Tobit 10:8-12:22
New Catholic Bible
8 Raguel replied, “My child, stay with me, and I will send messengers to your father to give him news of you.” 9 But Tobiah insisted, “No, I beg you to let me return home to my father.” 10 Without any further hesitation, Raguel turned over to Tobiah Sarah his bride, as well as half of all his possessions—male and female slaves, oxen and sheep, donkeys and camels, clothing, money, and household goods. 11 Bidding them farewell, he prepared to send them on their way. Embracing Tobiah, he said, “Good-bye, my son. Have a safe journey. May the Lord of heaven grant prosperity to you and your wife Sarah. Hopefully, before I die, I will be able to see your children.”
12 He then kissed his daughter Sarah and said to her: “My daughter, honor your husband’s father and mother, since from now on they are as much your parents as the ones who gave you life. Depart in peace, my daughter, and may I hear nothing but good reports about you as long as I live.” After this, he bade good-bye to them and let them go.
13 Then Edna said to Tobiah, “My child, and beloved brother, may the Lord bring you back home safely, and may I live long enough to see the children born to you and my daughter Sarah before I die. In the sight of the Lord I entrust my daughter into your keeping. Do not cause her suffering in any day of your life. Go in peace, my child. From now on I am your mother and Sarah is your beloved wife. May we all have good fortune for the rest of our lives.” Then she kissed them both and sent them away safe and sound.
14 When Tobiah was ready to leave Raguel’s house, he was filled with happiness and joy, and he blessed the Lord of heaven and earth, the King of all that exists, for ensuring the success of his journey. Finally he blessed Raguel and his wife Edna, saying, “May I honor you for the rest of my life.”
Chapter 11
The Aged Tobit Recovers His Sight.[a] 1 As they neared Kaserin, which is close to Nineveh, 2 Raphael said, “You know your father’s condition when we departed. 3 Let us hurry on ahead of your wife and prepare the house while she and the others journey on after us.” 4 As they went on together, Raphael then said to Tobiah, “Have the fish gall ready at hand.” And the dog followed them.
5 Meanwhile Anna was sitting, watching the road by which her son would come. 6 When she caught sight of his approach, she said to his father, “Tobit, your son is coming, and so is the man who served as his companion.”
7 Raphael said to Tobiah before he reached his father, “I am sure that his eyes will be opened. 8 Smear the fish gall on them. This medicine will cause the white patches to shrink and to peel away from his eyes. Then your father will recover his sight, and once again he will be able to see the light of day.”
9 Then Anna ran forward and threw her arms around her son. “Now I am ready to die, my son,” she said, “for I have seen you once again.” And she wept. 10 Then Tobit rose to his feet and came stumbling through the courtyard gate. Tobiah went up to him 11 with the fish gall in his hand, and holding him firmly he blew into his eyes, saying, “Have courage, father!” 12 He next applied the medicine to his eyes with great care, 13 and it made them sting. Then, with both hands, he peeled off the white patches, beginning at the corners of Tobit’s eyes. When Tobit saw his son, he threw his arms around him, 14 and weeping, he exclaimed, “I can see you, my son, the light of my eyes.” Then he said:
“Blessed be God,
and blessed be his great name,
and blessed be all his holy angels.
May his holy name be blessed
throughout all the ages forevermore.
15 Although he afflicted me,
he has had mercy on me,
and now I see my son Tobiah.”
Then Tobit went inside, rejoicing and praising God with all his strength. Tobiah reported to his father about the success of his journey, saying that he had brought back the money with him, that he had married Sarah, the daughter of Raguel, and that Sarah would soon arrive at their home, since she was not far from the gates of Nineveh.
16 Tobit went out to the gates of Nineveh to meet his daughter-in-law, rejoicing and praising God. When the people of Nineveh observed him walking along vigorously without anyone guiding him, they were astonished. 17 Tobit related in their presence how God had been merciful to him and restored his sight. When he met Sarah, the wife of his son Tobiah, he blessed her in these words: “Welcome, my daughter. Blessed be God who has sent you to us, my daughter. Blessed are your father and mother. Blessed is my son Tobiah. Blessed are you, my daughter. Welcome now to your home, and enter with joyfulness and in blessedness, my daughter.”
And so that was a day of joy for all the Jews in Nineveh. 18 Ahiqar and his nephew Nadab also came to share in Tobit’s happiness. They celebrated Tobiah’s wedding feast for seven days, and many gifts were given to him.
Chapter 12
God’s Providence Revealed.[b] 1 After the wedding celebrations had been completed, Tobit summoned his son Tobiah and said to him, “My son, it is time that you paid the wages owed to the man who journeyed with you, and in addition you should give him a bonus.” 2 Tobiah replied, “Father, how much should I pay him? I would not be averse to giving him half of all the possessions he brought back with me. 3 He returned me to you safe and sound, he cured my wife, he brought back the money with me, and he healed you. How much extra should I give him?”
4 Tobit answered, “It would only be just, my son, for him to receive half of all that he brought back.” 5 So Tobiah called his companion and said, “For your wages take half of all that you brought back, and go in peace.”
6 [c][d]Raphael called both men aside privately and said to them, “Bless God, and in the presence of all the living praise him and acknowledge all the good things he has done for you. Bless and extol his name with hymns of praise. Proclaim to all people the deeds of God, and never cease to offer thanksgiving to him. 7 The secret of a king should be concealed, but the works of God should be publicly proclaimed as they deserve. Do what is good, and no evil will befall you.
8 “Prayer and fasting are worthy acts, but better than these is almsgiving with justice. A little with righteousness is better than much with wickedness. It is better to give alms than to hoard gold.[e] 9 For almsgiving saves us from death and purges every type of sin. Those who give alms will enjoy a long life, 10 but those who commit sin and do evil deeds are their own worst enemies.
11 “I will now tell you the entire truth; nothing will be hidden from you. I have already said to you that it is prudent to keep a king’s secret but that the works of God should be publicly proclaimed as they deserve. 12 I can now reveal to you, Tobit, that when you and Sarah prayed, I was the one who presented your supplications before the Glory of the Lord, as well as when you buried the dead. 13 On the occasion when you did not hesitate to get up and leave your dinner to go and bury the dead man, 14 I was sent to test you.[f] However, at the same time, God sent me to heal you and your daughter-in-law Sarah. 15 I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand ready to enter before the Glory of the Lord.”[g]
16 The two men were deeply shaken and fell to the ground in fear. 17 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.[h] Peace be with you. Praise God forevermore. 18 As for me, when I came to you, the decision was not in accord with my will but in accord with the will of God. Therefore, continue to bless him every day of your life and sing hymns of praise to him. 19 When you thought that you saw me eating, that was only a vision—I did not eat anything. 20 Now raise yourselves from the ground and give thanks to God. I am about to ascend to him who sent me. Make a written record of all these things that have happened to you.”
21 He then ascended, and when they stood up they could no longer see him. 22 They kept blessing God by singing hymns of praise, and they gave thanks to him for the marvelous deeds he had accomplished when an angel of God had appeared to them.
Footnotes
- Tobit 11:1 The righteous Tobit recovers his sight as compensation for his faithfulness. The author’s message has been delivered. Later, Jesus will proclaim: “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see God” (Mt 5:8).
- Tobit 12:1 At the very hour of receiving his compensation, Tobiah’s mysterious guide reveals his true identity: the angel Raphael. He is entrusted—as his name indicates—with soothing the pains of the righteous undergoing trials. In doing so, he is only God’s instrument—it is the Lord who must be thanked.
- Tobit 12:6 Like a teacher of wisdom, Raphael now directs a brief exhortation to Tobit and his son—similar to the one Tobit addressed to his son in Tob 4:3-19.
- Tobit 12:6 These two verses reinforce the Jewish people’s belief that praising God was the most important duty (see Isa 38:16-20).
- Tobit 12:8 Another translation is: “prayer with fasting is a good thing; but true almsgiving is worth more than both of these”; it is a way of speaking used in proverbs (see Sir 40:18-26).
- Tobit 12:14 I was sent to test you: God is frequently shown testing those faithful to him (e.g., Job 1–2).
- Tobit 12:15 See Rev 8:2. The Bible mentions only three names of angels: Raphael, Michael, and Gabriel. Seven is a number that indicates fullness and perfection.
- Tobit 12:17 Do not be afraid: compare Mt 28:5, 10.
