
THE GOOD EXAMPLE OF 
TOBIT{/}

{1}1{/}

{I}1_{/}This is the story 
of Tobit son of Tobiel, 
son of Ananiel, son of 
Adonel, son of Gabael of 
the race of Asiel, of the 
tribe of Naphtali. 
{I}2_{/}In the days of 
Shalmaneser, king of 
Assyria, Tobit was 
deported from Thisbe, 
which is to the south of 
Kedesh of Naphtali in 
Galilee, above Asher.
{I}3_{/}I, Tobit, have 
walked in the ways of 
truth and justice all the 
days of my life; I have 
given many alms to my 
brethren and to those of 
my countrymen who were 
deported with me to 
Nineveh, a city in the 
country of the Assyrians.
{I}4_{/}When I was a 
young man in my country, 
the land of Israel, all 
the tribe of my father 
Naphtali broke away from 
the family of David in 
Jerusalem. This was, 
however, the city chosen 
among all the tribes of 
Israel to be the place of 
sacrifice for all the 
tribes, and where the 
Temple, the house of God 
the Most High, had been 
built and consecrated for 
all generations forever.
{I}5_{/}All the tribes 
which had separated, 
including the tribe of 
Naphtali my father, 
sacrificed to the calf 
Baal which Jeroboam, king 
of Israel, had set up at 
Dan, in the hills of 
Galilee. {I}6_{/}I, 
alone, often went to 
Jerusalem for the feasts, 
as is ordered for all the 
people of Israel by an 
everlasting decree. I 
went with the first 
fruits and tithes of my 
crop, and with the first 
shearings of the sheep. 
{I}7_{/}I gave these for 
the altar, to the 
priests, sons of Aaron; I 
gave a tithe of the corn, 
the wine, the olives, the 
pomegranates, the figs 
and the other fruits to 
the Levites who 
officiated in Jerusalem. 
I sold the second tithe 
every six years and went 
to distribute the money 
in Jerusalem.
{I}8_{/}I gave the third 
tithe to the orphans and 
widows and to the pagan 
converts who had joined 
the Israelites. I gave 
them every three years 
and we ate according to 
the rules which had been 
laid down on this matter 
in the Law of Moses, and 
according to the 
recommendations made by 
Deborah, my father's 
mother, for my father had 
left me an orphan.
{I}9_{/}When I reached 
manhood I married Anna of 
the race of our 
forefathers and she bore 
me a son, Tobias. 
{I}10_{/}When I was taken 
to the city of Nineveh as 
a prisoner, all my 
relatives and those of 
our family ate the 
pagans' food. 
{I}11_{/}But I watched 
over myself so as not to 
eat it {I}12_{/}because I 
remembered God with all 
my heart. {I}13_{/}The 
Most High let me be 
esteemed by Shalmaneser 
and I became his 
purchaser. {I}14_{/}I 
used to go to Media to 
make purchases for him 
until he died; one day I 
left on deposit with 
Gabael, brother of 
Gabria, at Rages in 
Media, a sack containing 
ten talents of silver.
{I}15_{/}When Shalmaneser 
died, his son Sennacherib 
became king in his place. 
In his time the highways 
of Media were in a state 
of insurrection so that I 
could no longer go to 
Media. {I}16_{/}In the 
days of Shalmaneser I 
gave many alms to my 
kinsmen. {I}17_{/}I gave 
my bread to those who 
were hungry, my garments 
to those who were naked, 
and if I saw anyone of my 
tribe dead, and his body 
thrown over the ramparts 
of Nineveh I would bury 
him. {I}18_{/}I buried 
secretly those whom King 
Sennacherib killed on 
returning from Judea in 
the days when he was 
punished by the king of 
Heaven because of the 
blasphemies which he had 
uttered. In his anger he 
slew a great number of 
Jews. The king looked for 
their bodies but could 
not find them. 
{I}19_{/}One of the 
inhabitants of Nineveh 
went and told the king 
that I had buried them, 
so I went into hiding.
Then I learned that they 
were looking for me to 
put me to death. I was 
afraid and fled to a 
distance. {I}20_{/}All my 
goods were confiscated 
and nothing was left to 
me that was not taken for 
the royal treasury, 
except Anna my wife and 
Tobias my son.

{I}21_{/}But only forty 
days had passed when 
Sennacherib was killed by 
his two sons. They fled 
to Mount Ararat and his 
son Esarhaddon became 
king in Sennacherib's 
place. Esarhaddon 
appointed Ahikar, the son 
of my brother Anael, over 
all the administration. 
{I}22_{/}Ahikar 
intervened on my behalf 
and I returned to 
Nineveh. My nephew Ahikar 
was head of the cup 
bearers, keeper of the 
seals, administrator and 
accountant. Esarhaddon 
made him second only to 
himself.
{1}2{/}

{I}1_{/}When I returned 
to my house, my wife Anna 
and my son Tobias were 
given back to me. At the 
feast of Pentecost, the 
sacred feast of the Seven 
Weeks, they prepared a 
good meal for me and I 
sat down to eat. 
{I}2_{/}I saw the many 
dishes and said to my 
son: "Go and bring as 
many as you can find of 
our relatives who are in 
need and who remember the 
Lord. I will wait here 
for them." {I}3_{/}When 
Tobias returned, he said: 
"Father, one of ours has 
been strangled and thrown 
into the public square." 
{I}4_{/}Before I ate 
anything I hurried out 
and carried this man into 
the house and waited till 
sunset to bury him. 
{I}5_{/}When I returned 
home I washed myself and 
ate my food in sorrow. 
{I}6_{/}I remembered the 
prophecy which Amos 
uttered against Bethel: 
"Your feasts will be 
turned into mourning. All 
your songs will be turned 
into lamentations," 
{I}7_{/}and I wept.
After sunset I went out 
and, after I had dug a 
trench, I buried the man. 
{I}8_{/}My neighbors 
mocked me, saying: "He no 
longer fears to be put to 
death for doing that; he 
had to flee but look he 
is again burying the 
dead." {I}9_{/}That same 
night, after I had buried 
the body, I returned 
home. I washed myself and 
went out into the 
courtyard to sleep 
against the wall; my face 
was uncovered because of 
the heat. {I}10_{/}I did 
not see that there were 
sparrows on the wall of 
the courtyard and, as my 
eyes were open, the hot 
droppings from the 
sparrows fell into my 
eyes and formed a white 
film on my eyes. I went 
to find doctors to attend 
to me for medical 
treatment but the more 
ointments they smeared on 
my eyes, the more blind I 
became because of the 
film. Finally I became 
totally blind. I suffered 
from blindness for four 
years. All my brothers 
were burdened because of 
me. Ahikar kept me for 
two years before he 
departed for Elymiade.
{I}11_{/}My wife Anna 
worked hard at a woman's 
task, weaving. 
{I}12_{/}On the seventh 
day of the month of March 
she cut the cloth and 
delivered it to her 
employers. They paid her 
wages and gave her, over 
and above, a young goat 
for food. {I}13_{/}When 
she returned home the kid 
began to cry. I said to 
her, "Where does the 
little kid come from? Did 
you steal it? Return it 
to its owners for we are 
not allowed to eat 
anything that is stolen."
{I}14_{/}But she said, 
"It is a gift which has 
been given to me in 
addition to my wages." "I 
don't believe it. I tell 
you to return it to its 
owners." I was ashamed of 
her.
She replied, "What about 
your own almsgiving and 
your good deeds? I have 
to put up with all this 
from you."
PRAYER OF TOBIT{/}

{1}3{/}

{I}1_{/}Distressed, I 
wept and prayed and 
expressing my sorrow, I 
said, {I}2_{/}"You are 
just, O Lord; all your 
actions and all your ways 
are merciful and just; 
your judgments are always 
true and just. 
{I}3_{/}Remember me, 
Lord, and look on me. Do 
not punish me for my sins 
nor for the wrongs I have 
committed through 
ignorance. Pardon the 
sins which my fathers 
have committed in your 
sight, {I}4_{/}for they 
disobeyed your 
commandments. You have 
allowed us to suffer 
pillage, captivity and 
death. You have allowed 
us to be mocked by all 
the pagan nations among 
whom we have been 
dispersed. {I}5_{/}Ah 
well! All your judgments 
are just when you choose 
to punish me for my sins 
and those of my fathers, 
because we have not 
accomplished your will, 
nor have we sincerely 
obeyed your commands. We 
have not walked before 
you in truth.
{I}6_{/}Do with me as you 
will. Order my life taken 
from me, and turn me into 
dust, because I prefer 
death to life. In this 
way free me and let me 
return to dust. It is 
better for me to die than 
to live, because these 
unjust reproaches have 
caused me great distress. 
Command that I be now 
released from trials, and 
let me enter my eternal 
dwelling place. Do not 
turn your face away from 
me."
SARA'S MISFORTUNE{/}

{I}7_{/}That same day, at 
Ecbatana in Media, Sara, 
the daughter of Ragouel, 
was insulted in a similar 
way by her father's young 
maidservants. 
{I}8_{/}Sara had had 
seven husbands, but the 
demon Asmodeus had killed 
each one of them before 
the marriage had been 
consummated. The 
maidservants said, "It 
was you who killed your 
husbands. You have had 
seven husbands and you 
have not enjoyed marital 
relationship with any of 
them. {I}9_{/}Why do you 
punish us? Since they are 
dead, go and join them. 
May we never see a son or 
daughter of yours!"
{I}10_{/}That same day 
Sara was so distressed in 
mind that she went to the 
upper room in her 
father's house. She 
wished to hang herself. 
But she thought better of 
it and said: "If people 
ever reproached my father 
and said to him: 'You had 
an only daughter whom you 
cherished and she hanged 
herself because she was 
unhappy,' I would cause 
my father in his old age 
to die of grief. It is 
better for me not to hang 
myself but to ask the 
Lord that I may die and 
not live to hear any more 
insults."
{I}11_{/}At that moment 
she stretched forth her 
hands towards the window 
and prayed, saying, "You 
are blessed, O Lord my 
God, and blessed is your 
holy and glorious Name 
throughout the ages. May 
all your works praise you 
forever. {I}12_{/}Lord I 
have turned my eyes and 
my face towards you. 
{I}13_{/}Command that I 
be set free from the 
earth and that I may hear 
no more insults. 
{I}14_{/}You know, O 
Lord, that I am pure of 
all contact with man; 
{I}15_{/}that I have not 
defiled my name, nor my 
father's name in the 
country of my captivity. 
I am my father's only 
daughter. He has no other 
son or daughter who can 
inherit from him, neither 
has he a close relative 
who can be given to me as 
a husband. So, after my 
seven husbands are dead, 
I have no one to live 
for. If it does not seem 
good to you, O Lord, that 
I should die, command 
that people will respect 
me and have pity on me 
and that I may hear no 
more insults."
{I}16_{/}The Lord in his 
glory heard the prayer of 
Tobit and of Sara 
{I}17_{/}and he sent 
Raphael to heal them both 
- to give back his sight 
to Tobit and to give 
Sara, the daughter of 
Ragouel, to Tobit's son 
Tobias, as his wife. 
Also, Raphael would 
enchain the wicked demon 
Asmodeus so that Sara 
would be the wife of 
Tobias.
At the same time Tobit, 
who had gone for a short 
walk, returned to the 
house; and Sara, the 
daughter of Ragouel, came 
down from the upper room.
TOBIT, NOW OLD, SENDS 
TOBIAS TO A DISTANT 
LAND{/}

{1}4{/}

{I}1_{/}The same day 
Tobit remembered the 
money which he had 
deposited with Gabael at 
Rages in Media, and he 
said to himself: 
{I}2_{/}"I have asked for 
death, had I better not 
call Tobias and tell him 
about this money before I 
die?"
{I}3_{/}He called Tobias 
and said to him: "My son, 
when I die, see to my 
burial. Look after your 
mother. Honor her all the 
days of your life. Do 
what pleases her and do 
not cause her any pain. 
{I}4_{/}Remember, my son, 
that she suffered much 
pain on your account when 
you were in her womb. 
When she dies, bury her 
next to me, in the same 
tomb. {I}5_{/}Always 
remember the Lord our 
God. Do not consent to 
sin or go against his 
commandments. Act justly 
all the days of your 
life, and do not walk in 
the paths of wrongdoing, 
{I}6_{/}for, if you act 
uprightly, you will be 
successful in all you do.
{I}7_{/}Give alms from 
what you have to those 
who act justly and do 
good. Do not be grudging 
when you give alms. Do 
not turn away your face 
from anyone who is poor 
so that God may not turn 
away his face from you. 
{I}8_{/}Give alms in 
proportion to the amount 
you have; if you have 
little, do not be afraid 
to give alms according to 
the little you have.
{I}9_{/}In this way you 
are storing up treasure 
against the day of 
tribulation, because 
{I}10_{/}almsgiving frees 
us from death and keeps 
us from wandering in the 
darkness. {I}11_{/}For, 
in fact, almsgiving is, 
for the man who practices 
it, a precious treasure 
in the eyes of God.
{I}12_{/}Keep yourself, 
my son, from all unlawful 
sexual relations and, 
above all, take a wife 
from the tribe of your 
fathers. Do not take a 
foreign woman, one who 
does not belong to the 
tribe of our fathers, 
because we are children 
of the prophets. 
Remember, my son, that in 
former times our fathers, 
Noah, Abraham, Isaac and 
Jacob took wives from 
among their relatives so 
that they might be 
blessed in their children 
and that their race might 
possess the land. 
{I}13_{/}Love your 
relatives and do not 
despise the sons and 
daughters of your people 
to the point where you 
would take a foreign 
woman as your wife. Pride 
brings about ruin and 
your complete downfall; 
in laziness are found 
extreme humiliation and 
indigence; laziness is 
the mother of want, 
hunger, famine.
{I}14_{/}Do not keep back 
overnight the wages of 
any man who has worked 
for you but give them as 
soon as possible. If you 
serve God, you will be 
rewarded.
Take care in all your 
actions and behave 
correctly in all you do. 
{I}15_{/}Do not do to 
another what you would 
hate done to yourself. Do 
not drink wine to the 
point of drunkenness; do 
not let drunkenness be a 
life-long companion. 
{I}16_{/}Give your bread 
to those who are hungry 
and your clothes to those 
who are naked; give alms 
of everything you have 
over. {I}17_{/}Scatter 
your bread on the tombs 
of the just; do not give 
it to those who are 
sinners. {I}18_{/}Take 
counsel of those who are 
wise and do not despise 
any useful advice.
{I}19_{/}In all 
circumstances bless the 
Lord and ask him to make 
your ways upright; and to 
make your plans and 
projects succeed because 
not every nation has true 
wisdom. It is the Lord 
who gives everything and 
he humbles those whom he 
wishes. My son, remember 
my advice and do not let 
it be erased from your 
heart.
{I}20_{/}I also wish to 
mention the ten talents 
of silver which I placed 
on deposit with Gabael, 
son of Gabria, at Rages 
in Media. {I}21_{/}Do not 
fear, my son, because we 
have become poor. If you 
fear God, if you abstain 
from all sin and if you 
do what is pleasing in 
God's sight - in this way 
you will have great 
wealth."
{1}5{/}

{I}1_{/}Tobias spoke to 
Tobit, "Father, I shall 
do everything you have 
asked. {I}2_{/}But how 
can I get the money from 
this man. He does not 
know me and I do not know 
him. What proof of 
identity shall I give him 
to make him trust me and 
give me the money? Also, 
I do not know the way to 
Media."
{I}3_{/}Tobit gave Tobias 
a receipt and said to 
him, "My son, find a 
trustworthy man to go 
with you, and on your 
return I shall give him a 
salary until he dies. 
When you reach Rages, 
collect the money from 
the man Gabael."
HE NEEDS A COMPANION AND 
IS GIVEN AN ANGEL{/}

{I}4_{/}Tobias went to 
look for a man and he 
found Raphael. Raphael 
was an angel but Tobias 
did not know it. 
{I}5_{/}Tobias said to 
Raphael, "Can you go with 
me to Rages in Media? Do 
you know the place?" 
{I}6_{/}The angel said to 
Tobias, "I will go with 
you. I know the way and I 
have even spent a night 
with your kinsman, 
Gabael." 
{I}7_{/}Tobias said to 
Raphael, "Wait for me. I 
am going to speak to my 
father. I want you to 
come with me to Media and 
I will pay you." 
{I}8_{/}Raphael said to 
Tobias, "Go, but do not 
delay." {I}9_{/}Tobias 
went in and said to his 
father, "I have found the 
man who will go with me." 
His father said, "Bring 
this man to me. I want to 
know the name of his 
tribe. I want to know if 
I can trust him to go 
with you." Tobias went 
out and called Raphael. 
Tobias said to Raphael, 
"Young man, my father 
wants to see you." 
{I}10_{/}Raphael entered 
the house and approached 
Tobit. {I}11_{/}Tobit 
said to him, "Friend, 
what is the name of your 
tribe and of your family? 
Tell me." 
{I}12_{/}Raphael said to 
him, "Are you looking for 
a tribe and a family or 
for a hired man to go 
with your son?" Tobit 
said to him, "Friend, I 
want to know your tribe 
and your name." 
{I}13_{/}Raphael said, "I 
am Azarias, the son of 
Ananias the Great, one of 
your kinsmen." 
{I}14_{/}Tobit said to 
him, "Welcome, my 
brother! Do not be angry 
with me because I have 
tried to find out the 
name of your tribe and 
your family, for now I 
find that you are my 
kinsman, that you come 
from a noble and good 
family. Indeed, I knew 
Ananias and Nathan, sons 
of Semaiah the Great. We 
used to travel together 
to worship in the city of 
Jerusalem and bring the 
firstborn of our sheep, 
and a tithe of our 
produce. They did not 
adopt pagan practices 
when other countrymen 
went astray. My friend, 
you come of good stock. 
{I}15_{/}But tell me what 
salary should I give you, 
a drachma a day, and 
whatever is necessary for 
you as well as for my 
son? {I}16_{/}I shall 
give you something over 
and above if you return 
in safety." They settled 
on that.
Raphael said to Tobit, "I 
will go with him. Do not 
be afraid. We shall set 
out in safety and return 
to you in safety, because 
I am sure of the way." 
{I}17_{/}Then Tobit 
called his son Tobias and 
said to him, "My child, 
prepare what is necessary 
for the journey and set 
out with your friend. May 
the God of Heaven protect 
you on your way and may 
he bring you back to me 
in safety. May his angel 
go with you on the way." 
Then Tobias prepared to 
leave. He kissed his 
father and mother and 
Tobit said to Tobias, 
"Safe journey!"
{I}18_{/}The two 
companions were setting 
off and Tobias' dog 
followed him when Anna, 
the mother of Tobias, 
burst into tears and said 
to Tobit, "Why have you 
sent away our child? Is 
he not our support as he 
comes and goes?"
{I}19_{/}Anna said, "What 
use is it to add money to 
money? Better we save our 
son's life. {I}20_{/}Is 
not what God has provided 
for us enough to live 
on?"
{I}21_{/}Tobit said to 
her, "Don't get upset, my 
sister. He will return in 
safety. You will see him 
again. {I}22_{/}Indeed a 
good angel will go with 
him; he will have a 
successful journey and he 
will return in safety."
THE FISH IN THE TIGRIS{/}

{1}6{/}

{I}1_{/}Anna then stopped 
crying. {I}2_{/}Raphael 
and Tobias continued 
their journey and that 
evening they reached the 
River Tigris. They spent 
the night there.
{I}3_{/}As Tobias went to 
wash his feet, a big fish 
rose out of the river and 
tried to swallow Tobias' 
foot. {I}4_{/}Raphael 
said to Tobias, "Catch 
that fish!" Tobias seized 
the fish and drew it to 
land. {I}5_{/}Raphael 
then said to Tobias, 
"Open the fish. Take out 
its heart, liver and gall 
and put them away 
carefully. Throw away the 
intestines. The gall, the 
heart and the liver of 
this fish are useful 
remedies." {I}6_{/}Tobias 
did as the angel told 
him. He opened up the 
fish, kept the gall, the 
heart and the liver; then 
they cooked the fish and 
ate it.
{I}7_{/}Then the two of 
them continued their 
journey until they 
reached Media. Tobias 
said to Raphael, "Friend 
Azarias, what remedy is 
there in the heart, the 
liver and the gall of the 
fish?" {I}8_{/}Raphael 
said to him, "If you burn 
the heart and the liver 
in the presence of a man 
or a woman who is 
tormented by a devil or 
an evil spirit, their 
torments will cease. 
{I}9_{/}As for the gall, 
if you smear it on a man 
whose eyes are covered 
with a white film, his 
eyes will be cured."
{I}10_{/}When they had 
entered Media and were 
already approaching 
Ecbatana, 
{I}11_{/}Raphael said to 
Tobias, "Friend, we shall 
spend the night at the 
house of Ragouel. He is a 
relative of yours. He has 
no son, just an only 
daughter called Sara. 
{I}12_{/}I will speak to 
him and ask that he give 
her to you as your wife. 
{I}13_{/}You are the one 
who is nearest of kin and 
free to marry her. You 
alone are of her tribe 
and you should inherit 
her father's goods. The 
girl is wise, good, 
courageous and very 
beautiful and her father 
is a good man. So listen, 
friend, tonight we will 
marry you to her. When we 
return from Rages, we 
shall take her with us 
and introduce her into 
your home. She belongs to 
you rather than to any 
other man according to 
the Law of Moses, and any 
trespasser would die. So 
I know that Ragouel will 
not give her to any other 
man.
AN OBEDIENT SON{/}

{I}14_{/}Then Tobias said 
to Raphael, "Friend 
Azarias, I have heard 
that this girl has been 
given in marriage to 
seven husbands and they 
all died in the bridal 
chamber. I am my father's 
only son and I fear that 
once I have entered the 
room I shall die, like 
all those before me, 
because a demon loves 
her, and he harms those 
who approach her. 
{I}15_{/}Well, I fear 
death. I also fear 
causing my father and 
mother to die of grief on 
my account, for they have 
no other son to bury 
them." {I}16_{/}The angel 
said to Tobias, "Do you 
not remember your 
father's advice to marry 
a woman of your own 
tribe? Well, listen to 
me, my friend. She will 
be your wife. Do not 
worry about the demon as 
this very night she will 
become your wife.
{I}17_{/}"When you enter 
the wedding chamber you 
will take some glowing 
embers of incense, and 
you will put on top of 
them part of the heart 
and liver of the fish. 
{I}18_{/}As soon as the 
fire begins to smoke, the 
demon will smell it and 
flee never to return. And 
when you go to Sara, 
stand up together and 
call on the all-merciful 
God. He will keep you 
safe because he has 
compassion. Do not be 
afraid, because from all 
eternity Sara has been 
destined to be your wife. 
You will save her, and 
she will go with us. And 
I am sure that she will 
bear you children."
{I}19_{/}When Tobias 
heard Raphael's words, he 
loved Sara and his heart 
became strongly attached 
to her. 
{1}7{/}

{I}1_{/}When they arrived 
in Ecbatana Tobias said 
to Raphael, "Friend 
Azarias, take me 
straightaway to our 
friend Ragouel." So 
Raphael led Tobias to 
Ragouel's house and they 
found Ragouel sitting by 
the door of the 
courtyard.
{I}2_{/}Ragouel said to 
his wife, Edna, "This 
young man is very like my 
cousin Tobit!" 
{I}3_{/}Edna questioned 
them, "Where have you 
come from, my friends?" 
They replied, "We are of 
the sons of Naphtali who 
live as exiles in 
Nineveh." {I}4_{/}She 
asked them, "Do you know 
my kinsman, Tobit?" 
{I}5_{/}They said, "Yes, 
we know him." She 
continued, "Is he in good 
health?" Then Tobias 
said, "Tobit is my 
father."
{I}6_{/}Ragouel ran 
towards him and covered 
him with kisses, then in 
tears he blessed Tobias 
and said to him, 
"Blessings on you, you 
are the son of a good and 
worthy man!" {I}7_{/}When 
he learned that Tobit had 
lost his sight he grieved 
and wept. "What a 
misfortune that a man who 
is so just and generous 
should become blind!" 
{I}8_{/}His wife Edna and 
his daughter Sara wept 
also and they received 
Tobias and Raphael with 
great kindness. 
{I}9_{/}They killed a 
sheep and served them 
numerous dishes.
HOW GOD'S CHILDREN 
MARRY{/}

After they had bathed and 
washed, as they were 
relaxing before the meal, 
Tobias said to Raphael, 
"Friend Azarias, tell 
Ragouel to give me Sara 
my kinswoman. Talk about 
what you were saying 
during our journey, that 
the matter may come about 
and be accomplished." 
{I}10_{/}Ragouel 
overheard the 
conversation and he said 
to Tobias, "Eat, drink 
and be merry tonight. You 
are the man who has most 
right to take Sara my 
daughter because you are 
my kinsman. Indeed it is 
impossible for me to give 
her to any other man but 
you, because you are my 
closest relative. But, my 
son, I must tell you the 
whole story. {I}11_{/}I 
gave her to seven 
husbands from among our 
kinsmen. They each died 
on the wedding night. 
But, for the moment, my 
son, eat and drink and 
the Lord will arrange 
things for you."
Tobias said, "I shall eat 
nothing if you do not 
stop now and bring this 
matter to a conclusion." 
Ragouel said to Tobias, 
"Take her from now on; I 
give her to you according 
to the Law of Moses and 
you have to understand 
that God himself gives 
her to you. Receive your 
kinswoman, from now on 
you are her brother and 
she is your sister. She 
is yours from today and 
forever. Now God will 
bless you this night and 
may he give you both his 
mercy and peace."
{I}12_{/}He called his 
daughter Sara and taking 
her by the hand, he gave 
her to Tobias as his 
wife. He said, "According 
to Moses' Law, take her 
now and bring her to your 
father's house." And he 
blessed them. 
{I}13_{/}Ragouel then 
called Edna his wife; 
taking a sheet of 
parchment, he wrote down 
a matrimonial contract 
and they both affixed 
their seals. 
{I}14_{/}Then they all 
began to eat. 
{I}15_{/}Ragouel called 
his wife and said to her 
"My sister, prepare the 
other room and take Sara 
there." {I}16_{/}Edna did 
as Ragouel told her and 
she took Sara to this 
room and Sara began to 
cry. Edna dried her 
daughter's tears and 
said, {I}17_{/}"Have 
courage, my child, the 
God of heaven and earth 
will change your sorrow 
into joy. Have 
confidence, my daughter!"
{1}8{/}

{I}1_{/}When they had 
finished eating and 
drinking they wished to 
go to bed, so they 
escorted Tobias to the 
bedroom where Sara was. 
{I}2_{/}Tobias remembered 
Raphael's words. He took 
the liver and the heart 
of the fish which he had 
in a basket and put them 
on the hot coals of 
incense. {I}3_{/}The 
smell of the fish made 
the devil flee to the 
upper regions of Egypt 
where Raphael chained him 
up.
{I}4_{/}When Sara's 
parents had left the room 
and closed the door, 
Tobias got up from the 
bed and said to Sara, 
"Get up, my sister, and 
let us ask the Lord to 
have mercy on us and save 
us." {I}5_{/}She got up 
and they began to pray, 
asking that they be given 
life. Tobias began like 
this,
"May you be blessed, O 
Lord God of our fathers, 
and may your holy and 
glorious Name be blessed 
forever. May the heavens 
and all creatures bless 
you. {I}6_{/}You created 
Adam and you gave him 
Eve, his wife, as a 
helper and companion, so 
that from these two the 
human race might be born.
You said: 'It is not good 
that man should be alone, 
let us give him a 
companion who is like 
himself.' {I}7_{/}Now, 
Lord, I take my sister to 
myself in sincerity and 
love, not merely seeking 
pleasure. Have mercy on 
us and grant us a long 
life together." 
{I}8_{/}Together they 
said, "Amen," {I}9_{/}and 
returned to bed for the 
night.
Ragouel got up early and 
called his servants and 
told them to dig a grave. 
{I}10_{/}For he said to 
himself, "What if this 
man should also die and 
we become an object of 
scorn and reproach." 
{I}11_{/}Then Ragouel 
entered the house and 
said to his wife, 
{I}12_{/}Edna, "Send one 
of the maidservants to 
see if Tobias is alive. 
If he has died, we will 
bury him without anyone 
knowing."
{I}13_{/}The maidservant 
opened the door and saw 
them asleep. {I}14_{/}She 
then went to tell them 
that Tobias was alive. 
{I}15_{/}Ragouel blessed 
the Lord saying, "May you 
be blessed, O Lord, with 
all pure and holy 
blessings. May the saints 
and all your creatures 
bless you. May all the 
angels and the elect 
bless you forever. 
{I}16_{/}May you be 
blessed for having filled 
me with joy. What I 
feared has not happened, 
but you have treated us 
with great kindness 
{I}17_{/}and have had 
mercy on these two who 
are only children. Have 
mercy on them, Lord, and 
give them your grace and 
protection so that they 
may be blessed with good 
health and great joy all 
their lives. May they 
always live in your 
grace."
{I}18_{/}Then he sent his 
servants to fill in the 
grave before daybreak.
Ragouel organized for 
Tobias and Sara a wedding 
feast which was to last 
fourteen days. 
{I}19_{/}He told his wife 
to bake a batch of bread. 
He went to the stable, 
brought out two oxen and 
four sheep and ordered 
that they be killed and 
prepared. {I}20_{/}He 
then called Tobias and 
said to him, "You will 
stay here for fourteen 
days, eating and drinking 
in my house, and you will 
bring joy to my daughter, 
who has suffered so 
much." Ragouel swore an 
oath and told Tobias that 
he should not set out 
before the fourteen days 
of the wedding 
festivities were over. 
And he said, "You will go 
home to your father in 
safety. {I}21_{/}You will 
take with you half of my 
possessions; the other 
half will be yours when I 
and Edna die. Have 
confidence, my son, I am 
now your father and Edna 
is your mother. From now 
on we shall be close to 
you and your wife. Have 
confidence!"
{1}9{/}

{I}1_{/}Tobias called 
Raphael and said to him, 
{I}2_{/}"Brother Azarias, 
please take with you a 
manservant  and  two  
camels  and  go  to Rages 
in Media. {I}3_{/}Call on 
Gabael, give him the 
receipt and recover the 
money. Then invite Gabael 
to the wedding feast. You 
saw that Ragouel made me 
swear an oath, so I may 
not depart from this 
house without breaking 
the oath. {I}4_{/}Yet you 
know that my father is 
counting the days and if 
I delay longer than 
necessary he will be 
worried.
{I}5_{/}Raphael set out 
for Rages in Media and 
stayed the night in 
Gabael's house. Raphael 
presented him with the 
receipt, and Gabael 
brought out the sealed 
bags of money and gave 
them to him. {I}6_{/}The 
next morning they arose 
early and set off to the 
wedding. When they 
entered Ragouel's house, 
they found Tobias at the 
table. Gabael went to him 
and embraced him. He wept 
and blessed Tobias 
saying, "Good and worthy 
man, son of a good and 
honest father, a man who 
is just and 
compassionate, may the 
Lord of Heaven bless you 
and your wife. May he 
also bless the father and 
mother of your wife. 
Blessed be God because I 
have seen Tobias, my 
cousin, who is so like 
his father."
{1}10{/}

{I}1_{/}Each morning 
Tobit counted how many 
days it would be before 
Tobias would return from 
his journey. When the 
time was up and his son, 
Tobias, and his 
companion, Raphael, had 
not yet returned, 
{I}2_{/}he thought, 
"Maybe he has received a 
refusal, or perhaps 
Gabael is dead and there 
is no one to hand over 
the money." {I}3_{/}He 
became very sad. 
{I}4_{/}Anna his wife 
said, "My son is dead or 
he would not delay so 
long." She began to 
lament over him saying, 
{I}5{/}"why did I let you 
go, light of my eyes!" 
{I}6_{/}Tobit said to 
her, "Calm yourself, my 
sister. Do not worry. He 
is well." {I}7_{/}She 
replied, "Keep quiet, do 
not try to deceive me, my 
child is dead." Every day 
she went out along the 
road which her son had 
taken. By day, she took 
no food; by night, she 
never ceased crying, 
unable to sleep.
When the fourteen days of 
festivities were over 
during which Ragouel had 
sworn that Tobias should 
stay with him, Tobias 
went to Ragouel and said, 
"Let me return home 
because my parents will 
certainly be despairing 
that they will never see 
me again." 
{I}8_{/}Ragouel replied, 
"Stay with me and I will 
send messengers to your 
father to give him news 
of you." {I}9_{/}Tobias 
said, "No, let me go to 
them." {I}10_{/}Then 
Ragouel handed over to 
him his wife Sara and 
half of all his goods: 
servants, oxen, sheep, 
donkeys, camels, clothes, 
silver and various other 
things. Ragouel blessed 
them and allowed them to 
set out. {I}11_{/}Bidding 
farewell to Tobias he 
said to him, "Goodbye, my 
son, safe journey! May 
the Lord of Heaven bless 
you and make you fruitful 
and may I see your 
children before I die."
{I}12_{/}To his daughter, 
Sara, he said, "Honor 
your parents-in-law, 
since from now on they 
are your parents just as 
we are who gave you life. 
Go in peace, my daughter, 
and may we always hear 
good things of you." He 
embraced her and let them 
depart. {I}13_{/}Edna, in 
her turn, said to Tobias, 
"My dear son, may the 
Lord bring you back one 
day so that I may see 
your children and be 
happy before the Lord. I 
entrust my daughter to 
your care. Do not cause 
her any sadness."
{I}14_{/}After that 
Tobias left Ragouel's 
house. He praised God who 
had brought his journey 
to such a happy 
conclusion, and he 
blessed Ragouel and his 
wife, Edna.
TOBIAS RETURNS TO HIS 
FATHER'S HOUSE{/}

{1}11{/}

{I}1_{/}When they arrived 
near Kaserin which faces 
the city of Nineveh, 
{I}2_{/}Raphael said to 
Tobias, "You know in what 
state your father Tobit 
was when we left him; 
{I}3_{/}let us go ahead 
to prepare the house 
before your wife Sara 
arrives. {I}4_{/}Bring 
with you the gall of the 
fish." The dog also went 
with them, walking behind 
them.
{I}5_{/}Now Anna was 
sitting there, scanning 
the road along which her 
son should return. 
{I}6_{/}She saw Tobias 
and Raphael coming in the 
distance and said to the 
father of Tobias, "Your 
son is coming with the 
man who accompanied him."
{I}7_{/}While Tobias and 
Raphael were still going 
along the road, Raphael 
said to Tobias, "I am 
sure that your father 
will regain his sight. 
{I}8_{/}Rub his eyes with 
the fish gall and when he 
feels his eyes itching, 
he will rub them and the 
film will come away like 
scales from his eyes. He 
will regain his sight and 
see the light."
{I}9_{/}Anna ran to meet 
Tobias and threw her arms 
around his neck saying, 
"At last I have seen you 
again, my child. Now I 
can die!" And both of 
them began to cry. 
{I}10_{/}Tobit also got 
up and, stumbling, 
arrived at the door of 
the courtyard. Tobias ran 
to him {I}11_{/}with the 
fish gall in his hand. He 
breathed on his father's 
eyes, embraced him and 
said, "Father, have 
confidence!" 
{I}12_{/}Then he spread 
the fish gall on Tobit's 
eyes. Tobias waited. 
{I}13_{/}When his eyes 
began to itch, Tobit 
rubbed them and with both 
hands scaled off the film 
from the corners of his 
eyes. When Tobit saw his 
son he threw his arms 
around Tobias' neck 
{I}14_{/}and began to 
weep. He said, "Blessed 
be you, O God. Blessed be 
your Name forever. 
Blessed be your holy 
angels. {I}15_{/}You have 
punished me, but you have 
taken pity on me, and now 
I can see my son, 
Tobias."
Tobias was very happy. 
After entering the house 
he told his father about 
the important things that 
had happened in Media. He 
told his father about the 
successful outcome of his 
journey, how he got the 
money, and how he married 
Sara, daughter of 
Ragouel, who just then 
was approaching the gates 
of Nineveh.
{I}16_{/}Tobit, happy and 
praising God, went out to 
meet his daughter-in-law 
at the gates of Nineveh. 
All those who saw him, 
walking alone and 
unaided, were amazed that 
he could see. 
{I}17_{/}Tobit proclaimed 
to them that God had 
taken pity on him and 
cured him. Then he went 
to Sara and blessed her 
saying, "Welcome, 
daughter! May God be 
blessed for having 
brought you to us and may 
your father and mother 
also be blessed."
It was a day of great 
rejoicing for all Tobit's 
relatives who lived in 
Nineveh. {I}18_{/}Ahikar, 
Tobit's nephew and Nabad 
arrived (from Elymiade) 
and the wedding 
celebrations lasted for a 
week.
IT IS FITTING TO DISCOVER 
AND PRAISE THE WORKS OF 
GOD{/}

{1}12{/}

{I}1_{/}When the wedding 
feast was over, Tobit 
called Tobias, his son, 
and said to him, "Be sure 
you give the wages to the 
man who accompanied you, 
and we should add 
something extra." 
{I}2_{/}Tobias said, 
"What shall I give him? 
It would not be too much 
if I were to give him 
half of what I have 
brought back since 
{I}3_{/}he has brought me 
home again safe and 
sound. He has taken care 
of my wife and he helped 
me to get back the money. 
He has also cured your 
blindness." {I}4_{/}The 
old man said, "That 
amount would be well 
justified in his case."
{I}5_{/}Then Tobias 
called the angel and said 
to him, "Please take half 
of all that you have 
brought." {I}6_{/}The 
angel took Tobit and 
Tobias to one side and 
said to them,
"Bless God, return thanks 
to him, proclaim his 
glory and render him 
thanks before all the 
living for all he has 
done for you. It is good 
to praise God and to 
exalt his Name, by making 
known in a worthy manner 
the story of God's deeds. 
Do not be slow in giving 
him thanks. {I}7_{/}It is 
good to hide the secrets 
of kings but to make 
known publicly the works 
of God. Do the works of 
God. Do good, and evil 
will not harm you. 
{I}8_{/}It is a good 
thing to accompany prayer 
with fasting, almsgiving 
and justice. It is better 
to do a little with honor 
than much with injustice. 
It is better to give alms 
than to treasure up gold. 
{I}9_{/}Almsgiving 
preserves from death; it 
purifies from all sin. 
Those people who give 
alms and act justly will 
have a long life, 
{I}10_{/}but sinners only 
harm themselves. 
{I}11_{/}I will hide 
nothing from you. Yes, I 
have said that it is good 
to keep the secrets of 
kings but to make known 
publicly the glorious 
works of God. 
{I}12_{/}Tobit, when you 
and your daughter-in-law 
Sara prayed, I kept the 
remembrance of your 
prayer before the Holy 
One; when you, Tobit, 
buried the dead, 
{I}13_{/}I was with you 
in the same way; and when 
you did not hesitate to 
rise up and leave your 
meal in order to hide the 
dead man, your good deed 
did not go unnoticed 
because I was with you.
{I}14_{/}Well, God sent 
me to cure you and also 
to cure Sara, your 
daughter-in-law. 
{I}15_{/}I am Raphael, 
one of the seven holy 
angels who present the 
prayers of holy people 
and who stand before the 
glory of God."
{I}16_{/}They both 
trembled with fear. They 
threw themselves face 
downwards on the ground 
because they were seized 
with terror. {I}17_{/}But 
Raphael said to them, "Do 
not be afraid; be at 
peace! Bless God always, 
{I}18_{/}for I did not 
come on my own account 
but because God willed 
it. Bless him forever. 
{I}19_{/}All the time 
that I was visible to you 
I neither ate nor drank 
anything. I only appeared 
to do so. {I}20_{/}Now 
bless and give thanks to 
God, because I am 
returning to the One who 
sent me. Write down in a 
book all that has 
happened."
{I}21_{/}Then he rose up 
and disappeared. Tobit 
and Tobias got up, but 
Raphael was no longer 
visible. {I}22_{/}They 
made known the great and 
wonderful works of God 
and how an angel of the 
Lord had appeared to 
them.
THE SONG OF TOBIT{/}

{1}13{/}

{I}1_{/}Tobit, in an 
ecstasy of joy, composed 
a prayer: "Blessed be 
God, living and reigning 
for all ages.
{I}2_{/}It is he who 
punishes and he who has 
mercy;
who makes people go down 
to hell and rise up 
again.
No one can escape his 
hand.
{I}3_{/}Give him thanks, 
sons of Israel, before 
all the nations.
Though he has dispersed 
you among them {I}4_{/}he 
now shows you his 
greatness.
Exalt him before all the 
living,
because he is our God and 
Lord,
our Father forever.
{I}5_{/}He punishes us 
for our wrongdoing
but again he will forgive 
us.
He will bring us together 
again
from amongst all the 
nations among whom we 
have been dispersed.
{I}6_{/}If you turn back 
to him with all your 
heart and soul,
and live justly before 
him,
then he will turn back to 
you
and will no longer hide 
his face from you.
{I}7_{/}See what he has 
done for you
and return him thanks 
aloud.
Bless the Lord who alone 
is just
and praise the King of 
ages.
{I}8_{/}I, in the land of 
my captivity,
will return him thanks
and show his strength and 
greatness to my sinful 
people.
Be converted, you 
sinners, and live justly 
before him,
certain that he will be 
pleased with you and show 
you mercy.
{I}9_{/}I will praise my 
God the King of heaven;
my soul, radiant with 
happiness, will proclaim 
his greatness.
{I}10_{/}May all in 
Jerusalem give thanks to 
him.
{I}11_{/}Jerusalem, holy 
city, God will punish you 
because of the sins of 
your children,
but he will have pity 
once more on the children 
of the just.
Jerusalem, return thanks 
to the Lord in a worthy 
manner
and bless the King of the 
ages,
in order that his Temple 
may be rebuilt in your 
midst with joy;
{I}12_{/}that, there, God 
will gladden your exiles 
and show love to the 
unfortunate.
{I}13_{/}Many nations 
will come from afar to 
celebrate the Name of the 
Lord God.
They will carry gifts in 
their hands, gifts for 
the King of heaven.
Generation after 
generation will manifest 
their joy,
and your name will be 
glorified forever.
{I}14_{/}Jerusalem, 
cursed be all who hate 
you.
Blessed forever be those 
who love you.
{I}15_{/}You will rejoice 
and be glad
because the children of 
the just will be gathered 
again to praise the Lord 
of all ages.
{I}16_{/}Blessed those 
who love you, Jerusalem, 
and rejoice in your 
peace.
Blessed also those who 
have sorrowed because of 
your calamities;
they will rejoice again 
on seeing your glory and 
they will share your 
happiness forever.
May my soul bless God, 
the great King, 
{I}17_{/}because 
Jerusalem will be 
rebuilt.
Her gates will be built 
of sapphires and 
emeralds,
her walls of precious 
stones, her towers and 
ramparts of pure gold,
her squares will be paved 
with mosaics of beryl, 
ruby, and stone of Ophir.
{I}18_{/}All her streets 
will cry out with joy and 
her inhabitants will 
shout, "Alleluia."
They will praise God 
saying, "Blessed be God 
who has glorified you 
forever."
LAST WORDS OF TOBIT{/}

{1}14{/}

{I}1_{/}In this way Tobit 
ended his song of 
thanksgiving. Tobit died 
peacefully at the age of 
one hundred and twelve 
years, and was buried 
with honor in Nineveh. 
{I}2_{/}He was sixty-two 
years old when he became 
blind. Eight years later 
he regained his sight. He 
lived happily, practiced 
almsgiving, and continued 
to praise God and to 
proclaim his great works. 
{I}3_{/}When he was very 
old he called Tobias and 
said to him, "My son, you 
see that I have become 
old and that I am near 
death. Take your children 
{I}4_{/}and go to Media 
because I believe in the 
word of God which Nahum 
prophesied about Nineveh. 
Everything that the 
prophets sent by God 
pronounced about Assyria 
and Nineveh will happen. 
No word will be forgotten 
but it will all come to 
pass in due time. Nineveh 
will be destroyed. You 
will be safer in Media, 
where there will be peace 
for some time, because I 
am certain and I believe 
that all that God has 
said will be fulfilled.
Our brothers and sisters 
who live in the land of 
Israel will be dispersed 
and led away into 
captivity. As a result 
the whole of the land of 
Israel will be deserted. 
Jerusalem and Samaria 
will be desolate. The 
House of God will be 
burned down and left in 
ruins for some time. 
{I}5_{/}But God will 
again take pity on his 
people and they will 
return to their land. 
They will rebuild the 
Temple, though it will 
not be like the first one 
until better times come. 
When that time comes they 
will all return from 
captivity. They will 
rebuild Jerusalem in all 
its magnificence. In it 
they will rebuild the 
House of God in all its 
glory for all generations 
to come, just as the 
prophets have foretold.
{I}6_{/}People of all 
nations will be converted 
and know the true God. 
They will bury their 
idols which led them into 
error {I}7_{/}and they 
will praise the God of 
Justice. All the 
Israelites saved at that 
time will remember the 
Lord in all truth. They 
will come together and go 
to Jerusalem. They will 
live securely forever in 
the land of Abraham which 
will be given back to 
them. Those who sincerely 
love God will rejoice. 
But sinners and the 
unjust will disappear 
from the earth.
{I}8_{/}My son, leave 
Nineveh. Do not remain 
here.
{I}9_{/}Now, my children, 
I give you this advice: 
serve God and do what is 
pleasing in his sight. 
Teach your children how 
to exercise justice and 
how to give alms. Teach 
them also to remember God 
and to bless his name 
sincerely at all times, 
with all their strength.
{I}10_{/}The very day 
that you bury your mother 
here beside me, do not 
stay overnight in this 
place. I know that the 
people here commit many 
injustices and practice 
great treachery and no 
one is ashamed of doing 
so. You see what Nadab 
did to Ahikar my nephew 
who had brought him up. 
He buried him alive. But 
God punished Nadab by 
exposing his injustice. 
He brought Ahikar into 
the light and sent Nadab 
down into eternal 
darkness, because he had 
tried to kill him. 
Because he gave alms, 
Ahikar was delivered from 
the death planned for him 
by Nadab. Instead, Nadab 
fell into the trap and 
perished. {I}11_{/}See 
how almsgiving and 
uprightness can save you 
and how wrongdoing leads 
to death. But I feel I am 
breathing my last." They 
laid him on his bed and 
he died. He was given an 
honorable burial.
{I}12_{/}When Anna his 
mother died, Tobias 
buried her next to his 
father. Then Tobias with 
his wife and family made 
their way to Media and 
settled in Ecbatana near 
Ragouel, his father-in-
law. {I}13_{/}He took 
great care of his 
parents-in-law in their 
old age and he buried 
them with honor in 
Ecbatana in Media. Tobias 
inherited Ragouel's 
fortune as well as that 
of his father Tobit. 
{I}14_{/}Tobias died at 
the age of one hundred 
and twenty-seven years at 
Echbatana in Media. 
{I}15_{/}But before he 
died he saw the downfall 
of Nineveh which 
Nebuchadnezzar destroyed. 
He saw the Ninevites and 
the Assyrians reduced to 
slavery and taken to 
Media. Thus, before he 
died, he was able to 
rejoice over the fate of 
Nineveh. He blessed the 
Lord God forever.

