<p id="id00208">Tobias Chapter 8</p>
<p id="id00209">Tobias burneth part of the fish's liver, and Raphael bindeth the devil.<br/>
Tobias and Sara pray.<br/></p>
<p id="id00210">8:1. And after they had supped, they brought in the young man to her.</p>
<p id="id00211">8:2. And Tobias remembering the angel's word, took out of his bag part
of the liver, and laid it upon burning coals.</p>
<p id="id00212">8:3. Then the angel Raphael took the devil, and bound him in the desert
of upper Egypt.</p>
<p id="id00213">8:4. Then Tobias exhorted the virgin, and said to her: Sara, arise, and
let us pray to God to day, and to morrow, and the next day: because for
these three nights we are joined to God: and when the third night is
over, we will be in our own wedlock.</p>
<p id="id00214">8:5. For we are the children of saints, and we must not be joined
together like heathens that know not God.</p>
<p id="id00215">8:6. So they both arose, and prayed earnestly both together that health
might be given them,</p>
<p id="id00216">8:7. And Tobias said: Lord God of our fathers, may the heavens and the
earth, and the sea, and the fountains, and the rivers, and all thy
creatures that are in them, bless thee.</p>
<p id="id00217">8:8. Thou madest Adam of the slime of the earth, and gavest him Eve for
a helper.</p>
<p id="id00218">8:9. And now, Lord, thou knowest, that not for fleshly lust do I take my
sister to wife, but only for the love of posterity, in which thy name
may be blessed for ever and ever.</p>
<p id="id00219">8:10. Sara also said: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, and
let us grow old both together in health.</p>
<p id="id00220">8:11. And it came to pass about the cockcrowing, Raguel ordered his
servants to be called for, and they went with him together to dig a
grave.</p>
<p id="id00221">8:12. For he said: Lest perhaps it may have happened to him, in like
manner as it did to the other seven husbands, that went in unto her.</p>
<p id="id00222">8:13. And when they had prepared the pit, Raguel went back to his wife,
and said to her:</p>
<p id="id00223">8:14. Send one of thy maids, and let her see if he be dead, that I may
bury him before it be day.</p>
<p id="id00224">8:15. So she sent one of her maidservants, who went into the chamber,
and found them safe and sound, sleeping both together.</p>
<p id="id00225">8:16. And returning she brought the good news: and Raguel and Anna his
wife blessed the Lord,</p>
<p id="id00226">8:17. And said: We bless thee, O Lord God of Israel, because it hath not
happened as we suspected.</p>
<p id="id00227">8:18. For thou hast shewn thy mercy to us, and hast shut out from us the
enemy that persecuted us.</p>
<p id="id00228">8:19. And thou hast taken pity upon two only children. Make them, O
Lord, bless thee more fully: and to offer up to thee a sacrifice of thy
praise, and of their health, that all nations may know, that thou alone
art God in all the earth.</p>
<p id="id00229">8:20. And immediately Raguel commanded his servants, to fill up the pit
they had made, before it was day.</p>
<p id="id00230">8:21. And he spoke to his wife to make ready a feast, and prepare all
kind of provisions that are necessary for such as go a journey.</p>
<p id="id00231">8:22. He caused also two fat kine, and four wethers to be killed, and a
banquet to be prepared for all his neighbours, and all his friends,</p>
<p id="id00232">8:23. And Raguel adjured Tobias, to abide with him two weeks.</p>
<p id="id00233">8:24. And of all things which Raguel possessed, he gave one half to
Tobias, and made a writing, that the half that remained should after
their decease come also to Tobias.</p>
<p id="id00234">Tobias Chapter 9</p>
<p id="id00235">The angel Raphael goeth to Gabelus, receiveth the money, and bringeth
him to the marriage.</p>
<p id="id00236">9:1. Then Tobias called the angel to him, whom he took to be a man, and
said to him: Brother Azarias, I pray thee hearken to my words:</p>
<p id="id00237">9:2. If I should give myself to be thy servant I should not make a
worthy return for thy care.</p>
<p id="id00238">9:3. However, I beseech thee, to take with thee beasts and servants, and
to go to Gabelus to Rages the city of the Medes: and to restore to him
his note of hand, and receive of him the money, and desire him to come
to my wedding.</p>
<p id="id00239">9:4. For thou knowest that my father numbereth the days: and if I stay
one day more, his soul will be afflicted.</p>
<p id="id00240">9:5. And indeed thou seest how Raguel hath adjured me, whose adjuring I
cannot despise.</p>
<p id="id00241">9:6. Then Raphael took four of Raguel's servants, and two camels, and
went to Rages the city of the Medes: and finding Gabelus, gave him his
note of hand, and received of him all the money.</p>
<p id="id00242">9:7. And he told him concerning Tobias the son of Tobias, all that had
been done: and made him come with him to the wedding.</p>
<p id="id00243">9:8. And when he was come into Raguel's house he found Tobias sitting at
the table: and he leaped up, and they kissed each other: and Gabelus
wept, and blessed God,</p>
<p id="id00244">9:9. And said: The God of Israel bless thee, because thou art the son of
a very good and just man, and that feareth God, and doth almsdeeds:</p>
<p id="id00245">9:10. And may a blessing come upon thy wife and upon your parents.</p>
<p id="id00246">9:11. And may you see your children, and your children's children, unto
the third and fourth generation: and may your seed be blessed by the God
of Israel, who reigneth for ever and ever.</p>
<p id="id00247">9:12. And when all had said, Amen, they went to the feast: but the
marriage feast they celebrated also with the fear of the Lord.</p>
<p id="id00248">Tobias Chapter 10</p>
<p id="id00249">The parents lament the long absence of their son Tobias. He sets out to
return.</p>
<p id="id00250">10:1. But as Tobias made longer stay upon occasion of the marriage,
Tobias his father was solicitous, saying: Why thinkest thou doth my son
tarry, or why is he detained there?</p>
<p id="id00251">10:2. Is Gabelus dead, thinkest thou, and no man will pay him the money?</p>
<p id="id00252">10:3. And he began to be exceeding sad, both he and Anna his wife with
him: and they began both to weep together, because their son did not
return to them on the day appointed.</p>
<p id="id00253">10:4. But his mother wept and was quite disconsolate, and said: Woe, woe
is me, my son; why did we send thee to go to a strange country, the
light of our eyes, the staff of our old age, the comfort of our life,
the hope of our posterity?</p>
<p id="id00254">10:5. We having all things together in thee alone, ought not to have let
thee go from us.</p>
<p id="id00255">10:6. And Tobias said to her: Hold thy peace, and be not troubled, our
son is safe: that man with whom we sent him is very trusty.</p>
<p id="id00256">10:7. But she could by no means be comforted, but daily running out
looked round about, and went into all the ways by which there seemed any
hope he might return, that she might if possible see him coming afar
off.</p>
<p id="id00257">10:8. But Raguel said to his son in law: Stay here, and I will send a
messenger to Tobias thy father, that thou art in health.</p>
<p id="id00258">10:9. And Tobias said to him: I know that my father and mother now count
the days, and their spirit is grievously afflicted within them.</p>
<p id="id00259">10:10. And when Raguel had pressed Tobias with many words, and he by no
means would hearken to him, he delivered Sara unto him, and half of all
his substance in menservants, and womenservants, in cattle, in camels,
and in kine, and in much money, and sent him away safe and joyful from
him,</p>
<p id="id00260">10:11. Saying: The holy angel of the Lord be with you in your journey,
and bring you through safe, and that you may find all things well about
your parents, and my eyes may see your children before I die.</p>
<p id="id00261">10:12. And the parents taking their daughter kissed her, and let her go:</p>
<p id="id00262">10:13. Admonishing her to honour her father and mother in law, to love
her husband, to take care of the family, to govern the house, and to
behave herself irreprehensibly.</p>
<p id="id00263">Tobias Chapter 11</p>
<p id="id00264">Tobias anointeth his father's eyes with the fish's gall, and he
recovereth his sight.</p>
<p id="id00265">11:1. And as they were returning they came to Charan, which is in the
midway to Ninive, the eleventh day.</p>
<p id="id00266">11:2. And the angel said: Brother Tobias, thou knowest how thou didst
leave thy father.</p>
<p id="id00267">11:3. If it please thee therefore, let us go before, and let the family
follow softly after us, together with thy wife, and with the beasts.</p>
<p id="id00268">11:4. And as this their going pleased him, Raphael said to Tobias: Take
with thee of the gall of the fish, for it will be necessary. So Tobias
took some of that gall and departed.</p>
<p id="id00269">11:5. But Anna sat beside the way daily, on the top of a hill, from
whence she might see afar off.</p>
<p id="id00270">11:6. And while she watched his coming from that place, she saw him afar
off, and presently perceived it was her son coming: and returning she
told her husband, saying: Behold thy son cometh.</p>
<p id="id00271">11:7. And Raphael said to Tobias: As soon as thou shalt come into thy
house, forthwith adore the Lord thy God: and giving thanks to him, go to
thy father, and kiss him.</p>
<p id="id00272">11:8. And immediately anoint his eyes with this gall of the fish, which
thou carriest with thee. For be assured that his eyes shall be presently
opened, and thy father shall see the light of heaven, and shall rejoice
in the sight of thee.</p>
<p id="id00273">11:9. Then the dog, which had been with them in the way, ran before, and
coming as if he had brought the news, shewed his joy by his fawning and
wagging his tail.</p>
<p id="id00274">The dog, etc… This may seem a very minute circumstance to be recorded
in sacred history: but as we learn from our Saviour, St. Matt. 5.18,
there are iotas and tittles in the word of God: that is to say, things
that appear minute, but which have indeed a deep and mysterious meaning
in them.</p>
<p id="id00275">11:10. And his father that was blind, rising up, began to run stumbling
with his feet: and giving a servant his hand, went to meet his son.</p>
<p id="id00276">11:11. And receiving him kissed him, as did also his wife, and they
began to weep for joy.</p>
<p id="id00277">11:12. And when they had adored God, and given him thanks, they sat down
together.</p>
<p id="id00278">11:13. Then Tobias taking of the gall of the fish, anointed his father's
eyes.</p>
<p id="id00279">11:14. And he stayed about half an hour: and a white skin began to come
out of his eyes, like the skin of an egg.</p>
<p id="id00280">11:15. And Tobias took hold of it, and drew it from his eyes, and
recovered his sight.</p>
<p id="id00281">11:16. And they glorified God, both he and his wife and all that knew
him.</p>
<p id="id00282">11:17. And Tobias said: I bless thee, O Lord God of Israel, because thou
hast chastised me, and thou hast saved me and behold I see Tobias my
son.</p>
<p id="id00283">11:18. And after seven days Sara his son's wife and all the family
arrived safe, and the cattle, and the camels, and an abundance of money
of his wife's: and that money also which he had received of Gabelus,</p>
<p id="id00284">11:19. And he told his parents all the benefits of God, which he had
done to him by the man that conducted him.</p>
<p id="id00285">11:20. And Achior and Nabath the kinsmen of Tobias came, rejoicing for
Tobias, and congratulating with him for all the good things that God had
done for him.</p>
<p id="id00286">11:21. And for seven days they feasted and rejoiced all with great joy.</p>
<p id="id00287">Tobias Chapter 12</p>
<p id="id00288">Raphael maketh himself known.</p>
<p id="id00289">12:1. Then Tobias called to him his son and said to him: What can we
give to this holy man, that is come with thee?</p>
<p id="id00290">12:2. Tobias answering, said to his father: Father, what wages shall we
give him? or what can be worthy of his benefits?</p>
<p id="id00291">12:3. He conducted me and brought me safe again, he received the money
of Gabelus, he caused me to have my wife, and he chased from her the
evil spirit, he gave joy to her parents, myself he delivered from being
devoured by the fish, thee also he hath made to see the light of heaven,
and we are filled with all good things through him. What can we give him
sufficient for these things?</p>
<p id="id00292">12:4. But I beseech thee, my father, to desire him, that he would
vouchsafe to accept of one half of all things that have been brought.</p>
<p id="id00293">12:5. So the father and the son calling him, took him aside: and began
to desire him that he would vouchsafe to accept of half of all things
that they had brought,</p>
<p id="id00294">12:6. Then he said to them secretly, Bless ye the God of heaven, give
glory to him in the sight of all that live, because he hath shewn his
mercy to you.</p>
<p id="id00295">12:7. For it is good to hide the secret of a king: to reveal and confess
the works of God.</p>
<p id="id00296">12:8. Prayer is good with fasting and alms more than to lay up treasures
of gold.</p>
<p id="id00297">12:9. For alms delivereth from death, and the same is that which purgeth
away sins, and maketh to find mercy and life everlasting.</p>
<p id="id00298">12:10. But they that commit sin and iniquity, are enemies to their own
soul.</p>
<p id="id00299">12:11. I discover then the truth unto you, and I will not hide the
secret from you.</p>
<p id="id00300">12:12. When thou didst pray with tears, and didst bury the dead, and
didst leave thy dinner, and hide the dead by day in thy house, and bury
them by night, I offered thy prayer to the Lord.</p>
<p id="id00301">12:13. And because thou wast acceptable to God, it was necessary that
temptation should prove thee.</p>
<p id="id00302">12:14. And now the Lord hath sent me to heal thee, and to deliver Sara
thy son's wife from the devil.</p>
<p id="id00303">12:15. For I am the angel Raphael, one of the seven, who stand before
the Lord.</p>
<p id="id00304">12:16. And when they had heard these things, they were troubled, and
being seized with fear they fell upon the ground on their face.</p>
<p id="id00305">12:17. And the angel said to them: Peace be to you, fear not.</p>
<p id="id00306">12:18. For when I was with you, I was there by the will of God: bless ye
him, and sing praises to him.</p>
<p id="id00307">12:19. I seemed indeed to eat and to drink with you but I use an
invisible meat and drink, which cannot be seen by men.</p>
<p id="id00308">12:20. It is time therefore that I return to him that sent me: but bless
ye God, and publish all his wonderful works.</p>
<p id="id00309">12:21. And when he had said these things, he was taken from their sight,
and they could see him no more.</p>
<p id="id00310">12:22. Then they lying prostrate for three hours upon their face,
blessed God, and rising up, they told all his wonderful works.</p>
<p id="id00311">Tobias Chapter 13</p>
<p id="id00312">Tobias the father praiseth God, exhorting all Israel to do the same.<br/>
Prophesieth the restoration and better state of Jerusalem.<br/></p>
<p id="id00313">13:1. And Tobias the elder opening his mouth, blessed the Lord, and
said: Thou art great O Lord, for ever, and thy kingdom is unto all ages.</p>
<p id="id00314">13:2. For thou scourgest, and thou savest: thou leadest down to hell,
and bringest up again: and there is none that can escape thy hand.</p>
<p id="id00315">13:3. Give glory to the Lord, ye children of Israel, and praise him in
the sight of the Gentiles:</p>
<p id="id00316">13:4. Because he hath therefore scattered you among the Gentiles, who
know not him, that you may declare his wonderful works, and make them
know that there is no other almighty God besides him.</p>
<p id="id00317">13:5. He hath chastised us for our iniquities: and he will save us for
his own mercy.</p>
<p id="id00318">13:6. See then what he hath done with us, and with fear and trembling
give ye glory to him: and extol the eternal King of worlds in your
works.</p>
<p id="id00319">13:7. As for me, I will praise him in the land of my captivity: because
he hath shewn his majesty toward a sinful nation,</p>
<p id="id00320">13:8. Be converted therefore, ye sinners, and do justice before God,
believing that he will shew his mercy to you.</p>
<p id="id00321">13:9. And I and my soul will rejoice in him.</p>
<p id="id00322">13:10. Bless ye the Lord, all his elect, keep days of joy, and give
glory to him.</p>
<p id="id00323">13:11. Jerusalem, city of God, the Lord hath chastised thee for the
works of thy hands.</p>
<p id="id00324">Jerusalem… What is prophetically delivered here, and in the following
chapter, with relation to Jerusalem, is partly to be understood of the
rebuilding of the city after the captivity: and partly of the spiritual
Jerusalem, which is the church of Christ, and the eternal Jerusalem in
heaven.</p>
<p id="id00325">13:12. Give glory to the Lord for thy good things, and bless the God
eternal that he may rebuild his tabernacle in thee, and may call back
all the captives to thee, and thou mayst rejoice for ever and ever.</p>
<p id="id00326">13:13. Thou shalt shine with a glorious light: and all the ends of the
earth shall worship thee,</p>
<p id="id00327">13:14. Nations from afar shall come to thee: and shall bring gifts, and
shall adore the Lord in thee, and shall esteem thy land as holy.</p>
<p id="id00328">13:15. For they shall call upon the great name in thee,</p>
<p id="id00329">13:16. They shall be cursed that shall despise thee: and they shall be
condemned that shall blaspheme thee: and blessed shall they be that
shall build thee up,</p>
<p id="id00330">13:17. But thou shalt rejoice in thy children, because they shall all be
blessed, and shall be gathered together to the Lord.</p>
<p id="id00331">13:18. Blessed are all they that love thee, and that rejoice in thy
peace,</p>
<p id="id00332">13:19. My soul, bless thou the Lord, because the Lord our God hath
delivered Jerusalem his city from all her troubles.</p>
<p id="id00333">13:20. Happy shall I be if there shall remain of my seed, to see the
glory of Jerusalem.</p>
<p id="id00334">13:21. The gates of Jerusalem shall be built of sapphire, and of
emerald, and all the walls thereof round about of precious stones.</p>
<p id="id00335">13:22. All its streets shall be paved with white and clean stones: and
Alleluia shall be sung in its streets,</p>
<p id="id00336">13:23. Blessed be the Lord, who hath exalted it, and may he reign over
it for ever and ever, Amen.</p>
<p id="id00337">Tobias Chapter 14</p>
<p id="id00338">Old Tobias dieth at the age of a hundred and two years, after exhorting
his son and grandsons to piety, foreshewing that Ninive shall be
destroyed, and Jerusalem rebuilt. The younger Tobias returneth with his
family to Raguel, and dieth happily as he had lived.</p>
<p id="id00339">14:1. And the words of Tobias were ended. And after Tobias was restored
to his sight, he lived two and forty years, and saw the children of his
grandchildren.</p>
<p id="id00340">14:2. And after he had lived a hundred and two years, he was buried
honorably in Ninive.</p>
<p id="id00341">14:3. For he was six and fifty years old when he lost the sight of his
eyes, and sixty when he recovered it again.</p>
<p id="id00342">14:4. And the rest of his life was in joy, and with great increase of
the fear of God he departed in peace.</p>
<p id="id00343">14:5. And at the hour of his death he called unto him his son Tobias and
his children, seven young men, his grandsons, and said to them:</p>
<p id="id00344">14:6. The destruction of Ninive is at hand: for the word of the Lord
must be fulfilled: and our brethren, that are scattered abroad from the
land of Israel, shall return to it.</p>
<p id="id00345">14:7. And all the land thereof that is desert shall be filled with
people, and the house of God which is burnt in it, shall again be
rebuilt: and all that fear God shall return thither.</p>
<p id="id00346">14:8. And the Gentiles shall leave their idols, and shall come into
Jerusalem, and shall dwell in it.</p>
<p id="id00347">14:9. And all the kings of the earth shall rejoice in it, adoring the
King of Israel.</p>
<p id="id00348">14:10. Hearken therefore, my children, to your father: serve the Lord in
truth, and seek to do the things that please him:</p>
<p id="id00349">14:11. And command your children that they do justice and almsdeeds, and
that they be mindful of God, and bless him at all times in truth, and
with all their power.</p>
<p id="id00350">14:12. And now, children, hear me, and do not stay here: but as soon as
you shall bury your mother by me in one sepulchre, without delay direct
your steps to depart hence:</p>
<p id="id00351">14:13. For I see that its iniquity will bring it to destruction.</p>
<p id="id00352">14:14. And it came to pass that after the death of his mother, Tobias
departed out of Ninive with his wife, and children, and children's
children, and returned to his father and mother in law.</p>
<p id="id00353">14:15. And he found them in health in a good old age: and he took care
of them, and he closed their eyes: and all the inheritance of Raguel's
house came to him: and he saw his children's children to the fifth
generation.</p>
<p id="id00354">14:16. And after he had lived ninety-nine years in the fear of the Lord,
with joy they buried him.</p>
<p id="id00355">14:17. And all his kindred, and all his generation continued in good
life, and in holy conversation, so that they were acceptable both to
God, and to men, and to all that dwelt in the land.</p>
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