Tobit 10
Good News Translation
Tobit and Anna Are Worried
10 Meanwhile, every day Tobit was keeping count of the time needed to travel to Rages and back. When the time was up and his son had not returned, Tobit said to his wife,
2 What can be keeping him? Do you suppose Gabael has died? Maybe there is no one to give him the money. 3 Tobit was very worried.
4 Then Anna said,
My son is dead. I'm sure of it. She began to weep and to mourn for Tobias, 5
Oh, my son, the joy of my life, why did I ever let you leave home?
6 Tobit tried to comfort her.
Calm down, my dear, he said.
Don't worry. He will be all right. Something unexpected is probably keeping them there longer than we counted on. Besides, his companion is a reliable man and a relative at that. Don't let yourself get so upset over him, dear. I'm sure he is already on his way home.
7 But she replied,
Be quiet and leave me alone! Don't try to fool me. My son is dead. Each day she would rush out of the house to the road which Tobias had taken and would watch for him until sunset. She would let no one comfort her,[a] and when she returned home she would weep and mourn for her son all night long, without sleeping.
Departure from Ecbatana
The two-week wedding feast which Raguel had promised to hold for his daughter Sarah came to an end. So Tobias went to him and asked,
Please let me go home now. I'm certain my parents have given up all hope of ever seeing me again. Please, Raguel, let me go home to my father. I have already told you the condition he was in when I left.
8 But Raguel answered,
Stay, my son. Stay here with me. I will send messengers to your father to tell him that you are all right.
9 But Tobias insisted,
No, I can't! Please let me go back to my father.
10 So Raguel gave Tobias his bride Sarah without further delay. He also gave Tobias half of everything he owned: slaves, cattle, sheep, donkeys, camels, clothes, money, and furniture. 11 Raguel embraced Tobias and sent them on their way with his blessing,
Good-bye, my son. Have a safe journey. May the Lord of heaven protect you and Sarah. And may I live to see your children. 12 Raguel then said to Sarah,
Go with your husband and live in his parents' house. From now on they are as much your parents as your own mother and I are. Let me hear only good things about you as long as I live. After saying good-bye he sent them on their way.
Then Edna said to Tobias,
Tobias my dear child, may the Lord bring you safely home. And may he let me live to see your children. The Lord is my witness; I am placing my daughter in your care. Never, at any time in your life, do anything that would break her heart. Have a safe journey, Tobias. From now on, Sarah is your wife and I am your mother. May we all prosper as long as we live. Then Edna kissed them both and sent them safely on their way.
Footnotes
- Tobit 10:7 She would let no one comfort her; some manuscripts have She would not eat a bite.
Tobit 10
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Anxiety of the Parents
10 Now day by day Tobit kept counting how many days Tobias[a] would need for going and for returning. And when the days had passed and his son did not appear,(A) 2 he said, “Is it possible that he has been detained? Or that Gabael has died, and there is no one to give him the money?” 3 And he began to worry. 4 His wife Anna said, “My son has perished and is no longer among the living.” And she began to weep and mourn for her son, saying, 5 “Woe to me, my child, the light of my eyes, that I let you make the journey.”(B) 6 But Tobit kept saying to her, “Be quiet and stop worrying, my sister; he is all right. Something must have happened to delay them. The man who went with him is trustworthy and is one of our own kin. Do not grieve for him, my sister; he will be here soon.” 7 She answered him, “Be quiet yourself! Stop trying to deceive me! My son has perished.” She would rush out every day and watch the road her son had taken and would heed no one.[b] When the sun had set she would go in and mourn and weep all night long, getting no sleep.
Tobias and Sarah Start for Home
Now when the fourteen days of the wedding celebration had ended that Raguel had sworn to observe for his daughter, Tobias came to him and said, “Send me back, for I know that my father and mother do not believe that they will see me again. So I beg of you, father, to let me go so that I may return to my own father. I have already explained to you how I left him.”(C) 8 But Raguel said to Tobias, “Stay, my son, stay with me; I will send messengers to your father Tobit, and they will inform him about you.” 9 But he said to him, “No! I beg you to send me back to my father.” 10 So Raguel stood and gave Tobias his wife Sarah, as well as half of all his property: male and female slaves, oxen and sheep, donkeys and camels, clothing, money, and household goods.(D) 11 Then he saw them safely off; he embraced Tobias[c] and said to him, “Farewell, my son; have a safe journey. The Lord of heaven prosper you and your wife Sarah, and may I see children of yours before I die.” 12 Then he said to his daughter Sarah, “My daughter, go to your father-in-law and your mother-in-law,[d] since from now on they are as much your parents as those who gave you birth. Go in peace, daughter, and may I hear a good report about you as long as I live.” Then he bade them farewell and let them go. Then Edna said to Tobias, “My child and dear brother, the Lord of heaven bring you back safely, and may I live long enough to see children from you and of my daughter Sarah before I die. In the sight of the Lord I entrust my daughter to you; do nothing to make her unhappy all the days of your life. Go in peace, my son. From now on I am your mother, and Sarah is your sister. May we all prosper together all the days of our lives.” Then she kissed them both and saw them safely off.(E) 13 Tobias parted from Raguel with happiness and joy, praising the Lord of heaven and earth, King over all, because he had made his journey a success, and he blessed Raguel and his wife Edna and said,[e] “May it come to pass that I honor[f] them all the days of their lives.”[g]
Tobit 10
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
VI. Tobiah’s Return Journey to Nineveh and the Healing of Tobit
Chapter 10
Anxiety of the Parents. 1 Meanwhile, day by day, Tobit was keeping track of the time Tobiah would need to go and to return. When the number of days was reached and his son did not appear, 2 he said, “Could it be that he has been detained there? Or perhaps Gabael has died, and there is no one to give him the money?” 3 And he began to grieve. 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: 5 “Alas, child, light of my eyes, that I have let you make this journey!” 6 But Tobit kept telling her: “Be still, do not worry, my sister; he is safe! Probably they have to take care of some unexpected business there. The man who is traveling with him is trustworthy and one of our kindred. So do not grieve over him, my sister. He will be here soon.” 7 But she retorted, “You be still, and do not try to deceive me! My son has perished!” She would rush out and keep watch every day at the road her son had taken. She ate nothing. After the sun had set, she would go back home to wail and cry the whole night through, getting no sleep at all.(A)
Departure from Ecbatana. Now when the fourteen days of the wedding celebration, which Raguel had sworn to hold for his daughter, had come to an end, Tobiah went to him and said: “Send me off, now, since I know that my father and mother do not believe they will ever see me again. So I beg you, father, let me depart and go back to my own father. I have already told you how I left him.” 8 Raguel said to Tobiah: “Stay, son, stay with me. I am sending messengers to your father Tobit, and they will give him news of you.” 9 But Tobiah insisted, “No, I beg you to send me back to my father.”
10 Raguel then promptly handed over to Tobiah his wife Sarah, together with half of all his property: male and female slaves, oxen and sheep, donkeys and camels, clothing, money, and household goods. 11 He saw them safely off. Embracing Tobiah, he said to him: “Farewell, 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!” 12 Then he said to his daughter Sarah, “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, daughter; let me hear a good report about you as long as I live.” Finally he said good-bye to them and let them go.
Edna also 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 all the days of your life. Go in peace, son. From now on I am your mother, and Sarah is your sister. Together may we all prosper throughout the days of our lives.” She kissed them both and saw them safely off.
13 Tobiah left Raguel, 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 blessed Raguel and his wife Edna, and added, “I have been commanded by the Lord to honor you all the days of your life!”
Tobit 10
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
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?
2 Is Gabelus dead, thinkest thou, and no man will pay him the money?
3 And 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.
4 But 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?
5 We having all things together in thee alone, ought not to have let thee go from us.
6 And 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.
7 But 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.
8 But Raguel said to his son in law: Stay here, and I will send a messenger to Tobias thy father, that thou art in health.
9 And Tobias said to him: I know that my father and mother now count the days, and their spirit is grievously afflicted within them.
10 And 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.
11 Saying: 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 see your children before I die.
12 And the parents taking their daughter kissed her, and let her go:
13 Admonishing 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.
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