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Tobias returns to Nineveh

11 When they approached Kaserin, which is across from Nineveh, Raphael said, “You know how we left your father. Let’s run ahead of your wife and get the house ready while the rest are coming.”

So they both went on together, and Raphael said, “Get the gallbladder ready.” The dog came with them, still following behind.

Now Anna was sitting down and watching the road that her son had taken. When she saw him coming, she said to her husband,[a] “Look! Your son is coming, along with the man who went with him!”

Before Tobias reached his father, Raphael said to him, “I know that his eyes will be opened. Smear the fish’s gall on his eyes. The medicine will make the white spots shrink and peel away from his eyes. Then your father will regain his sight and see the light.”

Anna jumped up and embraced her son, saying, “I see you, my child! Now I’m ready to die.” She began to cry.

Tobit’s blindness is healed

10 Then Tobit rose and stumbled through the courtyard door. Tobias went to him 11 with the fish’s gallbladder in his hand. Tobias sprinkled[b] some of the gall into his father’s eyes, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Father!”[c] He poured out the medicine on him and applied it. 12-13 Then with both his hands, he peeled off the white spots from the corners of Tobit’s eyes.

Tobit embraced him and began to cry, saying, “I see you, my child and light of my eyes! 14 May God be praised, and may his great name be praised, and may all his holy angels be praised forever! May his great name be upon us, and may all the angels be praised for all eternity! 15 Though he has disciplined me, look now! I see my son Tobias!”

Then Tobit came in rejoicing and praising God at the top of his lungs.[d] Tobias told his father that his trip had been successful: that he had brought the money; that he had taken Sarah, Raguel’s daughter, as his wife; and that, indeed, she was arriving and was near the gate of Nineveh.

16 Then Tobit went out to meet Tobias’ bride at the gate of Nineveh, rejoicing and praising God. The people of Nineveh were amazed when they saw him walking and moving along with all his strength without anyone leading him by the hand. 17 Tobit declared to them that God had shown mercy on him and opened his eyes. Then Tobit approached Sarah, his son Tobias’ wife, and he blessed her, saying, “May you come in good health, my daughter; may your God who has brought you to us be praised. May your father be blessed, may my son Tobias be blessed, and may you be blessed, my daughter. Come into your house in good health, in blessing and joy. Come in, my daughter!”

On this day joy came to all the Jews who were in Nineveh. 18 Ahikar and Nadab, Tobit’s nephews, were also there, rejoicing with Tobit. And Tobias’ wedding feast was celebrated joyfully for seven days.[e]

Footnotes

  1. Tobit 11:6 Vulg; LXX2 his father
  2. Tobit 11:11 DSS Heb; LXX2 blew
  3. Tobit 11:11 DSS Heb; LXX2 Take courage, Father!
  4. Tobit 11:15 Gk with his whole mouth
  5. Tobit 11:18 OL, LXX1; LXX2 omits And … days. OL adds And he was given many gifts.

Chapter 11

Homeward Journey. As they drew near to Kaserin, which is opposite Nineveh, Raphael said: “You know how we left your father. Let us hurry on ahead of your wife to prepare the house while they are still on the way.” So both went on ahead together, and Raphael said to him, “Take the gall in your hand!” And the dog ran along behind them.

Meanwhile, Anna sat watching the road by which her son was to come. When she saw him coming, she called to his father, “Look, your son is coming, and the man who traveled with him!”

Raphael said to Tobiah before he came near to his father: “I know that his eyes will be opened. Apply the fish gall to his eyes, and the medicine will make the white scales shrink and peel off from his eyes; then your father will have sight again and will see the light of day.”

Sight Restored. Then Anna ran up to her son, embraced him, and said to him, “Now that I have seen you again, son, I am ready to die!” And she sobbed aloud.(A) 10 Tobit got up and stumbled out through the courtyard gate to meet his son. Tobiah went up to him 11 with the fish gall in his hand and blew into his eyes. Holding him firmly, he said, “Courage, father.” Then he applied the medicine to his eyes, and it made them sting. 12 , 13 Tobiah used both hands to peel the white scales from the corners of his eyes. Tobit saw his son and threw his arms around him. 14 Weeping, he exclaimed, “I can see you, son, the light of my eyes!” Then he prayed,

“Blessed be God,
    blessed be his great name,
    and blessed be all his holy angels.
May his great name be with us,
    and blessed be all the angels throughout all the ages.
15 God it was who afflicted me,
    and God who has had mercy on me.
    Now I see my son Tobiah!”

Then Tobit went back in, rejoicing and praising God with full voice. Tobiah related to his father how his journey had been a success; that he had brought back the money; and that he had married Raguel’s daughter Sarah, who was about to arrive, for she was near the gate of Nineveh.(B)

16 Rejoicing and blessing God, Tobit went out to the gate of Nineveh to meet his daughter-in-law. When the people of Nineveh saw him coming, walking along briskly, with no one leading him by the hand, they were amazed. 17 Before them all Tobit proclaimed how God had shown mercy to him and opened his eyes. When Tobit came up to Sarah, the wife of his son Tobiah, he blessed her and said: “Welcome, my daughter! Blessed be your God for bringing you to us, daughter! Blessed are your father and your mother. Blessed be my son Tobiah, and blessed be you, daughter! Welcome to your home with blessing and joy. Come in, daughter!” That day there was joy for all the Jews who lived in Nineveh. 18 Ahiqar and his nephew Nadin[a] were also on hand to rejoice with Tobit. Tobiah’s wedding feast was celebrated with joy for seven days, and many gifts were given to him.

Footnotes

  1. 11:18 Nadin: see note on 14:10.