Tobit 6
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
6 1
Journey to Rages
The young man went out, and the angel went with him, 2 and the dog came out with him and went along with them. So they both journeyed along, and when the first night overtook them they camped by the Tigris River.(A) 3 Then the young man went down to wash his feet in the Tigris River, and a large fish leaped up from the water and tried to swallow the young man’s foot, and he cried out. 4 But the angel said to the young man, “Catch hold of the fish and hang on to it!” So the young man grasped the fish and drew it up on the land. 5 Then the angel said to him, “Cut open the fish and take out its gall, heart, and liver. Keep them with you, but throw away the intestines. For its gall, heart, and liver are useful as medicine.” 6 So after cutting open the fish the young man gathered together the gall, heart, and liver; then he roasted and ate some of the fish and kept some to be salted for the journey.[a]
The two continued on their way together until they were near Media.(B) 7 Then the young man questioned the angel and said to him, “Azariah, my brother, what medicinal value is there in the fish’s heart and liver and in the gall?” 8 He replied, “As for the fish’s heart and liver, you must burn them to make a smoke in the presence of a man or woman afflicted by a demon or evil spirit, and every affliction will flee away and never remain with that person any longer.(C) 9 And as for the gall, anoint a person’s eyes where white films have appeared on them; blow upon them, upon the white films, and the eyes[b] will be healed.”(D)
Raphael’s Instructions
10 When they entered Media and were already approaching Ecbatana,(E) 11 Raphael said to the young man, “Tobias, my brother.” “Here I am,” he answered. Then Raphael[c] said to him, “We must stay this night in the home of Raguel. That man is your relative, and he has a daughter named Sarah.(F) 12 He has no male heir and no daughter except Sarah only, and you, as next of kin to her, have before all other men a hereditary claim on her. Also, it is right for you to inherit her father’s possessions. Moreover, the young woman is intelligent, brave, and very beautiful, and her father is a good man.”(G) 13 He continued, “You have every right to take her in marriage. So listen to me, brother; tonight I will speak to her father about the young woman, so that we may take her to be your bride. When we return from Rages[d] we will celebrate her marriage. For I know that Raguel can by no means keep her from you or promise her to another man without incurring the penalty of death according to the decree of the book of Moses. Indeed, he knows that you, rather than any other man, are entitled to marry his daughter. So now listen to me, brother, and tonight we shall speak concerning the young woman and arrange her engagement to you. And when we return from Rages, we will take her and bring her back with us to your house.”(H)
14 Then Tobias said in answer to Raphael, “Azariah, my brother, I have heard that she already has been married to seven husbands and that they died in the bridal chamber. On the night when they went in to her, they would die. And I have heard some say that a demon kills them.[e](I) 15 It does not harm her, but it kills anyone who desires to approach her. So now, since I am the only son my father has, I am afraid that I may die and bring my father’s and mother’s lives down to their graves, grieving for me—and they have no other son to bury them.”(J)
16 But Raphael[f] said to him, “Do you not remember your father’s orders when he commanded you to take a wife from your father’s house? Now listen to me, brother, and say no more about this demon. Take her. I know that this very night she will be given to you in marriage.(K) 17 When you enter the bridal chamber, take some of the fish’s liver and heart and put them on the embers of the incense. An odor will be given off;(L) 18 the demon will smell it and flee and will never be seen near her any more. Now when you are about to go to bed with her, both of you must first stand up and pray, imploring the Lord of heaven that mercy and safety may be granted to you. Do not be afraid, for she has always been set apart for you. You will save her, and she will go with you. I know that you will have children by her, and they will be as brothers and sisters to you. Now say no more!” When Tobias heard the words of Raphael and learned that she was his sister, related through his father’s lineage, he loved her very much, and his heart was drawn to her.(M)
Tobit 6
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
6 And Tobias went forward, and the dog followed him, and he lodged the first night by the river of Tigris.
2 And he went out to wash his feet, and behold a monstrous fish came up to devour him.
3 And Tobias being afraid of him, cried out with a loud voice, saying: Sir, he cometh upon me.
4 And the angel said to him: Take him by the gill, and draw him to thee. And when he had done so, he drew him out upon the land, and he began to pant before his feet.
5 Then the angel said to him: Take out the entrails of the fish, and lay up his heart, and his gall, and his liver for thee: for these are necessary for useful medicines.
6 And when he had done so, he roasted the flesh thereof, and they took it with them in the way: the rest they salted as much as might serve them, till they came to Rages the city of the Medes.
7 Then Tobias asked the angel, and said to him: I beseech thee, brother Azarias, tell me what remedies are these things good for, which thou hast bid me keep of the fish?
8 And the angel, answering, said to him: If thou put a little piece of its heart upon coals, the smoke thereof driveth away all kind of devils, either from man or from woman, so that they come no more to them.
9 And the gall is good for anointing the eyes, in which there is a white speck, and they shall be cured.
10 And Tobias said to him: Where wilt thou that we lodge?
11 And the angel answering, said: Here is one whose name is Raguel, a near kinsman of thy tribe, and he hath a daughter named Sara, but he hath no son nor any other daughter beside her.
12 All his substance is due to thee, and thou must take her to wife.
13 Ask her therefore of her father, and he will give her thee to wife.
14 Then Tobias answered, and said: I hear that she hath been given to seven husbands, and they all died: moreover I have heard, that a devil killed them.
15 Now I am afraid, lest the same thing should happen to me also: and whereas I am the only child of my parents, I should bring down their old age with sorrow to hell.
16 Then the angel Raphael said to him: Hear me, and I will shew thee who they are, over whom the devil can prevail.
17 For they who in such manner receive matrimony, as to shut out God from themselves, and from their mind, and to give themselves to their lust, as the horse and mule, which have not understanding, over them the devil hath power.
18 But thou when thou shalt take her, go into the chamber, and for three days keep thyself continent from her, and give thyself to nothing else but to prayers with her.
19 And on that night lay the liver of the fish on the fire, and the devil shall be driven away.
20 But the second night thou shalt be admitted into the society of the holy Patriarchs.
21 And the third night thou shalt obtain a blessing that sound children may be born of you.
22 And when the third night is past, thou shalt take the virgin with the fear of the Lord, moved rather for love of children than for lust, that in the seed of Abraham thou mayst obtain a blessing in children.
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