Tobit 1-6

Revised Standard Version

1 The book of the acts^[a] of Tobit the son of To′biel, son of Anan′iel, son of Ad′uel, son of Gab′ael, of the descendants of As′iel and the tribe of Naph′tali, ² who in the days of Shalmane′ser,^[b] king of the Assyrians, was taken into captivity from Thisbe, which is to the south of Kedesh Naph′tali in Galilee above Asher.

Tobit’s Youth and Virtuous Life

³ I, Tobit, walked in the ways of truth and righteousness all the days of my life, and I performed many acts of charity to my brethren and countrymen who went with me into the land of the Assyrians, to Nin′eveh. ⁴ Now when I was in my own country, in the land of Israel, while I was still a young man, the whole tribe of Naph′tali my forefather deserted the house of Jerusalem. This was the place which had been chosen from among all the tribes of Israel, where all the tribes should sacrifice and where the temple of the dwelling of the Most High was consecrated and established for all generations for ever.

⁵ All the tribes that joined in apostasy used to sacrifice to the calf^[c] Ba′al, and so did the house of Naph′tali my forefather. ⁶ But I alone went often to Jerusalem for the feasts, as it is ordained for all Israel by an everlasting decree. Taking the first fruits and the tithes of my produce and the first shearings, I would give these to the priests, the sons of Aaron, at the altar. ⁷ Of all my produce I would give a tenth to the sons of Levi who ministered at Jerusalem; a second tenth I would sell, and I would go and spend the proceeds each year at Jerusalem; ⁸ the third tenth I would give to those to whom it was my duty, as Deb′orah my father’s mother had commanded me, for I was left an orphan by my father. ⁹ When I became a man I married Anna, a member of our family, and by her I became the father of Tobi′as.

Taken Captive to Nineveh

¹⁰ Now when I was carried away captive to Nin′eveh, all my brethren and my relatives ate the food of the Gentiles; ¹¹ but I kept myself from eating it, ¹² because I remembered God with all my heart. ¹³ Then the Most High gave me favor and good appearance in the sight of Shalmane′ser,^[d] and I was his buyer of provisions. ¹⁴ So I used to go into Media, and once at Rages in Media I left ten talents of silver in trust with Gab′ael, the brother of Gabri′as. ¹⁵ But when Shalmane′ser^[e] died, Sennach′erib his son reigned in his place; and under him the highways were unsafe, so that I could no longer go into Media.

Courage in Burying the Dead

¹⁶ In the days of Shalmane′ser^[f] I performed many acts of charity to my brethren. ¹⁷ I would give my bread to the hungry and my clothing to the naked; and if I saw any one of my people dead and thrown out behind the wall of Nin′eveh, I would bury him. ¹⁸ And if Sennach′erib the king put to death any who came fleeing from Judea, I buried them secretly. For in his anger he put many to death. When the bodies were sought by the king, they were not found. ¹⁹ Then one of the men of Nin′eveh went and informed the king about me, that I was burying them; so I hid myself. When I learned that I was being searched for, to be put to death, I left home in fear. ²⁰ Then all my property was confiscated and nothing was left to me except my wife Anna and my son Tobi′as.

²¹ But not fifty^[g] days passed before two of Sennach′erib’s^[h] sons killed him, and they fled to the mountains of Ararat. Then Esarhad′don,^[i] his son, reigned in his place; and he appointed Ahi′kar, the son of my brother An′ael, over all the accounts of his kingdom and over the entire administration. ²² Ahi′kar interceded for me, and I returned to Nin′eveh. Now Ahi′kar was cupbearer, keeper of the signet, and in charge of administration of the accounts, for Esarhad′don^[j] had appointed him second to himself.^[k] He was my nephew.

2 When I arrived home and my wife Anna and my son Tobi′as were restored to me, at the feast of Pentecost, which is the sacred festival of the seven weeks, a good dinner was prepared for me and I sat down to eat. ² Upon seeing the abundance of food I said to my son, “Go and bring whatever poor man of our brethren you may find who is mindful of the Lord, and I will wait for you.” ³ But he came back and said, “Father, one of our people has been strangled and thrown into the market place.” ⁴ So before I tasted anything I sprang up and removed the body^[l] to a place of shelter until sunset. ⁵ And when I returned I washed myself and ate my food in sorrow. ⁶ Then I remembered the prophecy of Amos, how he said,

And I wept.

Tobit Becomes Blind

⁷ When the sun had set I went and dug a grave and buried the body.^{[m] 8} And my neighbors laughed at me and said, “He is no longer afraid that he will be put to death for doing this; he once ran away, and here he is burying the dead again!” ⁹ On the same night I returned from burying him, and because I was defiled I slept by the wall of the courtyard, and my face was uncovered. ¹⁰ I did not know that there were sparrows on the wall and their fresh droppings fell into my open eyes and white films formed on my eyes. I went to physicians, but they did not help me. Ahi′kar, however, took care of me until he^[n] went to Elyma′is.

Tobit’s Wife Earns Their Livelihood

¹¹ Then my wife Anna earned money at women’s work. ¹² She used to send the product to the owners. Once when they paid her wages, they also gave her a kid; ¹³ and when she returned to me it began to bleat. So I said to her, “Where did you get the kid? It is not stolen, is it? Return it to the owners; for it is not right to eat what is stolen.” ¹⁴ And she said, “It was given to me as a gift in addition to my wages.” But I did not believe her, and told her to return it to the owners; and I blushed for her. Then she replied to me, “Where are your charities and your righteous deeds? You seem to know everything!”

Tobit’s Prayer

3 Then in my grief I wept, and I prayed in anguish, saying, ² “Righteous art thou, O Lord; all thy deeds and all thy ways are mercy and truth, and thou dost render true and righteous judgment for ever. ³ Remember me and look favorably upon me; do not punish me for my sins and for my unwitting offenses and those which my fathers committed before thee. ⁴ For they disobeyed thy commandments, and thou gavest us over to plunder, captivity, and death; thou madest us a byword of reproach in all the nations among which we have been dispersed. ⁵ And now thy many judgments are true in exacting penalty from me for my sins and those of my fathers, because we did not keep thy commandments. For we did not walk in truth before thee. ⁶ And now deal with me according to thy pleasure; command my spirit to be taken up, that I may depart and become dust. For it is better for me to die than to live, because I have heard false reproaches, and great is the sorrow within me. Command that I now be released from my distress to go to the eternal abode; do not turn thy face away from me.”

Sarah Falsely Accused

⁷ On the same day, at Ecbat′ana in Media, it also happened that Sarah, the daughter of Rag′uel, was reproached by her father’s maids, ⁸ because she had been given to seven husbands, and the evil demon Asmode′us had slain each of them before he had been with her as his wife. So the maids^[o] said to her, “Do you not know that you strangle your husbands? You already have had seven and have had no benefit from^[p] any of them. ⁹ Why do you beat us? If they are dead, go with them! May we never see a son or daughter of yours!”

Sarah’s Prayer for Death

¹⁰ When she heard these things she was deeply grieved, even to the thought of hanging herself. But she said, “I am the only child of my father; if I do this, it will be a disgrace to him, and I shall bring his old age down in sorrow to the grave.”^{[q] 11} So she prayed by her window and said, “Blessed art thou, O Lord my God, and blessed is thy holy and honored name for ever. May all thy works praise thee for ever. ¹² And now, O Lord, I have turned my eyes and my face toward thee. ¹³ Command that I be released from the earth and that I hear reproach no more. ¹⁴ Thou knowest, O Lord, that I am innocent of any sin with man, ¹⁵ and that I did not stain my name or the name of my father in the land of my captivity. I am my father’s only child, and he has no child to be his heir, no near kinsman or kinsman’s^[r] son for whom I should keep myself as wife. Already seven husbands of mine are dead. Why should I live? But if it be not pleasing to thee to take my life, command that respect be shown to me and pity be taken upon me, and that I hear reproach no more.”

An Answer to Prayer

¹⁶ The prayer of both was heard in the presence of the glory of the great God. ¹⁷ And Raphael^[s] was sent to heal the two of them: to scale away the white films from Tobit’s eyes; to give Sarah the daughter of Rag′uel in marriage to Tobi′as the son of Tobit, and to bind Asmode′us the evil demon, because Tobi′as was entitled to possess her. At that very moment Tobit returned and entered his house and Sarah the daughter of Rag′uel came down from her upper room.

Tobit Gives Instructions to His Son

4 On that day Tobit remembered the money which he had left in trust with Gab′ael at Rages in Media, and he said to himself: ² “I have asked for death. Why do I not call my son Tobi′as so that I may explain to him about the money^[t] before I die?” ³ So he called him and said, “My son, when I die, bury me, and do not neglect your mother. Honor her all the days of your life; do what is pleasing to her, and do not grieve her. ⁴ Remember, my son, that she faced many dangers for you while you were yet unborn. When she dies, bury her beside me in the same grave.

⁵ “Remember the Lord our God all your days, my son, and refuse to sin or to transgress his commandments. Live uprightly all the days of your life, and do not walk in the ways of wrongdoing. ⁶ For if you do what is true, your ways will prosper through your deeds. ⁷ Give alms from your possessions to all who live uprightly, and do not let your eye begrudge the gift when you make it. Do not turn your face away from any poor man, and the face of God will not be turned away from you. ⁸ If you have many possessions, make your gift from them in proportion; if few, do not be afraid to give according to the little you have. ⁹ So you will be laying up a good treasure for yourself against the day of necessity. ¹⁰ For charity delivers from death and keeps you from entering the darkness; ¹¹ and for all who practice it charity is an excellent offering in the presence of the Most High.

¹² “Beware, my son, of all immorality. First of all take a wife from among the descendants of your fathers and do not marry a foreign woman, who is not of your father’s tribe; for we are the sons of the prophets. Remember, my son, that Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, our fathers of old, all took wives from among their brethren. They were blessed in their children, and their posterity will inherit the land. ¹³ So now, my son, love your brethren, and in your heart do not disdain your brethren and the sons and daughters of your people by refusing to take a wife for yourself from among them. For in pride there is ruin and great confusion; and in shiftlessness there is loss and great want, because shiftlessness is the mother of famine. ¹⁴ Do not hold over till the next day the wages of any man who works for you, but pay him at once; and if you serve God you will receive payment.

“Watch yourself, my son, in everything you do, and be disciplined in all your conduct. ¹⁵ And what you hate, do not do to any one. Do not drink wine to excess or let drunkenness go with you on your way. ¹⁶ Give of your bread to the hungry, and of your clothing to the naked. Give all your surplus to charity, and do not let your eye begrudge the gift when you make it. ¹⁷ Place your bread on the grave of the righteous, but give none to sinners. ¹⁸ Seek advice from every wise man, and do not despise any useful counsel. ¹⁹ Bless the Lord God on every occasion; ask him that your ways may be made straight and that all your paths and plans may prosper. For none of the nations has understanding; but the Lord himself gives all good things, and according to his will he humbles whomever he wishes.

Money Left in Trust with Gabael

“So, my son, remember my commands, and do not let them be blotted out of your mind. ²⁰ And now let me explain to you about the ten talents of silver which I left in trust with Gab′ael the son of Gabri′as at Rages in Media. ²¹ Do not be afraid, my son, because we have become poor. You have great wealth if you fear God and refrain from every sin and do what is pleasing in his sight.”

The Angel Raphael

5 Then Tobi′as answered him, “Father, I will do everything that you have commanded me; ² but how can I obtain the money when I do not know the man?” ³ Then Tobit gave him the receipt, and said to him, “Find a man to go with you and I will pay him wages as long as I live; and go and get the money.” ⁴ So he went to look for a man; and he found Raphael, who was an angel, ⁵ but Tobi′as^[u] did not know it. Tobi′as^[v] said to him, “Can you go with me to Rages in Media? Are you acquainted with that region?” ⁶ The angel replied, “I will go with you; I am familiar with the way, and I have stayed with our brother Gab′ael.” ⁷ Then Tobi′as said to him, “Wait for me, and I shall tell my father.” ⁸ And he said to him, “Go, and do not delay.” So he went in and said to his father, “I have found some one to go with me.” He said, “Call him to me, so that I may learn to what tribe he belongs, and whether he is a reliable man to go with you.”

⁹ So Tobi′as^[w] invited him in; he entered and they greeted each other. ¹⁰ Then Tobit said to him, “My brother, to what tribe and family do you belong? Tell me.” ¹¹ But he answered, “Are you looking for a tribe and a family or for a man whom you will pay to go with your son?” And Tobit said to him, “I should like to know, my brother, your people and your name.” ¹² He replied, “I am Azari′as the son of the great Anani′as, one of your relatives.” ¹³ Then Tobit said to him, “You are welcome, my brother. Do not be angry with me because I tried to learn your tribe and family. You are a relative of mine, of a good and noble lineage. For I used to know Anani′as and Jathan, the sons of the great Shema′iah, when we went together to Jerusalem to worship and offered the first-born of our flocks and the tithes of our produce. They did not go astray in the error of our brethren. My brother, you come of good stock. ¹⁴ But tell me, what wages am I to pay you—a drachma a day, and expenses for yourself as for my son? ¹⁵ And besides, I will add to your wages if you both return safe and sound.” So they agreed to these terms.

¹⁶ Then he said to Tobi′as, “Get ready for the journey, and good success to you both.” So his son made the preparations for the journey. And his father said to him, “Go with this man; God who dwells in heaven will prosper your way, and may his angel attend you.” So they both went out and departed, and the young man’s dog was with them.

¹⁷ But Anna,^[x] his mother, began to weep, and said to Tobit, “Why have you sent our child away? Is he not the staff of our hands as he goes in and out before us? ¹⁸ Do not add money to money, but consider it rubbish as compared to our child. ¹⁹ For the life that is given to us by the Lord is enough for us.” ²⁰ And Tobit said to her, “Do not worry, my sister; he will return safe and sound, and your eyes will see him. ²¹ For a good angel will go with him; his journey will be successful, and he will come back safe and sound.” So she stopped weeping.

Journey to Rages

6 Now as they proceeded on their way they came at evening to the Tigris river and camped there. ² Then the young man went down to wash himself. A fish leaped up from the river and would have swallowed the young man; ³ and the angel said to him, “Catch the fish.” So the young man seized the fish and threw it up on the land. ⁴ Then the angel said to him, “Cut open the fish and take the heart and liver and gall and put them away safely.” ⁵ So the young man did as the angel told him; and they roasted and ate the fish.

And they both continued on their way until they came near to Ecbat′ana. ⁶ Then the young man said to the angel, “Brother Azari′as, of what use is the liver and heart and gall of the fish?” ⁷ He replied, “As for the heart and the liver, if a demon or evil spirit gives trouble to any one, you make a smoke from these before the man or woman, and that person will never be troubled again. ⁸ And as for the gall, anoint with it a man who has white films in his eyes, and he will be cured.”

Raphael’s Instructions

⁹ When they approached Ecbat′ana,^{[y] 10} the angel said to the young man, “Brother, today we shall stay with Rag′uel. He is your relative, and he has an only daughter named Sarah. I will suggest that she be given to you in marriage, ¹¹ because you are entitled to her and to her inheritance, for you are her only eligible kinsman. ¹² The girl is also beautiful and sensible. Now listen to my plan. I will speak to her father, and as soon as we return from Rages we will celebrate the marriage. For I know that Rag′uel, according to the law of Moses, cannot give her to another man without incurring the penalty of death, because you rather than any other man are entitled to the inheritance.”

¹³ Then the young man said to the angel, “Brother Azari′as, I have heard that the girl has been given to seven husbands and that each died in the bridal chamber. ¹⁴ Now I am the only son my father has, and I am afraid that if I go in I will die as those before me did, for a demon is in love with her, and he harms no one except those who approach her. So now I fear that I may die and bring the lives of my father and mother to the grave in sorrow on my account. And they have no other son to bury them.”

¹⁵ But the angel said to him, “Do you not remember the words with which your father commanded you to take a wife from among your own people? Now listen to me, brother, for she will become your wife; and do not worry about the demon, for this very night she will be given to you in marriage. ¹⁶ When you enter the bridal chamber, you shall take live ashes of incense and lay upon them some of the heart and liver of the fish so as to make a smoke. ¹⁷ Then the demon will smell it and flee away, and will never again return. And when you approach her, rise up, both of you, and cry out to the merciful God, and he will save you and have mercy on you. Do not be afraid, for she was destined for you from eternity. You will save her, and she will go with you, and I suppose that you will have children by her.” When Tobi′as heard these things, he fell in love with her and yearned deeply for her.