The
Book of Tobit
Chapter 1
1 The book of the words of Tobit, son of Tobiel, the son of Ananiel, the son of Aduel, the
son of Gabael, of the seed of Asael,
of the tribe of Nephthali; 2 Who in the time of Enemessar king of the Assyrians was led captive out of Thisbe, which is at the right hand of that city, which is
called properly Nephthali in Galilee above Aser. 3 I Tobit have walked all
the days of my life in the ways of truth and justice, and I did many almsdeeds to my brethren, and my nation, who came with me
to Nineve, into the land of the Assyrians. 4 And when I was in mine own
country, in the land of Israel being but young, all the tribe of Nephthali my father fell from the house of Jerusalem, which
was chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, that all the tribes should
sacrifice there, where the temple of the habitation of the most High was
consecrated and built for all ages. 5 Now all the tribes which together revolted, and the
house of my father Nephthali, sacrificed unto the
heifer Baal. 6 But I alone went often to
Tobit 1:1-22 (KJVApocrypha)
Chapter 2
1 Now when I was come home
again, and my wife Anna was restored unto me, with my son Tobias, in the feast
of Pentecost, which is the holy feast of the seven weeks, there was a good
dinner prepared me, in the which I sat down to eat. 2 And when I saw abundance of
meat, I said to my son, Go and bring what poor man soever thou shalt find out of our
brethren, who is mindful of the Lord; and, lo, I tarry for thee. 3 But he came again, and said, Father, one of our nation is strangled, and is cast
out in the marketplace. 4 Then
before I had tasted of any meat, I started up, and took him up into a room
until the going down of the sun. 5 Then I returned, and washed myself, and ate my meat
in heaviness, 6 Remembering
that prophecy of Amos, as he said, Your feasts shall be turned into mourning,
and all your mirth into lamentation. 7 Therefore I wept: and after the going down of the
sun I went and made a grave, and buried him. 8 But my neighbours
mocked me, and said, This man is not yet afraid to be put to death for this
matter: who fled away; and yet, lo, he burieth the
dead again. 9 The same night also I
returned from the burial, and slept by the wall of my courtyard, being polluted
and my face was uncovered: 10 And I knew not that there were sparrows in the wall,
and mine eyes being open, the sparrows muted warm dung into mine eyes, and a
whiteness came in mine eyes: and I went to the physicians, but they helped me
not: moreover Achiacharus did nourish me, until I
went into Elymais. 11 And my wife Anna did take
women's works to do. 12 And
when she had sent them home to the owners, they paid her wages, and gave her
also besides a kid. 13 And
when it was in my house, and began to cry, I said unto her, From
whence is this kid? is it not stolen? render it to the owners; for it is not lawful to eat any
thing that is stolen. 14 But
she replied upon me, It was given for a gift more than
the wages. Howbeit I did not believe her, but bade her render it to the owners:
and I was abashed at her. But she replied upon me, Where
are thine alms and thy righteous deeds? behold, thou and all thy works are known.
Tobit 2:1-14 (KJVApocrypha)
Chapter 3
1 Then I being grieved did
weep, and in my sorrow prayed, saying, 2 O Lord, thou art just, and all thy works and all thy
ways are mercy and truth, and thou judgest truly and
justly for ever. 3 Remember me, and look on me,
punish me not for my sins and ignorances, and the
sins of my fathers, who have sinned before thee: 4 For they obeyed not thy
commandments: wherefore thou hast delivered us for a spoil, and unto captivity,
and unto death, and for a proverb of reproach to all the nations among whom we
are dispersed. 5 And now thy judgments are
many and true: deal with me according to my sins and my fathers': because we
have not kept thy commandments, neither have walked in
truth before thee. 6 Now
therefore deal with me as seemeth best unto thee, and
command my spirit to be taken from me, that I may be dissolved, and become
earth: for it is profitable for me to die rather than to live, because I have
heard false reproaches, and have much sorrow: command therefore that I may now
be delivered out of this distress, and go into the everlasting place: turn not
thy face away from me. 7 It
came to pass the same day, that in Ecbatane a city of
Media Sara the daughter of Raguel was also reproached
by her father's maids; 8 Because
that she had been married to seven husbands, whom Asmodeus
the evil spirit had killed, before they had lain with her. Dost thou not know,
said they, that thou hast strangled thine husbands? thou hast had already seven husbands, neither wast thou named after any of them. 9 Wherefore dost thou beat us
for them? if they be dead, go thy ways after them, let
us never see of thee either son or daughter. 10 Whe
she heard these things, she was very sorrowful, so that she thought to have
strangled herself; and she said, I am the only daughter of my father, and if I do
this, it shall be a reproach unto him, and I shall bring his old age with
sorrow unto the grave. 11 Then
she prayed toward the window, and said, Blessed art thou, O Lord my God, and thine holy and glorious name is blessed and honourable for ever: let all thy works praise thee for
ever. 12 And now, O Lord, I set mine
eyes and my face toward thee, 13 And say, Take me out of the
earth, that I may hear no more the reproach. 14 Thou knowest,
Lord, that I am pure from all sin with man, 15 And that I never polluted my
name, nor the name of my father, in the land of my captivity: I am the only
daughter of my father, neither hath he any child to be his heir, neither any
near kinsman, nor any son of his alive, to whom I may keep myself for a wife:
my seven husbands are already dead; and why should I live? but
if it please not thee that I should die, command some regard to be had of me,
and pity taken of me, that I hear no more reproach. 16 So the prayers of them both
were heard before the majesty of the great God. 17 And Raphael was sent to heal
them both, that is, to scale away the whiteness of Tobit's
eyes, and to give Sara the daughter of Raguel for a
wife to Tobias the son of Tobit; and to bind Asmodeus the evil spirit; because she belonged to Tobias by
right of inheritance. The selfsame time came Tobit home, and entered into his house, and Sara the
daughter of Raguel came down from her upper chamber.
Tobit 3:1-17 (KJVApocrypha)
Chapter 4
1 In that day Tobit remembered the money which he had committed to Gabael in Rages of Media, 2 And said with himself, I
have wished for death; wherefore do I not call for my son Tobias that I may
signify to him of the money before I die? 3 And when he had called him,
he said, My son, when I am dead, bury me; and despise
not thy mother, but honour her all the days of thy
life, and do that which shall please her, and grieve her not. 4 Remember, my son, that she
saw many dangers for thee, when thou wast in her
womb: and when she is dead, bury her by me in one grave. 5 My son,
be mindful of the Lord our God all thy days, and let not thy will be set to
sin, or to transgress his commandments: do uprightly all thy life long, and
follow not the ways of unrighteousness. 6 For if thou deal truly, thy doings shall
prosperously succeed to thee, and to all them that live justly. 7 Give alms of thy substance;
and when thou givest alms, let not thine eye be envious, neither turn thy face from any poor, and the face of God shall not be turned away from
thee. 8 If thou hast abundance give alms accordingly: if thou have but a little, be not
afraid to give according to that little: 9 For thou layest up a good
treasure for thyself against the day of necessity. 10 Because that alms do deliver
from death, and suffereth not to come into darkness. 11 For alms is a good gift unto
all that give it in the sight of the most High. 12 Beware of all whoredom, my
son, and chiefly take a wife of the seed of thy fathers, and take not a strange
woman to wife, which is not of thy father's tribe: for we are the children of
the prophets, Noe, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob:
remember, my son, that our fathers from the beginning, even that they all
married wives of their own kindred, and were blessed in their children, and
their seed shall inherit the land. 13 Now therefore, my son, love
thy brethren, and despise not in thy heart thy brethren, the sons and daughters
of thy people, in not taking a wife of them: for in pride is destruction and
much trouble, and in lewdness is decay and great want: for lewdness is the
mother of famine. 14 Let not the wages of any
man, which hath wrought for thee, tarry with thee, but give him it out of hand:
for if thou serve God, he will also repay thee: be circumspect my son, in all
things thou doest, and be wise in all thy conversation. 15 Do that to no man which thou
hatest: drink not wine to make thee drunken: neither
let drunkenness go with thee in thy journey. 16 Give of thy bread to the
hungry, and of thy garments to them that are naked; and according to thine abundance give alms: and let not thine
eye be envious, when thou givest
alms. 17 Pour out thy bread on the
burial of the just, but give nothing to the wicked. 18 Ask counsel of all that are
wise, and despise not any counsel that is profitable. 19 Bless the Lord thy God alway, and desire of him that thy ways may be directed, and
that all thy paths and counsels may prosper: for every nation hath not counsel;
but the Lord himself giveth all good things, and he humbleth whom he will, as he will; now therefore, my son,
remember my commandments, neither let them be put out of thy mind. 20 And now I signify this to they that I committed ten talents to Gabael
the son of Gabrias at Rages in Media. 21 And fear not, my son, that we are made poor: for thou hast much wealth, if
thou fear God, and depart from all sin, and do that which is pleasing in his
sight.
Tobit 4:1-21 (KJVApocrypha)
Chapter 5
1 Tobias then answered and
said, Father, I will do all things which thou hast commanded me: 2 But how can I receive the
money, seeing I know him not? 3 Then he gave him the handwriting, and said unto him,
Seek thee a man which may go with thee, whiles I yet live,
and I will give him wages: and go and receive the money. 4 Therefore when he went to
seek a man, he found Raphael that was an angel. 5 But he knew not; and he said
unto him, Canst thou go with me to Rages? and knowest thou those places well? 6 To whom the angel said, I
will go with thee, and I know the way well: for I have lodged with our brother Gabael. 7 Then Tobias said unto him, Tarry for me, till I tell
my father. 8 Then he said unto him, Go
and tarry not. So he went in and said to his father, Behold, I have found one
which will go with me. Then he said, Call him unto me, that
I may know of what tribe he is, and whether he be a trusty man to go with thee.
9 So he called him, and he
came in, and they saluted one another. 10 Then Tobit said unto him,
Brother, shew me of what tribe and family thou art. 11 To whom he said, Dost thou seek for a tribe or family, or an hired man to go
with thy son? Then Tobit said unto him, I would know,
brother, thy kindred and name. 12 Then he said, I am Azarias, the son of Ananias the
great, and of thy brethren. 13 Then Tobit said, Thou art
welcome, brother; be not now angry with me, because I have enquired to know thy
tribe and thy family; for thou art my brother, of an honest and good stock: for
I know Ananias and Jonathas,
sons of that great Samaias, as we went together to
Jerusalem to worship, and offered the firstborn, and the tenths of the fruits;
and they were not seduced with the error of our brethren: my brother, thou art
of a good stock. 14 But tell me, what wages
shall I give thee? wilt thou a drachm
a day, and things necessary, as to mine own son? 15 Yea, moreover, if ye return
safe, I will add something to thy wages. 16 So they were well pleased. Then said he to Tobias,
Prepare thyself for the journey, and God send you a good journey. And when his
son had prepared all things for the journey, his father said, Go thou with this
man, and God, which dwelleth in heaven, prosper your
journey, and the angel of God keep you company. So they went forth both, and
the young man's dog with them. 17 But Anna his mother wept, and said to Tobit, Why hast thou sent away our son? is
he not the staff of our hand, in going in and out before us? 18 Be not greedy to add money
to money: but let it be as refuse in respect of our child. 19 For that which the Lord hath
given us to live with doth suffice us. 20 Then said Tobit to her,
Take no care, my sister; he shall return in safety, and thine
eyes shall see him. 21 For
the good angel will keep him company, and his journey shall be prosperous, and
he shall return safe. 22 Then
she made an end of weeping.
Tobit 5:1-22 (KJVApocrypha)
Chapter 6
1 And as they went on their
journey, they came in the evening to the river
Tobit 6:1-17 (KJVApocrypha)
Chapter 7
1 And when they were come to Ecbatane, they came to the house of Raguel,
and Sara met them: and after they had saluted one another, she brought them
into the house. 2 Then said Raguel to Edna his wife, How like
is this young man to Tobit my cousin! 3 And Raguel
asked them, From whence are ye, brethren? To whom they
said, We are of the sons of Nephthalim,
which are captives in Nineve. 4 Then he said to them, Do ye know Tobit our kinsman? And
they said, We know him. Then said he, Is he in good health? 5 And they said, He is both alive, and in good health:
and Tobias said, He is my father. 6 Then Raguel leaped up, and
kissed him, and wept, 7 And blessed him, and said unto him, Thou art the son of an
honest and good man. But when he had heard that Tobit
was blind, he was sorrowful, and wept. 8 And likewise Edna his wife and Sara his daughter
wept. Moreover they entertained them cheerfully; and after that they had killed
a ram of the flock, they set store of meat on the table. Then said Tobias to
Raphael, Brother Azarias, speak of those things of
which thou didst talk in the way, and let this business be dispatched. 9 So he communicated the
matter with Raguel: and Raguel
said to Tobias, Eat and drink, and make merry: 10 For
it is meet that thou shouldest marry my daughter:
nevertheless I will declare unto thee the truth. 11 I have given my daughter in
marriage to seven men, who died that night they came in unto her: nevertheless
for the present be merry. But Tobias said, I will eat
nothing here, till we agree and swear one to another. 12 Raguel
said, Then take her from henceforth according to the
manner, for thou art her cousin, and she is thine,
and the merciful God give you good success in all things. 13 Then he called his daughter
Sara, and she came to her father, and he took her by the hand, and gave her to
be wife to Tobias, saying, Behold, take her after the law of Moses, and lead
her away to thy father. And he blessed them; 14 And
called Edna his wife, and took paper, and did write an instrument of covenants,
and sealed it. 15 Then they began to eat. 16 After Raguel
called his wife Edna, and said unto her, Sister, prepare
another chamber, and bring her in thither. 17 Which when she had done as
he had bidden her, she brought her thither: and she wept, and she received the
tears of her daughter, and said unto her, 18 Be of good comfort, my
daughter; the Lord of heaven and earth give thee joy for this thy sorrow: be of
good comfort, my daughter.
Tobit 7:1-18 (KJVApocrypha)
Chapter 8
1 And when they had supped,
they brought Tobias in unto her. 2 And as he went, he remembered the words of Raphael,
and took the ashes of the perfumes, and put the heart and the liver of the fish
thereupon, and made a smoke therewith. 3 The which smell when the evil spirit had smelled, he
fled into the utmost parts of
Tobit 8:1-21 (KJVApocrypha)
Chapter 9
1 Then Tobias called Raphael,
and said unto him, 2 Brother
Azarias, take with thee a servant, and two camels,
and go to Rages of Media to Gabael, and bring me the
money, and bring him to the wedding. 3 For Raguel hath sworn that
I shall not depart. 4 But
my father counteth the days; and if I tarry long, he
will be very sorry. 5 So
Raphael went out, and lodged with Gabael, and gave
him the handwriting: who brought forth bags which were sealed up, and gave them
to him. 6 And early in the morning
they went forth both together, and came to the wedding: and Tobias blessed his
wife.
Tobit 9:1-6 (KJVApocrypha)
Chapter 10
1 Now Tobit
his father counted every day: and when the days of the journey were expired,
and they came not, 2 Then
Tobit said, Are they detained? or
is Gabael dead, and there is no man to give him the
money? 3 Therefore he was very sorry.
4 Then his wife said unto him,
My son is dead, seeing he stayeth
long; and she began to wail him, and said, 5 Now I care for nothing, my
son, since I have let thee go, the light of mine eyes. 6 To whom Tobit
said, Hold thy peace, take no care, for he is safe. 7 But she said, Hold thy
peace, and deceive me not; my son is dead. And she went out every day into the
way which they went, and did eat no meat on the daytime,
and ceased not whole nights to bewail her son Tobias, until the fourteen days
of the wedding were expired, which Raguel had sworn
that he should spend there. Then Tobias said to Raguel,
Let me go, for my father and my mother look no more to see me. 8 But his father in law said
unto him, Tarry with me, and I will send to thy father, and they shall declare
unto him how things go with thee. 9 But Tobias said, No; but let me go to my father. 10 Then Raguel
arose, and gave him Sara his wife, and half his goods, servants, and cattle,
and money: 11 And he blessed them, and
sent them away, saying, The God of heaven give you a prosperous journey, my
children. 12 And he said to his daughter, Honour thy father and
thy mother in law, which are now thy parents, that I may hear good report of
thee. And he kissed her. Edna also said to Tobias, The Lord of heaven restore
thee, my dear brother, and grant that I may see thy children of my daughter
Sara before I die, that I may rejoice before the Lord: behold, I commit my
daughter unto thee of special trust; where are do not entreat her evil.
Tobit 10:1-12 (KJVApocrypha)
Chapter 11
1 After these things Tobias
went his way, praising God that he had given him a prosperous journey, and
blessed Raguel and Edna his wife, and went on his way
till they drew near unto Nineve. 2 Then Raphael said to Tobias,
Thou knowest, brother, how thou didst leave thy
father: 3 Let us haste before thy
wife, and prepare the house. 4 And take in thine hand the
gall of the fish. So they went their way, and the dog went after them. 5 Now Anna sat looking about
toward the way for her son. 6 And when she espied him coming, she said to his
father, Behold, thy son cometh, and the man that went with him. 7 Then said Raphael, I know,
Tobias, that thy father will open his eyes. 8 Therefore anoint thou his
eyes with the gall, and being pricked therewith, he shall rub, and the
whiteness shall fall away, and he shall see thee. 9 Then Anna ran forth, and
fell upon the neck of her son, and said unto him, Seeing I have seen thee, my
son, from henceforth I am content to die. And they wept both. 10 Tobit
also went forth toward the door, and stumbled: but his son ran unto him, 11 And
took hold of his father: and he strake of the gall on his fathers' eyes,
saying, Be of good hope, my father. 12 And when his eyes began to smart, he rubbed them; 13 And
the whiteness pilled away from the corners of his eyes: and when he saw his
son, he fell upon his neck. 14 And he wept, and said, Blessed art thou, O God, and
blessed is thy name for ever; and blessed are all thine
holy angels: 15 For thou hast scourged, and
hast taken pity on me: for, behold, I see my son Tobias. And his son went in
rejoicing, and told his father the great things that had happened to him in
Media. 16 Then Tobit
went out to meet his daughter in law at the gate of Nineve,
rejoicing and praising God: and they which saw him go marvelled,
because he had received his sight. 17 But Tobias gave thanks before them, because God had
mercy on him. And when he came near to Sara his daughter in law, he blessed
her, saying, Thou art welcome, daughter: God be blessed, which hath brought
thee unto us, and blessed be thy father and thy mother. And there was joy among
all his brethren which were at Nineve. 18 And Achiacharus,
and Nasbas his brother's son, came: 19 And Tobias' wedding was kept
seven days with great joy.
Tobit 11:1-19 (KJVApocrypha)
Chapter 12
1 Then Tobit
called his son Tobias, and said unto him, My son, see that the man have his
wages, which went with thee, and thou must give him more. 2 And Tobias said unto him, O
father, it is no harm to me to give him half of those things which I have
brought: 3 For he hath brought me again
to thee in safety, and made whole my wife, and brought me the money, and
likewise healed thee. 4 Then
the old man said, It is due unto him. 5 So he called the angel, and
he said unto him, Take half of all that ye have
brought and go away in safety. 6 Then he took them both apart, and said unto them,
Bless God, praise him, and magnify him, and praise him for the things which he
hath done unto you in the sight of all that live. It is good to praise God, and
exalt his name, and honourably to shew
forth the works of God; therefore be not slack to praise him. 7 It is good to keep close the
secret of a king, but it is honourable to reveal the
works of God. Do that which is good, and no evil shall touch you. 8 Prayer is good with fasting
and alms and righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than much
with unrighteousness. It is better to give alms than to lay up gold: 9 For
alms doth deliver from death, and shall purge away all sin. Those that exercise
alms and righteousness shall be filled with life: 10 But
they that sin are enemies to their own life. 11 Surely I will keep close
nothing from you. For I said, It was good to keep
close the secret of a king, but that it was honourable
to reveal the works of God. 12 Now therefore, when thou didst pray, and Sara thy
daughter in law, I did bring the remembrance of your prayers before the Holy
One: and when thou didst bury the dead, I was with thee likewise. 13 And when thou didst not
delay to rise up, and leave thy dinner, to go and cover the dead, thy good deed
was not hid from me: but I was with thee. 14 And now God hath sent me to
heal thee and Sara thy daughter in law. 15 I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels, which
present the prayers of the saints, and which go in and out before the glory of
the Holy One. 16 Then they were both
troubled, and fell upon their faces: for they feared. 17 But he said unto them, Fear
not, for it shall go well with you; praise God therefore. 18 For not of any favour of mine, but by the will of our God I came;
wherefore praise him for ever. 19 All these days I did appear unto you; but I did
neither eat nor drink, but ye did see a vision. 20 Now therefore give God thanks:
for I go up to him that sent me; but write all things which are done in a book.
21 And when they arose, they
saw him no more. 22 Then they confessed the
great and wonderful works of God, and how the angel of the Lord had appeared
unto them.
Tobit 12:1-22 (KJVApocrypha)
Chapter 13
1 Then Tobit
wrote a prayer of rejoicing, and said, Blessed be God that liveth
for ever, and blessed be his kingdom. 2 For he doth scourge, and hath mercy: he leadeth down to hell, and bringeth
up again: neither is there any that can avoid his hand. 3 Confess him before the
Gentiles, ye children of
Tobit 13:1-18 (KJVApocrypha)
Chapter 14
1 So Tobit
made an end of praising God. 2 And he was eight and fifty years old when he lost
his sight, which was restored to him after eight years: and he gave alms, and
he increased in the fear of the Lord God, and praised him. 3 And when he was very aged he
called his son, and the sons of his son, and said to him, My
son, take thy children; for, behold, I am aged, and am ready to depart out of
this life. 4 Go into Media my son, for I
surely believe those things which Jonas the prophet spake
of Nineve, that it shall be overthrown; and that for
a time peace shall rather be in Media; and that our brethren shall lie
scattered in the earth from that good land: and Jerusalem shall be desolate,
and the house of God in it shall be burned, and shall be desolate for a time; 5 And that again God will have
mercy on them, and bring them again into the land, where they shall build a
temple, but not like to the first, until the time of that age be fulfilled; and
afterward they shall return from all places of their captivity, and build up
Jerusalem gloriously, and the house of God shall be built in it for ever with a
glorious building, as the prophets have spoken thereof. 6 And all nations shall turn,
and fear the Lord God truly, and shall bury their idols. 7 So shall all nations praise the Lord, and his people shall confess God,
and the Lord shall exalt his people; and all those which love the Lord God in
truth and justice shall rejoice, shewing mercy to our
brethren. 8 And now, my son, depart out
of Nineve, because that those things which the
prophet Jonas spake shall surely come to pass. 9 But keep thou the law and
the commandments, and shew thyself merciful and just,
that it may go well with thee. 10 And bury me decently, and thy mother with me; but
tarry no longer at Nineve. Remember, my son, how Aman handled Achiacharus that
brought him up, how out of light he brought him into darkness, and how he
rewarded him again: yet Achiacharus was saved, but
the other had his reward: for he went down into darkness. Manasses
gave alms, and escaped the snares of death which they had set for him: but Aman fell into the snare, and perished. 11 Wherefore now, my son,
consider what alms doeth, and how righteousness doth deliver. When he had said
these things, he gave up the ghost in the bed, being an hundred and eight and
fifty years old; and he buried him honourably. 12 And when Anna his mother was
dead, he buried her with his father. But Tobias departed with his wife and
children to Ecbatane to Raguel
his father in law, 13 Where he became old with honour,
and he buried his father and mother in law honourably,
and he inherited their substance, and his father Tobit's.
14 And he died at Ecbatane in Media, being an hundred and seven and twenty
years old. 15 But before he died he heard
of the destruction of Nineve, which was taken by Nabuchodonosor and Assuerus: and
before his death he rejoiced over Nineve.
Tobit 14:1-15 (KJVApocrypha)