Tobit 12:6-17

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

Raph′ael’s Exhortation

⁶ Then the angel^[a] called the two of them privately and said to them: “Praise God and give thanks to him; exalt him and give thanks to him in the presence of all the living for what he has done for you. It is good to praise God and to exalt his name, worthily declaring the works of God. Do not be slow to give him thanks. ⁷ It is good to guard the secret of a king, but gloriously to reveal the works of God. Do good, and evil will not overtake you. ⁸ Prayer is good when accompanied by fasting, almsgiving, and righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than much with wrongdoing. It is better to give alms than to treasure up gold. ⁹ For almsgiving delivers from death, and it will purge away every sin. Those who perform deeds of charity^[b] and of righteousness will have fulness of life; ¹⁰ but those who commit sin are the enemies of their own lives.

Raph′ael Discloses His Identity

¹¹ “I will not conceal anything from you. I have said, ‘It is good to guard the secret of a king, but gloriously to reveal the works of God.’ ¹² And so, when you and your daughter-in-law Sarah prayed, I brought a reminder of your prayer before the Holy One; and when you buried the dead, I was likewise present with you. ¹³ When you did not hesitate to rise and leave your dinner in order to go and lay out the dead, your good deed was not hidden from me, but I was with you. ¹⁴ So now God sent me to heal you and your daughter-in-law Sarah. ¹⁵ I am Raph′ael, one of the seven holy angels who present the prayers of the saints and enter into the presence of the glory of the Holy One.”

¹⁶ They were both alarmed; and they fell upon their faces, for they were afraid. ¹⁷ But he said to them, “Do not be afraid; you will be safe. But praise God for ever.