Tobit 12
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Raphael’s Wages
12 When the wedding celebration was ended, Tobit called his son Tobias and said to him, “My son, see to paying the wages of the man who went with you, and give him a bonus as well.”(A) 2 He replied, “Father, how much shall I pay him? It would do me no harm to give him half of the possessions brought back with me.(B) 3 For he has led me back safely, cured my wife, brought the money back with me, and healed you. How much extra shall I give him as a bonus?”(C) 4 Tobit replied, “He deserves, my son, to receive half of all that he brought back.” 5 So Tobias[a] called him and said, “Take for your wages half of all that you brought back, and farewell.”
Raphael’s Exhortation
6 Then Raphael[b] called the two of them privately and said to them, “Bless God and acknowledge him in the presence of all the living for the good things he has done for you. Bless and sing praise to his name. With fitting honor declare to all people the deeds[c] of God. Do not be slow to acknowledge him.(D) 7 It is good to conceal the secret of a king and to acknowledge and reveal the works of God with proper honor. Do good, and evil will not overtake you.(E) 8 Prayer with fidelity is good, and almsgiving with righteousness is better than wealth with injustice. It is better to give alms than to lay up gold,(F) 9 for almsgiving saves from death and purges away every sin. Those who give alms will enjoy a full life,(G) 10 but those who commit sin and do wrong are their own enemies.(H)
Raphael Discloses His Identity
11 “I will now declare the whole truth to you and will conceal nothing from you. Already I have declared it to you when I said, ‘It is good to conceal the secret of a king but to reveal with due honor the works of God.’(I) 12 So now when you and Sarah prayed, it was I who brought the record of your prayers before the glory of the Lord, and likewise whenever you would bury the dead.(J) 13 And that time when you did not hesitate to get up and leave your dinner to go and lay out that corpse,(K) 14 I was sent to you to test you. And at the same time God sent me to heal you and Sarah your daughter-in-law.(L) 15 I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand ready and enter before the glory of the Lord.”(M)
16 The two of them were shaken and threw themselves face down, for they were afraid.(N) 17 But he said to them, “Do not be afraid; peace be with you. Bless God forevermore. 18 As for me, when I was with you, I was not acting on my own will but by the will of God. Bless him each and every day; sing his praises. 19 When you were watching me, I was not really eating[d] anything, but what you saw was a vision.(O) 20 So now bless the Lord on the earth[e] and acknowledge God. See, I am ascending to him who sent me. Write down all these things that have happened to you.” And he ascended.(P) 21 Then they stood up and could see him no more. 22 They kept blessing God and singing his praises, and they acknowledged God for these marvelous deeds of his, that an angel of God had appeared to them.
Tobit 12
Common English Bible
The angel reveals his identity
12 When the wedding feast was over, Tobit called his son Tobias to him and said, “My child, make sure to give the man who went with you his wages, and give him a bonus as well.”
2 Tobias asked him, “Father, how much in wages should I give him? I wouldn’t lose anything if I give him half my possessions, which he brought back with me. 3 After all, he has guided me safely, healed my wife, brought the money with me, and healed you. How much of a bonus should I give him?”
4 Tobit answered, “It is right, my son, for him to receive half of everything that he had when he came back.”
5 So Tobit called Raphael in and said, “Take as your wages half of everything you had when you came, and go in good health.”
6 Then Raphael spoke to them privately, saying, “Praise God and tell all living beings about the good things he has done for you, praising and singing to his name. Make God’s words known in an honorable way to everyone, and don’t fail to acknowledge him. 7 It’s good to hide a king’s secret from view, and good to reveal God’s works and bear witness to them with due respect.
“Do what’s good, and evil won’t overtake you. 8 Prayer with fasting[a] is good, and so is giving to the poor with righteousness. The possession of a little with righteousness is better than much with injustice.[b] Giving to the poor is better than storing up gold. 9 Giving to the poor saves from death, and it washes away every sin. Those who give to the poor will feel satisfied with life, 10 but those who commit sin and injustice are their own worst enemies.
11 “I will tell you the whole truth, and I will keep nothing secret from you. I have already said to you, ‘It’s good to hide a king’s secret from view, and good to reveal God’s works in an honorable way.’ 12 So when you and Sarah prayed, it was I who brought the record of your prayer into God’s glorious presence, and likewise when you used to bury the dead, 13 and when you didn’t hesitate to get up and leave your dinner to go and bury the corpse. 14 I was sent to test you then, and at the same time God sent me to heal you and Sarah, your son’s bride.[c] 15 I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand ready and who enter the Lord’s glorious presence.”
16 The two were shocked. They fell on their faces in fear. 17 But Raphael said to them, “Don’t be afraid; be at peace! Praise God for all time! 18 While I was with you, it wasn’t because I was showing you any favor but because of God’s will. Praise him all your days and sing to him! 19 You were observing me, but[d] I wasn’t eating or drinking[e] anything. Instead, you were seeing a vision. 20 Now praise the Lord here on earth and acknowledge God. Notice that I’m ascending to the one who sent me. So record everything that has happened to you.” Then Raphael ascended.
21 Tobit and Tobias got up and were no longer able to see him. 22 They continued to praise and sing to God, and acknowledged him for these great works of his. They marveled at[f] how one of God’s angels had appeared to them.
Footnotes
- Tobit 12:8 OL, LXX1; LXX2 sincerity
- Tobit 12:8 LXX1; LXX2 and giving to the poor with righteousness is better than the possession of much with injustice.
- Tobit 12:14 Gk your bride
- Tobit 12:19 LXX2 that
- Tobit 12:19 DSS Aram; LXX2 omits or drinking; OL for you used to see me eating; LXX1 all those days I merely appeared to you without actually eating or drinking.
- Tobit 12:22 DSS Heb; LXX2 omits they marveled at.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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