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The Book of Tobit (Tobias)

Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic

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- Chapter 1 -

Tobias’s early piety: his works of mercy, particularly in burying the dead.

1
Tobias of the tribe and city of Nephtali, (which is in the upper parts of Galilee above Naasson, beyond the way that leadeth to the west, having on the right hand the city of Sephet,)
2
When he was made captive in the days of Salmanasar king of the Assyrians, even in his captivity, forsook not the way of truth,
3
But every day gave all he could get to his brethren his fellow captives, that were of his kindred.
4
And when he was younger than any of the tribe of Nephtali, yet did he no childish thing in his work.
5
Moreover when all went to the golden calves which Jeroboam king of Israel had made, he alone fled the company of all,
6
And went to Jerusalem to the temple of the Lord, and there adored the Lord God of Israel, offering faithfully all his firstfruits, and his tithes,
7
So that in the third year he gave all his tithes to the proselytes, and strangers.
8
These and such like things did he observe when but a boy according to the law of God.
9
But when he was a man, he took to wife Anna of his own tribe, and had a son by her, whom he called after his own name,
10
And from his infancy he taught him to fear God, and to abstain from all sin.
11
And when by the captivity he with his wife and his son and all his tribe was come to the city of Ninive,
12
(When all ate of the meats of the Gentiles) he kept his soul and never was defiled with their meats.
13
And because he was mindful of the Lord with all his heart, God gave him favour in the sight of Salmanasar the king.
14
And he gave him leave to go whithersoever he would, with liberty to do whatever he had a mind.
15
He therefore went to all that were in captivity, and gave them wholesome admonitions.
16
And when he was come to Rages a city of the Medes, and had ten talents of silver of that with which he had been honoured by the king:
17
And when amongst a great multitude of his kindred, he saw Gabelus in want, who was one of his tribe, taking a note of his hand he gave him the aforesaid sum of money.
18
But after a long time, Salmanasar the king being dead, when Sennacherib his son, who reigned in his place, had a hatred for the children of Israel:
19
Tobias daily went among all his kindred, and comforted them, and distributed to every one as he was able, out of his goods:
20
He fed the hungry, and gave clothes to the naked, and was careful to bury the dead, and they that were slain.
21
And when king Sennacherib was come back, fleeing from Judea by reason of the slaughter that God had made about him for his blasphemy, and being angry slew many of the children of Israel, Tobias buried their bodies.
22
But when it was told the king, he commanded him to be slain, and took away all his substance.
23
But Tobias fleeing naked away with his son and with his wife, lay concealed, for many loved him.
24
But after forty-five days, the king was killed by his own sons.
25
And Tobias returned to his house, and all his substance was restored to him.

Tobias’s early piety: his works of mercy, particularly in burying the dead.

1
The book of the words of Tobit, the son of Tobiel, the son of Ananiel, the son of Aduel, the son of Gabael, of the seed of Asiel, of the tribe of Naphtali;
2
who in the days of Enemessar(a) king of the Assyrians was carried away captive out of Thisbe, which is on the right hand of Kedesh Naphtali in Galilee above Asher.
3
I, Tobit walked in the ways of truth and righteousness all the days of my life, and I did many alms deeds to my kindred and my nation, who went with me into the land of the Assyrians, to Nineveh.
4
When I was in my own country, in the land of Israel, while I was yet young, all the tribe of Naphtali my father fell away from the house of Jerusalem, which was chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, that all the tribes should sacrifice there, and the temple of the habitation of the Most High was hallowed and built therein for all ages.
5
All the tribes which fell away together sacrificed to the heifer Baal, and so did the house of Naphtali my father.
6
I alone went often to Jerusalem at the feasts, as it has been ordained to all Israel by an everlasting decree, having the first fruits and the tenths of my increase, and that which was first shorn; and I gave them at the altar to the priests the sons of Aaron.
7
I gave a tenth part of all my increase to the sons of Levi, who ministered at Jerusalem. A second tenth part I sold away, and went, and spent it each year at Jerusalem.
8
A third tenth I gave to them to whom it was appropriate, as Deborah my father’s mother had commanded me, because I was left an orphan by my father.
9
When I became a man, I took as wife Anna of the seed of our own family. With her, I became the father of Tobias.
10
When I was carried away captive to Nineveh, all my kindred and my relatives ate of the bread of the Gentiles;
11
but I kept myself from eating,
12
because I remembered God with all my soul.
13
So the Most High gave me grace and favor(b) in the sight of Enemessar, and I was his purchasing agent.
14
And I went into Media, and left ten talents of silver in trust with Gabael, the brother of Gabrias, at Rages of Media.
15
And when Enemessar was dead, Sennacherib his son reigned in his place. In his time, the highways were troubled,(c) and I could no longer go into Media.
16
In the days of Enemessar, I did many alms deeds to my kindred: I gave my bread to the hungry,
17
and my garments to the naked. If I saw any of my race dead, and thrown out on(d) the wall of Ninevah, I buried him.
18
If Sennacherib the king killed any, when he came fleeing from Judea, I buried them privately; for in his wrath he killed many; and the bodies were sought for by the king, and were not found.
19
But one of the Ninevites went and showed to the king concerning me, how I buried them, and hid myself; and when I knew that I was sought for to be put to death, I withdrew myself for fear.
20
And all my goods were forcibly taken away, and there was nothing left to me, save my wife Anna and my son Tobias.
21
No more than fifty five days passed before two of his sons killed him, and they fled into the mountains of Ararat. And Sarchedonus(e) his son reigned in his place; and he appointed Achiacharus my brother Anael’s son over all the accounts of his kingdom, and over all his affairs.
22
Achiacharus requested me, and I came to Nineveh. Now Achiacharus was cupbearer, keeper of the signet, steward, and overseer of the accounts. Sarchedonus appointed him next to himself, but he was my brother’s son.

Footnotes

(a)1:2 That is, Shalmaneser.Compare 2 Kings 17:3 23.
(b)1:13 Gr. beauty.
(c)1:15 Gr. his highways were troubled.
(d)1:17 Some ancient authorities read behind.
(e)1:21 That is, Esar-haddon,and so in verse 22.