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The book of the acts 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,
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Tobit’s Youth and Virtuous Life
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.
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Tobit Becomes Blind
When the sun had set I went and dug a grave and buried the body.
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Tobit’s Wife Earns Their Livelihood
Then my wife Anna earned money at women’s work.
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Tobit’s Prayer
Then in my grief I wept, and I prayed in anguish, saying,
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And Raph′ael was sent to heal the two of them: to scale away the white films of 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.
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Tobit Gives Instructions to His Son
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:
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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.”
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Then Tobit said to him, “My brother, to what tribe and family do you belong? Tell me.”
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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.”
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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.
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But Anna, 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?
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And Tobit said to her, “Do not worry, my sister; he will return safe and sound, and your eyes will see him.
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Then Rag′uel said to his wife Edna, “How much the young man resembles my cousin Tobit!”
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So he said to them, “Do you know our brother Tobit?” And they said, “Yes, we do.” And he asked them, “Is he in good health?”
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And he blessed him and exclaimed, “Son of that good and noble man!” When he heard that Tobit had lost his sight, he was stricken with grief and wept.
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Anxiety of the Parents
Now his father Tobit was counting each day, and when the days for the journey had expired and they did not arrive,
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But Tobit said to her, “Be still and stop worrying; he is well.”
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Tobit’s Sight Restored
Raph′ael said, “I know, Tobi′as, that your father will open his eyes.
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Tobit started toward the door, and stumbled. But his son ran to him
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Then Tobit went out to meet his daughter-in-law at the gate of Nin′eveh, rejoicing and praising God. Those who saw him as he went were amazed because he could see.
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And Tobit gave thanks before them that God had been merciful to him. When Tobit came near to Sarah his daughter-in-law, he blessed her, saying, “Welcome, daughter! Blessed is God who has brought you to us, and blessed are your father and your mother.” So there was rejoicing among all his brethren in Nin′eveh.
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Raph′ael’s Wages
Tobit then called his son Tobi′as and said to him, “My son, see to the wages of the man who went with you; and he must also be given more.”
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Tobit’s Thanksgiving to God
Then Tobit wrote a prayer of rejoicing, and said: “Blessed is God who lives for ever, and blessed is his kingdom.
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Tobit’s Final Counsel
Here Tobit ended his words of praise.
