one of our own Israelite kinsmen!" Tobit said, "Call the man, so that I may find out what family and tribe he comes from, and whether he is trustworthy enough to travel with you, son." Tobiah went out to summon the man, saying, "Young man, my father would like to see you."
 tb:5.10  When Raphael entered the house, Tobit greeted him first. Raphael said, "Hearty greetings to you!" Tobit replied: "What joy is left for me any more? Here I am, a blind man who cannot see God's sunlight, but must remain in darkness, like the dead who no longer see the light! Though alive, I am among the dead. I can hear a man's voice, but I cannot see him." Raphael said, "Take courage! God has healing in store for you; so take courage!" Tobit then said: "My son Tobiah wants to go to Media. Can you go with him to show him the way? I will of course pay you, brother." Raphael answered: "Yes, I can go with him, for I know all the routes. I have often traveled to Media and crossed all its plains and mountains; so I know every road well."
 tb:5.11  Tobit asked, "Brother, tell me, please, what family and tribe are you from?"
 tb:5.12  Raphael said: "Why? Do you need a tribe and a family? Or are you looking for a hired man to travel with your son?" Tobit replied, "I wish to know truthfully whose son you are, brother, and what your name is."
 tb:5.13  Raphael answered, "I am Azariah, son of Hananiah the elder, one of your own kinsmen."
 tb:5.14  Tobit exclaimed: "Welcome! God save you, brother! Do not be provoked with me, brother, for wanting to learn the truth about your family. So it turns out that you are a kinsman, and from a noble and good line! I knew Hananiah and Nathaniah, the two sons of Shemaiah the elder; with me they used to make the pilgrimage to Jerusalem, where we would worship together. No, they did not stray from the right path; your kinsmen are good men. You are certainly of good lineage, and welcome!"
 tb:5.15  Then he added: "For each day you are away I will give you the normal wages, plus expenses for you and for my son. If you go with my son,
 tb:5.16  I will even add a bonus to your wages!" Raphael replied: "I will go with him; have no fear. In good health we shall leave you, and in good health we shall return to you, for the way is safe."
 tb:5.17  Tobit said, "God bless you, brother." Then he called his son and said to him: "My son, prepare whatever you need for the journey, and set out with your kinsman. May God in heaven protect you on the way and bring you back to me safe and sound; and may his angel accompany you for safety, my son." Before setting out on his journey, Tobiah kissed his father and mother. Tobit said to him, "Have a safe journey."
 tb:5.18  But his mother began to weep. She said to Tobit: "Why have you decided to send my child away? Is he not the staff to which we cling, ever there with us in all that we do?
 tb:5.19  I hope more money is not your chief concern! Rather let it be a ransom for our son!
 tb:5.20  What the Lord has given us to live on is certainly enough for us."
 tb:5.21  Tobit reassured her: "Have no such thought. Our son will leave in good health and come back to us in good health. Your own eyes will see the day when he returns to you safe and sound.
 tb:5.22  So, no such thought; do not worry about them, my love. For a good angel will go with him, his journey will be successful, and he will return unharmed."
 tb:5.23  Then she stopped weeping.
  
 tb:6.1   When the boy left home, accompanied by the angel, the dog followed Tobiah out of the house and went with them. The travelers walked till nightfall, and made camp beside the Tigris River.
 tb:6.2   Now when the boy went down to wash his feet in the river, a large fish suddenly leaped out of the water and tried to swallow his foot. He shouted in alarm.
 tb:6.3   But the angel said to him, "Take hold of the fish and don't let it get away!" The boy seized the fish and hauled it up on the shore.
 tb:6.4   The angel then told him: "Cut the fish open and take out its gall, heart, and liver, and keep them with you; but throw away the entrails. Its gall, heart, and liver make useful medicines."
 tb:6.5   After the lad had cut the fish open, he put aside the gall, heart, and liver. Then he broiled and ate part of the fish; the rest he salted and kept for the journey.
 tb:6.6   Afterward they traveled on together till they were near Media.
 tb:6.7   The boy asked the angel this question: "Brother Azariah, what medicinal value is there in the fish's heart, liver, and gall?"
 tb:6.8   He answered: "As regards the fish's heart and liver, if you burn them so that the smoke surrounds a man or a woman who is afflicted by a demon or evil spirit, the affliction will leave him completely, and no demons will ever return to him again.
 tb:6.9   And as for the gall, if you rub it on the eyes of a man who has cataracts, blowing into his eyes right on the cataracts, his sight will be restored."
 tb:6.10  When they had entered Media and were getting close to Ecbatana,
 tb:6.11  Raphael said to the boy, "Brother Tobiah!" He answered, "Yes, what is it?" Raphael continued: "Tonight we must stay with Raguel, who is a relative of yours. He has a daughter named Sarah,
 tb:6.12  but no other child. Since you are Sarah's closest relative, you before all other men have the right to marry her. Also, her father's estate is rightfully yours to inherit. Now the girl is sensible, courageous, and very beautiful; and her father loves her dearly."
 tb:6.13  He continued: "Since you have the right to marry her, listen to me, brother. Tonight I will ask the girl's father to let us have her as your bride. When we return from Rages, we will hold the wedding feast for her. I know that Raguel cannot keep her from you or let her become engaged to another man; that would be a capital crime according to the decree in the Book of Moses, and he knows that it is your right, before all other men, to marry his daughter. So heed my words, brother; tonight we must speak for the girl, so that we may have her engaged to you. And when we return from Rages, we will take her and bring her back with us to your house."
 tb:6.14  Tobiah objected, however: "Brother Azariah, I have heard that this woman has already been married seven times, and that her husbands died in their bridal chambers. On the very night they approached her, they dropped dead. And I have heard it said that it was a demon who killed them.
 tb:6.15  So now I too am afraid of this demon. Because he loves her, he does not harm her; but he does slay any man who wishes to come close to her. I am my father's only child. If I should die, Iwould bring my father and mother down to their grave in sorrow over me. And they have no other son to bury them!"
 tb:6.16  Raphael said to him: "Do you not remember your father's orders? He commanded you to marry a woman from your own family. So now listen to me, brother; do not give another thought to this demon, but marry Sarah. I know that tonight you shall have her for your wife!
 tb:6.17  When you go into the bridal chamber, take the fish's liver and heart, and place them on the embers for the incense. As soon as the demon smells the odor they give off, he will flee and never again show himself near her.
 tb:6.18  Then when you are about to have intercourse with her, both of you first rise up to pray. Beg the Lord of heaven to show you mercy and grant you deliverance. But do not be afraid, for she was set apart for you before the world existed. You will save her, and she will go with you. And I suppose that you will have children by her, who will take the place of brothers for you. So do not worry."
 tb:6.19  When Tobiah heard Raphael say that she was his kinswoman, of his own family's lineage, he fell deeply in love with her, and his heart became set on her.
  
 tb:7.1   When they entered Ecbatana, Tobiah said, "Brother Azariah, lead me straight to our kinsman Raguel." So he brought him to the house of Raguel, whom they found seated by his courtyard gate. They greeted him first. He said to them, "Greetings to you too, brothers! Good health to you, and welcome!" When he brought them into his home,
 tb:7.2   he said to his wife Edna, "This young man looks just like my kinsman Tobit!"
 tb:7.3   So Edna asked them, "Who are you, brothers?" They answered, "We are of the exiles from Naphtali at Nineveh."
 tb:7.4   She said, "Do you know our kinsman Tobit?" They answered, "Indeed we do!" She asked, "Is he well?"
 tb:7.5   They answered, "Yes, he is alive and well." Then Tobiah exclaimed, "He is my father!"
 tb:7.6   Raguel sprang up and kissed him, shedding tears of joy.
 tb:7.7   But when he heard that Tobit had lost his eyesight, he was grieved and wept aloud. He said to Tobiah: "My child, God bless you! You are the son of a noble and good father. But what a terrible misfortune that such a righteous and charitable man should be afflicted with blindness!" He continued to weep in the arms of his kinsman Tobiah.
 tb:7.8   His wife Edna also wept for Tobit; and even their daughter Sarah began to weep.
 tb:7.9   Afterward, Raguel slaughtered a ram from the flock and gave them a cordial reception. When they had bathed and reclined to eat, Tobiah said to Raphael, "Brother Azariah, ask Raguel to let me marry my kinswoman Sarah."
 tb:7.10  Raguel overheard the words; so he said to the boy: "Eat and drink and be merry tonight, for no man is more entitled to marry my daughter Sarah than you, brother. Besides, not even I have the right to give her to anyone but you, because you are my closest relative. But I will explain the situation to you very frankly.
 tb:7.11  I have given her in marriage to seven men, all of whom were kinsmen of ours, and all died on the very night they approached her. But now, son, eat and drink. I am sure the Lord will look after you both." Tobiah answered, "I will eat or drink nothing until you set aside what belongs to me." Raguel said to him: "I will do it. She is yours according to the decree of the Book of Moses. Your marriage to her has been decided in heaven! Take your kinswoman; from now on you are her love, and she is your beloved. She is yours today and ever after. And tonight, son, may the Lord of heaven prosper you both. May he grant you mercy and peace."
 tb:7.12  Then Raguel called his daughter Sarah, and she came to him. He took her by the hand and gave her to Tobiah with the words: "Take her according to the law. According to the decree written in the Book of Moses she is your wife. Take her and bring her back safely to your father. And may the God of heaven grant both of you peace and prosperity."
 tb:7.13  He then called her mother and told her to bring a scroll, so that he might draw up a marriage contract stating that he gave Sarah to Tobiah as his wife according to the decree of the Mosaic law. Her mother brought the scroll, and he drew up the contract, to which they affixed their seals.
 tb:7.14  Afterward they began to eat and drink.
 tb:7.15  Later Raguel called his wife Edna and said, "My love, prepare the other bedroom and bring the girl there."
 tb:7.16  She went and made the bed in the room, as she was told, and brought the girl there. After she had cried over her, she wiped away the tears and said:
 tb:7.17  "Be brave, my daughter. May the Lord of heaven grant you joy in place of your grief. Courage, my daughter." Then she left.
  
 tb:8.1   When they had finished eating and drinking, the girl's parents wanted to retire. They brought the young man out of the dining room and led him into the bedroom.
 tb:8.2   At this point Tobiah, mindful of Raphael's instructions, took the fish's liver and heart from the bag which he had with him, and placed them on the embers for the incense.
 tb:8.3   The demon, repelled by the odor of the fish, fled into Upper Egypt; Raphael pursued him there and bound him hand and foot. Then Raphael returned immediately.
 tb:8.4   When the girl's parents left the bedroom and closed the door behind them, Tobiah arose from bed and said to his wife, "My love, get up. Let us pray and beg our Lord to have mercy on us and to grant us deliverance."
 tb:8.5   She got up, and they started to pray and beg that deliverance might be theirs. He began with these words: "Blessed are you, O God of our fathers; praised be your name forever and ever. Let the heavens and all your creation praise you forever.
 tb:8.6   You made Adam and you gave him his wife Eve to be his help and support; and from these two the human race descended. You said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone; let us make him a partner like himself.'
 tb:8.7   Now, Lord, you know that I take this wife of mine not because of lust, but for a noble purpose. Call down your mercy on me and on her, and allow us to live together to a happy old age."
 tb:8.8   They said together, "Amen, amen,"
 tb:8.9   and went to bed for the night. But Raguel got up and summoned his servants. With him they went out to dig a grave,
 tb:8.10  for he said, "I must do this, because if Tobiah should die, we would be subjected to ridicule and insult."
 tb:8.11  When they had finished digging the grave, Raguel went back into the house and called his wife,
 tb:8.12  saying, "Send one of the maids in to see whether Tobiah is alive or dead, so that if necessary we may bury him without anyone's knowing about it."
 tb:8.13  She sent the maid, who lit a lamp, opened the bedroom door, went in, and found them sound asleep together.
 tb:8.14  The maid went out and told the girl's parents that Tobiah was alive, and that there was nothing wrong.
 tb:8.15  Then Raguel praised the God of heaven in these words: "Blessed are you, O God, with every holy and pure blessing! Let all your chosen ones praise you; let them bless you forever!
 tb:8.16  Blessed are you, who have made me glad; what I feared did not happen. Rather you have dealt with us according to your great mercy.
 tb:8.17  Blessed are you, for you were merciful toward two only children. Grant them, Master, mercy and deliverance, and bring their lives to fulfillment with happiness and mercy."
 tb:8.18  Then he told his servants to fill in the grave before dawn.
 tb:8.19  He asked his wife to bake many loaves of bread; he himself went out to the herd and picked out two steers and four rams which he ordered to be slaughtered. So the servants began to prepare the feast.
 tb:8.20  He summoned Tobiah and made an oath in his presence, saying: "For fourteen days you shall not stir from here, but shall remain here eating and drinking with me; and you shall bring joy to my daughter's sorrowing spirit.
 tb:8.21  Take, to begin with, half of whatever I own when you go back in good health to your father; the other half will be yours when I and my wife die. Be of good cheer, my son! I am your father, and Edna is your mother; and we belong to you and to your beloved now and forever. So be happy, son!"
  
 tb:9.1   Then Tobiah called Raphael and said to him:
 tb:9.2   "Brother Azariah, take along with you four servants and two camels and travel to Rages. Go to Gabael's house and give him this bond. Get the money and then bring him along with you to the wedding celebration.
 tb:9.3   You witnessed the oath that Raguel has sworn; I cannot violate his oath."
 tb:9.4   For you know that my father is counting the days. If I should delay my return by a single day, I would cause him intense grief.
 tb:9.5   So Raphael, together with the four servants and two camels, traveled to Rages in Media, where they stayed at Gabael's house. Raphael gave Gabael his bond and told him about Tobit's son Tobiah, and that he had married and was inviting him to the wedding celebration. Gabael promptly checked over the sealed moneybags, and they placed them on the camels.
 tb:9.6   The following morning they got an early start and traveled to the wedding celebration. When they entered Raguel's house, they found Tobiah reclining at table. He sprang up and greeted Gabael, who wept and blessed him, exclaiming: "O noble and good child, son of a noble and good, upright and charitable man, may the Lord grant heavenly blessing to you and to your wife, and to your wife's father and mother. Blessed be God, because I have seen the very image of my cousin Tobit!"
  
 tb:10.1  Meanwhile, day by day, Tobit was keeping the track of the time Tobiah would need to go and to retun. When the number of days was reached and his son did not appear,
 tb:10.2  he said: "I wonder what has happend. Perhaps he has been detained there; or perhaps Gabeal is dead, and there is no one to give him the money."
 tb:10.3  And he began to worry.
 tb:10.4  His wife Anna said, "My son has perished and is no longer among the living!" And she began to weep aloud and to wail over her son:
 tb:10.5  "Alas, my child, light of my eyes, that I let you make this journey!"
 tb:10.6  But Tobit kept telling her: "Hush, do not think about it, my love; he is safe! Probably they have to take care of some unexpected business there. The man who is traveling with him is trustworthy, and is one of our own kinsmen. So do not worry over him, my love. He will be here soon."
 tb:10.7  But she retorted, "Stop it, and do not lie to me! My child has perished!" She would go out and keep watch all day at the road her son had taken, and she ate nothing. At sunset she would go back home to wail and cry the whole night through, getting no sleep at all.Now at the end of the fourteen-day wedding celebration which Raguel had sworn to hold for his daughter, Tobiah went to him and said: "Please let me go, for I know that my father and mother do not believe they will ever see me again. So I beg you, father, let me go back to my father. I have already told you how I left him."
 tb:10.8  Raguel said to Tobiah: "Stay, my child, stay with me. I am sending messengers to your father Tobit, and they will give him news of you."
 tb:10.9  But Tobiah insisted, "No, I beg you to let me go back to my father."
 tb:10.10 Raguel then promptly handed over to Tobiah Sarah his wife, together with half of all his property: male and female slaves, oxen and sheep, asses and camels, clothing, money, and household goods.
 tb:10.11 Bidding them farewell, he let them go. He embraced Tobiah and said to him: "Good-bye, my son. Have a safe journey. May the Lord of heaven grant prosperity to you and to your wife Sarah. And may I see children of yours before I die!"
 tb:10.12 Then he kissed his daughter Sarah and said to her: "My daughter, honor your father-in-law and your mother-in-law, because from now on they are as much your parents as the ones who brought you into the world. Go in peace, my daughter; let me hear good reports about you as long as I live." Finally he said good-bye to them and sent them away.
 tb:10.13 Then Edna said to Tobiah: "My child and beloved kinsman, may the Lord bring you back safely, and may I live long enough to see children of you and of my daughter Sarah before I die. Before the Lord, I entrust my daughter to your care. Never cause her grief at any time in your life. Go in peace, my child. From now on I am your mother, and Sarah is your beloved. May all of us be prosperous all the days of our lives." She kissed them both and sent them away in peace.
 tb:10.14 When Tobiah left Raguel, he was full of happiness and joy, and he blessed the Lord of heaven and earth, the King of all, for making his journey so successful. Finally he said good-bye to Raguel and his wife Edna, and added, "May I honor you all the days of my life!"
  
 tb:11.1   Then they left and began their return journey. When they were near Kaserin, just before Nineveh,
 tb:11.2   Raphael said: "You know how we left your father.
 tb:11.3   Let us hurry on ahead of your wife to prepare the house while the rest of the party are still on the way."
 tb:11.4   So they both went on ahead and Raphael said to Tobiah, "Have the gall in your hand!" And the dog ran along behind them.
 tb:11.5   Meanwhile, Anna sat watching the road by which her son was to come.
 tb:11.6   When she saw him coming, she exclaimed to his father, "Tobit, your son is coming, and the man who traveled with him!"
 tb:11.7   Raphael said to Tobiah before he reached his father: "I am certain that his eyes will be opened.
 tb:11.8   Smear the fish gall on them. This medicine will make the cataracts shrink and peel off from his eyes; then your father will again be able to see the light of day."
 tb:11.9   Then Anna ran up to her son, threw her arms around him, and said to him, "Now that I have seen you again, son, I am ready to die!" And she sobbed aloud.
 tb:11.10   Tobit got up and stumbled out through the courtyard gate. Tobiah went up to him
 tb:11.11   with the fish gall in his hand, and holding him firmly, blew into his eyes. "Courage, father," he said. Next he smeared the medicine on his eyes,
 tb:11.12   and it made them smart. Then, beginning at the corners of Tobit's eyes, Tobiah used both hands to peel off the cataracts.
 tb:11.13   When Tobit saw his son, he threw his arms around him and wept.
 tb:11.14   He exclaimed, "I can see you, son, the light of my eyes!"
 tb:11.15   Then he said: "Blessed be God, and praised be his great name, and blessed be all his holy angels. May his holy name be praised throughout all the ages, Because it was he who scourged me, and it is he who has had mercy on me. Behold, I now see my son Tobiah!"
 tb:11.16   Then Tobit went back in, rejoicing and praising God with full voice. Tobiah told his father that his journey had been a success; that he had brought back the money; and that he had married Raguel's daughter Sarah, who would arrive shortly, for she was approaching the gate of Nineveh. '
 tb:11.17   Rejoicing and praising God, Tobit went out to the gate of Nineveh to meet his daughter-in-law. When the people of Nineveh saw him walking along briskly, with no one leading him by the hand, they were amazed.
 tb:11.18   Before them all Tobit proclaimed how God had mercifully restored sight to his eyes. When Tobit reached Sarah, the wife of his son Tobiah, he greeted her: "Welcome, my daughter! Blessed be your God for bringing you to us, daughter! Blessed are your father and your mother. Blessed is my son Tobiah, and blessed are you, daughter! Welcome to your home with blessing and joy. Come in, daughter!" That day there was joy for all the Jews who lived in Nineveh.
 tb:11.19   Ahiqar and his nephew Nadab also came to rejoice with Tobit. They celebrated Tobiah's wedding feast for seven happy days, and he received many gifts.
  
 tb:12.1  When the wedding celebaration came to an end, Tobit called his son Tobiah and said to him, "Son, see to it that you give what is due to the man who made the journey with you; give him a bonus too."
 tb:12.2  Tobiah said: "Father, how much shall I pay him?" It would not hurt me at all to give him half of all the wealth he brought back with me.
 tb:12.3  He led me back safe and sound; he cured my wife; he brought the money back with me; and he cured you. How much of a bonus should I give him?
 tb:12.4  Tobit answered, "It is only fair, son, that he should receive half of all that he brought back."
 tb:12.5  So Tobiah called Raphael and said, "Take as your wages half of all that you have brought back, and go in peace."
 tb:12.6  Raphael called the two men aside privately and said to them: "Thank God! Give Him the praise and glory. Before all the living, acknnowledge themany good things He has done for you, by blessing and extolling His name in song. Before all men, honor and proclain God's deeds, and do not be slack in praising Him.
 tb:12.7  A king's secrete it is prudent to keep, but the words of God are to be declared and mde known. Praise them with due honor. Do good, and evil will not find the way to you.
 tb:12.8  Praying and fast are good, bit better than either is almsgiving accompanied by righteousness. A little of roghteousness is better than abundance with wickness. It is better to give alms than yo store up gold;
 tb:12.9  For almsgiving saves one from death and expiates every sin. Those who regularly give alms shall enjoy a full life;
 tb:12.10  but those habitually guilty of sin are their own worst enemies.
 tb:12.11  "I will now tell you the whole truth; I will conceal nothing at all from you. I have already said to you, 'A king's secret it is prudent to keep, but the works of God are to be made known with due honor.'
 tb:12.12  I can now tell you that when you, Tobit, and Sarah prayed, it was I who presented and read the record of your prayer before the Glory of the Lord; and I did the same thing when you used to bury the dead.
 tb:12.13  When you did not hesitate to get up and leave your dinner in order to go and bury the dead,
 tb:12.14  I was sent to put you to the test. At the same time, however, God commissioned me to heal you and your daughter-in-law Sarah.
 tb:12.15  I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who enter and serve before the Glory of the Lord."
 tb:12.16  Stricken with fear, the two men fell to the ground.
 tb:12.17  But Raphael said to them: "No need to fear; you are safe. Thank God now and forever.
 tb:12.18  As for me, when I came to you it was not out of any favor on my part, but because it was God's will. So continue to thank him every day; praise him with song.
 tb:12.19  Even though you watched me eat and drink. I did not really do so; what you were seeing was a vision.
 tb:12.20  So now get up from the ground and praise God. Behold, I am about to ascend to him who sent me; write down all these things that have happened to you."
 tb:12.21  When Raphael ascended they rose to their feet and could no longer see him.
 tb:12.22  They kept thanking God and singing his praises; and they continued to acknowledge these marvelous deeds which he had done when the angel of God appeared to them.
  
 tb:13.1   Then Tobit composed this joyful prayer: Blessed be God Who lives forever, because His kingdom lasts fof all ages.
 tb:13.2   For He scourges and than has mercy; He castsdown to the depth of the nether world, and He brings up from the great abyss. No one can escape His hand.
 tb:13.3   Praise him, you Israelites, before the Gentiles, for though he has scattered you among them,
 tb:13.4   he has shown you his greatness even there. Exalt him before every living being, because he is the Lord our God, our Father and God forever.
 tb:13.5   He scourged you for your iniquities, but will again have mercy on you all. He will gather you from all the Gentiles among whom you have been scattered.
 tb:13.6   When you turn back to him with all your heart, to do what is right before him, Then he will turn back to you, and no longer hide his face from you. So now consider what he has done for you, and praise him with full voice. Bless the Lord of righteousness, and exalt the King of the ages. In the land of my exile I praise him, and show his power and majesty to a sinful nation. "Turn back, you sinners! do the right before him: perhaps he may look with favor upon you and show you mercy.
 tb:13.7   "As for me, I exalt my God, and my spirit rejoices in the King of heaven.
 tb:13.8   Let all men speak of his majesty, and sing his praises in Jerusalem."
 tb:13.9   O Jerusalem, holy city, he scourged you for the works of your hands, but will again pity the children of the righteous.
 tb:13.10  Praise the Lord for his goodness, and bless the King of the ages, so that his tent may be rebuilt in you with joy. May he gladden within you all who were captives; all who were ravaged may he cherish within you for all generations to come.
 tb:13.11  A bright light will shine to all parts of the earth; many nations shall come to you from afar, And the inhabitants of all the limits of the earth, drawn to you by the name of the Lord God, Bearing in their hands their gifts for the King of heaven. Every generation shall give joyful praise in you, and shall call you the chosen one, through all ages forever.
 tb:13.12   Accursed are all who speak a harsh word against you; accursed are all who destroy you and pull down your walls, And all who overthrow your towers and set fire to your homes; but forever blessed are all those who build you up.
 tb:13.13   Go, then, rejoice over the children of the righteous, who shall all be gathered together and shall bless the Lord of the ages.
 tb:13.14   Happy are those who love you, and happy those who rejoice in your prosperity. Happy are all the men who shall grieve over you, over all your chastisements, For they shall rejoice in you as they behold all your joy forever.
 tb:13.15   My spirit blesses the Lord, the great King;
 tb:13.16   Jerusalem shall be rebuilt as his home forever. Happy for me if a remnant of my offspring survive to see your glory and to praise the King of heaven! The gates of Jerusalem shall be built with sapphire and emerald, and all your walls with precious stones. The towers of Jerusalem shall be built with gold, and their battlements with pure gold.
 tb:13.17   The streets of Jerusalem shall be paved with rubies and stones of Ophir;
 tb:13.18   The gates of Jerusalem shall sing hymns of gladness, and all her houses shall cry out, "Alleluia! "Blessed be God who has raised you up! may he be blessed for all ages!" For in you they shall praise his holy name forever. The end of Tobit's hymn of praise.

 tb:14.1   Tobit died peacefully at the age of a hundred and twelve, and received an honorable burial in Nineveh.
 tb:14.2   He was sixty-two years old when he lost his eyesight, and after he recovered it he lived in prosperity, giving alms and continually blessing God and praising the divine Majesty.
 tb:14.3   Just before he died, he called his son Tobiah and Tobiah's seven sons, and gave him this command: "Son, take your children
 tb:14.4   and flee into Media, for I believe God's word which was spoken by Nahum against Nineveh. It shall all happen, and shall overtake Assyria and Nineveh; indeed, whatever was said by Israel's prophets, whom God commissioned, shall occur. Not one of all the oracles shall remain unfulfilled, but everything shall take place in the time appointed for it. So it will be safer in Media than in Assyria or Babylon. For I know and believe that whatever God has spoken will be accomplished. It shall happen, and not a single word of the prophecies shall prove false. "As for our kinsmen who dwell in Israel, they shall all be scattered and led away into exile from the Good Land. The entire country of Israel shall become desolate; even Samaria and Jerusalem shall become desolate! God's temple there shall be burnt to the ground and shall be desolate for a while.
 tb:14.5   But God will again have mercy on them and bring them back to the land of Israel. They shall rebuild the temple, but it will not be like the first one, until the era when the appointed times shall be completed. Afterward all of them shall return from their exile, and they shall rebuild Jerusalem with splendor. In her the temple of God shall also be rebuilt; yes, it will be rebuilt for all generations to come, just as the prophets of Israel said of her.
 tb:14.6   All the nations of the world shall be converted and shall offer God true worship; all shall abandon their idols which have deceitfully led them into error,
 tb:14.7   and shall bless the God of the ages in righteousness. Because all the Israelites who are to be saved in those days will truly be mindful of God, they shall be gathered together and go to Jerusalem; in security shall they dwell forever in the land of Abraham, which will be given over to them. Those who sincerely love God shall rejoice, but those who become guilty of sin shall completely disappear from the land.
 tb:14.8   "Now, as for you, my son, depart from Nineveh; do not remain here.
 tb:14.9   "Now, children, I give you this command: serve God faithfully and do what is right before him; you must tell your children to do what is upright and to give alms, to be mindful of God and at all times to bless his name sincerely and with all their strength.
 tb:14.10   The day you bury your mother next to me, do not even stay overnight within the confines of the city. For I see that people here shamelessly commit all sorts of wickedness and treachery. Think, my son, of all that Nadab did to Ahiqar, the very one who brought him up: Ahiqar went down alive into the earth! Yet God made Nadab's disgraceful crime rebound against him. Ahiqar came out again into the light, but Nadab went into the everlasting darkness, for he had tried to kill Ahiqar. Because Ahiqar had given alms to me, he escaped from the deadly trap Nadab had set for him. But Nadab himself fell into the deadly trap, and it destroyed him.
 tb:14.11   So, my children, note well what almsgiving does, and also what wickedness does--it kills! But now my spirit is about to leave me."
 tb:14.12   They placed him on his bed and he died; and he received an honorable burial. When Tobiah's mother died, he buried her next to his father. He then departed with his wife and children for Media, where he settled in Ecbatana with his father-in-law Raguel.
 tb:14.13   He took respectful care of his aging father-in-law and mother-in-law; and he buried them at Ecbatana in Media. Then he inherited Raguel's estate as well as that of his father Tobit.
 tb:14.14   He died at the venerable age of a hundred and seventeen.
 tb:14.15   But before he died, he heard of the destruction of Nineveh and saw its effects. He witnessed the exile of the city's inhabitants when Cyaxares, king of Media, led them captive into Media. Tobiah praised God for all that he had done against the citizens of Nineveh and Assyria. Before dying he rejoiced over Nineveh's destruction, and he blessed the Lord God forever and ever. Amen. [end of Tobia]

