Tobit 5
Good News Translation
Travel Preparations
5 Then Tobias answered his father,
I'll do everything you told me. 2 But how can I get the money back from Gabael? We have never even met each other. How can I prove to him who I am, so that he will trust me and give me the money? Besides that, I don't know how to get to Media.
3 Tobit replied,
Gabael and I both signed a document. I then tore it in two, and we each took a half. I put his half with the money. That was twenty years ago! Now, go and find a reliable person to travel with you to Media and back, and we will pay him when you return. But you must get the money that I left with Gabael.
Tobias Meets Raphael
4 (A)Tobias then went out to look for someone who knew the way to Media and would travel with him. Almost as soon as he left the house, he found himself face-to-face with Raphael. Tobias did not know that Raphael was an angel of God, 5 so he asked him where he was from.
I am an Israelite, Raphael answered,
one of your distant relatives, and I have come here to Nineveh to find work.
Do you know the way to Media? Tobias asked.
6 Yes, I do, Raphael replied.
I have been there many times, and I know all the roads well. I used to stay with our relative Gabael, who lives there in the town of Rages.[a] It takes at least two days to travel there from Ecbatana, the capital city, because Rages is up in the mountains.
7 Then Tobias said to Raphael,
Wait here for me, my friend, while I go in and tell my father. I would like for you to travel with me, and I will pay you for the journey.
8 All right, Raphael said,
I'll wait, but don't take too long.
9 Tobias went in and told his father,
I have found an Israelite to travel with me.
Call the man in, Tobit replied.
I would like to know what family and tribe he belongs to, and whether he is a reliable traveling companion for you.
Tobit Meets Raphael
So Tobias went out and called to Raphael,
My father would like to meet you. When Raphael came in, Tobit greeted him first.
Then Raphael returned the greeting,
I hope all is well with you.
But Tobit replied,
How can all be well with me? I'm blind and can't see a thing. It's like being dead and no longer able to see the light. I might as well be dead! I can hear people talking, but I can't see them.
Cheer up! Raphael said to him.
God is going to cure you soon, so don't worry!
Tobit then said,
My son Tobias wants to go to Media. Can you go with him and show him the way? I will pay you, of course.
Raphael replied,
Certainly I can go with him. I have traveled there many times and I know all the roads in the mountains and on the plains.
10 Tobit questioned him further,
Tell me, my friend, what family and tribe do you belong to?
11 But Raphael asked,
Why do you need to know that?
Tell me the truth, said Tobit.
What is your name, and who are you?
12 Raphael replied,
My name is Azarias, and I am the son of the older Ananias, one of your relatives.
13 Then Tobit said to him,
Welcome to our home! God bless you, my son. Please don't be offended because I wanted to know the truth about you and your family. As it turns out, you are from a good family and a relative at that! I knew Ananias and Nathan, the two sons of the older Shemaiah. They were always loyal to their religion. We used to travel together to Jerusalem and worship there. Your relatives are fine people, and you come from good stock. Have a safe journey.
14 Tobit continued,
I will pay the normal daily wage plus expenses for both of you. 15 Be a good companion to Tobias, and I will add a bonus to your wages.
16 (B)
I will go with him, Raphael said.
And don't worry; we will get there and back safely. The roads are not dangerous.
God be with you! Tobit replied. Then he called Tobias and said to him,
Son, get everything ready that you need for the journey, so that the two of you can be on your way. May God and his angel watch over you both and bring you back to me safe and sound.
Before leaving for Media, Tobias kissed his father and mother good-bye. Tobit said again,
Have a safe journey!
17 Then his mother began to cry.
How could you send my son away like this? she complained.
He's our only means of support. Who will take care of us now? 18 Is that money so important to you that you are willing to risk your own son's life to get it back? 19 Why can't we be content to live on what the Lord has given us?
20 Calm down, Tobit said to her.
He will get there and back safely, and with your own eyes you will see him return home safe and sound. 21 Now stop worrying about them, dear. A good angel will go with Tobias. He will have a successful journey and will come back in good health.
At that, Anna calmed down and stopped crying.
Notas al pie
- Tobit 5:6 Rages; Greek Ecbatana.
Tobit 5
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
5 Then Tobias answered his father, and said: I will do all things, father, which thou hast commanded me.
2 But how I shall get this money, I cannot tell; he knoweth me not, and I know not him: what token shall I give him? nor did I ever know the way which leadeth thither.
3 Then his father answered him, and said: I have a note of his hand with me, which when thou shalt shew him, he will presently pay it.
4 But go now, and seek thee out some faithful man, to go with thee for his hire: that thou mayst receive it, while I yet live.
5 Then Tobias going forth, found a beautiful young man, standing girded, and as it were ready to walk.
6 And not knowing that he was an angel of God, he saluted him, and said: From whence art thou, good young man?
7 But he answered: Of the children of Israel. And Tobias said to him: Knowest thou the way that leadeth to the country of the Medes?
8 And he answered: I know it: and I have often walked through all the ways thereof, and I have abode with Gabelus our brother, who dwelleth at Rages a city of the Medes, which is situate in the mount of Ecbatana.
9 And Tobias said to him: Stay for me, I beseech thee, till I tell these same things to my father.
10 Then Tobias going in told all these things to his father. Upon which his father being in admiration, desired that he would come in unto him.
11 So going in he saluted him, and said: Joy be to thee always.
12 And Tobias said: What manner of joy shall be to me, who sit in darkness, and see not the light of heaven?
13 And the young man said to him: Be of good courage, thy cure from God is at hand.
14 And Tobias said to him: Canst thou conduct my son to Gabelus at Rages, a city of the Medes? and when thou shalt return, I will pay thee thy hire.
15 And the angel said to him: I will conduct him thither, and bring him back to thee.
16 And Tobias said to him: I pray thee, tell me, of what family, or what tribe art thou?
17 And Raphael the angel answered: Dost thou seek the family of him thou hirest, or the hired servant himself to go with thy son?
18 But lest I should make thee uneasy, I am Azarias the son of the great Ananias.
19 And Tobias answered: Thou art of a great family. But I pray thee be not angry that I desired to know thy family.
20 And the angel said to him: I will lead thy son safe, and bring him to thee again safe.
21 And Tobias answering, said: May you have a good journey, and God be with you in your way, and his angel accompany you.
22 Then all things being ready, that were to be carried in their journey, Tobias bade his father and his mother farewell, and they set out both together.
23 And when they were departed, his mother began to weep, and to say: Thou hast taken the staff of our old age, and sent him away from us.
24 I wish the money for which thou hast sent him, had never been.
25 For poverty was sufficient for us, that we might account it as riches, that we saw our son.
26 And Tobias said to her: Weep not, our son will arrive thither safe, and will return safe to us, and thy eyes shall see him.
27 For I believe that the good angel of God doth accompany him, and doth order all things well that are done about him, so that he shall return to us with joy.
28 At these words his mother ceased weeping, and held her peace.
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