Tobit 7
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Arrival at Home of Raguel
7 Now when they[a] entered Ecbatana, Tobias[b] said to him, “Azariah, my brother, take me straight to our brother Raguel.” So he took him to Raguel’s house, where they found him sitting beside the courtyard door. They greeted him first, and he replied, “Many greetings, my brothers; welcome and good health!” Then he brought them into his house.(A) 2 He said to his wife Edna, “How much this young man resembles my kinsman Tobit!”(B) 3 Then Edna questioned them, saying, “Where are you from, my brothers?” They answered her, “We belong to the descendants of Naphtali who are exiles in Nineveh.”(C) 4 She said to them, “Do you know our kinsman Tobit?” And they replied, “Yes, we know him.” Then she asked them, “Is he in good health?”(D) 5 They replied, “He is alive and in good health.” And Tobias added, “He is my father!”(E) 6 At that Raguel jumped up and kissed him and wept. 7 He also spoke to him as follows, “Blessings on you, my son, offspring of a good and noble father! O most miserable of calamities that such an upright and beneficent man has become blind!” He then embraced his kinsman Tobias and wept.(F) 8 His wife Edna also wept for him, and their daughter Sarah likewise wept. 9 Then Raguel[c] slaughtered a ram from the flock and received them very warmly.
Marriage of Tobias and Sarah
When they had bathed and washed themselves and had reclined to dine, Tobias said to Raphael, “Azariah, my brother, ask Raguel to give me my sister Sarah.”(G) 10 But Raguel overheard it and said to the young man, “Eat and drink, and be merry tonight. For no one except you, brother, has the right to marry my daughter Sarah. Likewise I am not at liberty to give her to any other man than you because you are my nearest relative. But let me explain to you the true situation more fully, my son.(H) 11 I have given her to seven men of our kinsmen, and all died on the night when they went in to her. But now, my son, eat and drink, and the Lord will act on behalf of you both.” But Tobias said, “I will neither eat nor drink anything until you settle the things that pertain to me.” So Raguel said, “I will do so. She is given to you in accordance with the decree in the book of Moses, and it has been decreed from heaven that she be given to you. Take your sister; from now on you are her brother, and she is your sister. She is given to you from today and forever. May the Lord of heaven, my son, guide and prosper you both this night and grant you mercy and peace.”(I) 12 Then Raguel summoned his daughter Sarah. When she came to him, he took her by the hand and gave her to Tobias,[d] saying, “Take her to be your wife in accordance with the law and decree written in the book of Moses. Take her and bring her safely to your father. And may the God of heaven let your journey go smoothly and in his peace.”(J) 13 Then he called her mother and told her to bring writing material, and he wrote out a copy of a marriage contract, to the effect that he gave her to him as wife according to the decree of the law of Moses.[e](K) 14 Then they began to eat and drink.
15 Raguel called his wife Edna and said to her, “Sister, get the other room ready, and take her there.”(L) 16 So she went and made the bed in the room as he had told her and brought Sarah[f] there. She wept for her daughter.[g] Then, wiping away the tears, she said to her, “Take courage, my daughter; the Lord of heaven grant you joy in place of your sorrow. Take courage, my daughter.” Then she went out.(M)
Tobit 7
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
7 And they went in to Raguel, and Raguel received them with joy.
2 And Raguel looking upon Tobias, said to Anna his wife: How like is this young man to my cousin?
3 And when he had spoken these words, he said: Whence are ye young men our brethren?
4 But they said: We are of the tribe of Nephtali, of the captiveof Ninive.
5 And Raguel said to them: Do you know Tobias my brother? And they said: We know him.
6 And when he was speaking many good things of him, the angel said to Raguel: Tobias concerning whom thou inquirest is this young man's father.
7 And Raguel went to him, and kissed him with tears, and weeping upon his neck, said: A blessing be upon thee, my son, because thou art the son of a good and most virtuous man.
8 And Anna his wife, and Sara their daughter wept.
9 And after they had spoken, Raguel commanded a sheep to be killed, and a feast to be prepared. And when he desired them to sit down to dinner,
10 Tobias said: I will not eat nor drink here this day, unless thou first grant me my petition, and promise to give me Sara thy daughter.
11 Now when Raguel heard this he was afraid, knowing what had happened to those seven husbands, that went in unto her: and he began to fear lest it might happen to him also in like manner: and as he was in suspense, and gave no answer to his petition,
12 The angel said to him: Be not afraid to give her to this man, for to him who feareth God is thy daughter due to be his wife: therefore another could not have her.
13 Then Raguel said: I doubt not but God hath regarded my prayers and tears in his sight.
14 And I believe he hath therefore made you come to me, that this maid might be married to one of her own kindred, according to the law of Moses: and now doubt not but I will give her to thee.
15 And taking the right hand of his daughter, he gave it into the right hand of Tobias, saying: The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob be with you, and may he join you together, and fulfill his blessing in you.
16 And taking paper they made a writing of the marriage.
17 And afterwards they made merry, blessing God.
18 And Raguel called to him Anna his wife, and bade her prepare another chamber.
19 And she brought Sara her daughter in thither, and she wept.
20 And she said to her: Be of good cheer, my daughter: the Lord of heaven give thee joy for the trouble thou hast undergone.
Tobit 7
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
V. Marriage and Healing of Sarah
Chapter 7
At the House of Raguel. 1 When they entered Ecbatana, Tobiah said, “Brother Azariah, bring me straight to the house of our kinsman Raguel.” So he did, and they came to the house of Raguel, whom they found seated by his courtyard gate. They greeted him first, and he answered, “Many greetings to you, brothers! Welcome! You have come in peace! Now enter in peace!” And he brought them into his house. 2 He said to his wife Edna, “How this young man resembles Tobit, the son of my uncle!” 3 So Edna asked them, saying, “Where are you from, brothers?” They answered, “We are descendants of Naphtali, now captives in Nineveh.” 4 She said to them, “Do you know our kinsman Tobit?” They answered her, “Indeed, we do know him!” She asked, “Is he well?” 5 They answered, “Yes, he is alive and well.” Then Tobiah said, “He is my father!” 6 Raguel jumped up, kissed him, and broke into tears. 7 Then, finding words, he said, “A blessing upon you, son! You are the son of a good and noble father. What a terrible misfortune that a man so righteous and charitable has been afflicted with blindness!” He embraced his kinsman Tobiah and continued to weep. 8 His wife Edna also wept for Tobit; and their daughter Sarah also began to weep.
Marriage of Tobiah and Sarah. 9 Afterward, Raguel slaughtered a ram from the flock and gave them a warm reception. When they had washed, bathed, and reclined to eat and drink, Tobiah said to Raphael, “Brother Azariah, ask Raguel to give me my kinswoman Sarah.” 10 Raguel overheard the words; so he said to the young man: “Eat and drink and be merry tonight, for no man has a greater right 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. However, son, I must frankly tell you the truth. 11 I have given her in marriage to seven husbands who were kinsmen of ours, and all died on the very night they approached her. But now, son, eat and drink. The Lord will look after you both.” Tobiah answered, “I will neither eat nor drink anything here until you settle what concerns me.”
Raguel said to him: “I will do it. She is yours as decreed by the Book of Moses. It has been decided in heaven that she be given to you! Take your kinswoman; from now on you are her brother, and she is your sister.[a] She is given to you today and here ever after. May the Lord of heaven prosper you both tonight, son, and grant you mercy and peace.” 12 Then Raguel called his daughter Sarah, and she came to him. He took her by the hand and gave her to Tobiah with these words: “Take her according to the law. According to the decree written in the Book of Moses I give her to be your wife. Take her and bring her safely to your father. And may the God of heaven grant both of you a safe journey in peace!”(A) 13 He then called her mother and told her to bring writing materials. He wrote out a copy of a marriage contract stating that he gave Sarah to Tobiah as his wife as decreed by the law of Moses. Her mother brought the material, and he drew up the contract, to which he affixed his seal.(B)
14 Afterward they began to eat and drink. 15 Later Raguel called his wife Edna and said, “My sister, prepare the other bedroom and bring Sarah there.” 16 She went, made the bed in the room, as he had told her, and brought Sarah there. After she had cried over her, she wiped away her tears and said, 17 “Take courage, my daughter! May the Lord of heaven grant you joy in place of your grief! Courage, my daughter!” Then she left.
Footnotes
- 7:11 You are her brother, and she is your sister: the marriage formula is similar to a marriage contract from the fifth century B.C. found at Elephantine in Egypt: “She is my wife and I am her husband from this day forever.”
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