Tobit 7:9-18

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

⁹ So he communicated the proposal to Rag′uel. And Rag′uel said to Tobi′as, “Eat, drink, and be merry; ¹⁰ for it is your right to take my child. But let me explain the true situation to you. ¹¹ I have given my daughter to seven husbands, and when each came to her he died in the night. But for the present be merry.” And Tobi′as said, “I will eat nothing here until you make a binding agreement with me.” ¹² So Rag′uel said, “Take her right now, in accordance with the law. You are her relative, and she is yours. The merciful God will guide you both for the best.” ¹³ Then he called his daughter Sarah, and taking her by the hand he gave her to Tobi′as to be his wife, saying, “Here she is; take her according to the law of Moses, and take her with you to your father.” And he blessed them.^{[a] 14} Next he called his wife Edna, and took a scroll and wrote out the contract; and they set their seals to it. ¹⁵ Then they began to eat.

¹⁶ And Rag′uel called his wife Edna and said to her, “Sister, make up the other room, and take her into it.” ¹⁷ So she did as he said, and took her there; and the girl^[b] began to weep. But the mother^[c] comforted her daughter in her tears, and said to her, ¹⁸ “Be brave, my child; the Lord of heaven and earth grant you joy^[d] in place of this sorrow of yours. Be brave, my daughter.”