Tobias thinking he shall die, giveth his son G.o.dly admonitions: and telleth him of money he had lent to a friend.
4:1. Therefore when Tobias thought that his prayer was heard that he might die, he called to him Tobias his son,
4:2. And said to him: Hear, my son, the words of my mouth, and lay them as a foundation in thy heart.
4:3. When G.o.d shall take my soul, thou shalt bury my body: and thou shalt honour thy mother all the days of her life:
4:4. For thou must be mindful what and how great perils she suffered for thee in her womb.
4:5. And when she also shall have ended the time of her life, bury her by me.
4:6. And all the days of thy life have G.o.d in thy mind: and take heed thou never consent to sin, nor transgress the commandments of the Lord our G.o.d.
4:7. Give alms out of thy substance, and turn not away thy face from any poor person: for so it shall come to pa.s.s that the face of the Lord shall not be turned from thee.
4:8. According to thy ability be merciful.
4:9. If thou have much give abundantly: if thou have little, take care even so to bestow willingly a little.
4:10. For thus thou storest up to thyself a good reward for the day of necessity.
4:11. For alms deliver from all sin, and from death, and will not suffer the soul to go into darkness.
4:12. Alms shall be a great confidence before the most high G.o.d, to all them that give it.
4:13. Take heed to keep thyself, my son, from all fornication, and beside thy wife never endure to know a crime.
4:14. Never suffer pride to reign in thy mind, or in thy words: for from it all perdition took its beginning.
4:15. If any man hath done any work for thee, immediately pay him his hire, and let not the wages of thy hired servant stay with thee at all.
4:16. See thou never do to another what thou wouldst hate to have done to thee by another.
4:17. Eat thy bread with the hungry and the needy, and with thy garments cover the naked,
4:18. Lay out thy bread, and thy wine upon the burial of a just man, and do not eat and drink thereof with the wicked.
4:19. Seek counsel always of a wise man.
4:20. Bless G.o.d at all times: and desire of him to direct thy ways, and that all thy counsels may abide in him.
4:21. I tell thee also, my son, that I lent ten talents of silver, while thou wast yet a child, to Gabelus, in Rages a city of the Medes, and I have a note of his hand with me:
4:22. Now therefore inquire how thou mayst go to him, and receive of him the foresaid sum of money, and restore to him the note of his hand.
4:23. Fear not, my son: we lead indeed a poor life, but we shall have many good things if we fear G.o.d, and depart from all sin, and do that which is good.
Tobias Chapter 5
Young Tobias seeking a guide for his journey, the angel Raphael, in shape of a man, undertaketh this office.
5:1. Then Tobias answered his father, and said: I will do all things, father, which thou hast commanded me.
5:2. But how I shall get this money, I cannot tell; he knoweth not me, and I know not him: what token shall I give him? nor did I ever know the way which leadeth thither.
5:3. 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.
5:4. 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.
5:5. Then Tobias going forth, found a beautiful young man, standing girded, and as it were ready to walk.
5:6. And not knowing that he was an angel of G.o.d, he saluted him, and said: From whence art thou, good young man?
5:7. 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?
5:8. 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.
5:9. And Tobias said to him: Stay for me, I beseech thee, till I tell these same things to my father.
5:10. 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.
5:11. So going in he saluted him, and said: Joy be to thee always.
5:12. And Tobias said: What manner of joy shall be to me, who sit in darkness and see not the light of heaven?
5:13. And the young man said to him: Be of good courage, thy cure from G.o.d is at hand.
5:14. 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.
5:15. And the angel said to him: I will conduct him thither, and bring him back to thee.
5:16. And Tobias said to him: I pray thee, tell me, of what family, or what tribe art thou?
5:17. And Raphael the angel answered: Dost thou seek the family of him thou hirest, or the hired servant himself to go with thy son?
5:18. But lest I should make thee uneasy, I am Azarias the son of the great Ananias.
Azarias... The angel took the form of Azarias: and therefore might call himself by the name of the man whom he personated. Azarias, in Hebrew, signifies the help of G.o.d, and Ananias the grace of G.o.d.
5:19. And Tobias answered: Thou art of a great family. But I pray thee be not angry that I desired to know thy family.
5:20. And the angel said to him: I will lead thy son safe, and bring him to thee again safe.
5:21. And Tobias answering, said: May you have a good journey, and G.o.d be with you in your way, and his angel accompany you.
5:22. 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.
5:23. 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.