The. holie. Bible. conteynyng the olde Testament and the newe.

The booke of Tobias.

The firste Chapter.

1 Tobias parentage. 3 His golines. 6 His equitie. 8 His charitie and prosperitie. 23 He fleeth and his goodes are confiscate, 25 and after restored.

[unspec A] 1 TObias was of the tribe & citie of Nepthali, which lyeth in the hye countreys of Ga∣lilee aboue Naas∣son, beside y^e way that leadeth to the west, hauyng the citie of Sephet vpon the left side.

2 Though he was taken prisoner in the dayes of Salmanasar king of the Assy∣rians, neuerthelesse beyng in captiuitie, he forsoke not the way of trueth:

3 In so much that whatsoeuer he might get, he parted it dayly with his felowe prisoners and brethren that were of his kinred.

4 And though he were younger then al in the tribe of Nephthali, yet did not he be∣haue him selfe childyshly in his workes.

5 And when all the other went to the gol∣den calues whiche Ieroboam the king of Israel had made, he alone fled al their companies,

6 And gat him to Hierusalem vnto the temple of the Lorde, and there worship∣ped the Lord God of Israel, faythfully offering of al his first fruites and tithes:

[unspec B] 7 So that in the thirde yere, he ministred all the tithes vnto the straungers and conuertes.

8 These and such like thinges dyd he ob∣serue according to the law of God when he was yet but young.

9 But when he was a man, he toke out of his owne tribe a wyfe called Anna: and of her he begat a sonne, whom he called after his owne name,

10 And taught him from his youth vp to feare God, and to refrayne from al sinne,

11 Now when he with his wife, his sonne, and with all his * 1.1 kinred, was come in captiuitie vnto the citie of Niniue,

12 What time as they all dyd eate of the meates of the heathen: he kept his soule, and was neuer defiled in their meates.

13 And for so much as he was mindeful of [unspec C] the Lorde in all his heart, God gaue him fauour in the sight of Salmanasar the king,

14 Which gaue him power to go where he woulde, and so had he libertie to do whatsoeuer he woulde.

15 So went Tobias vnto all them that were in captiuitie [and comforted them] and gaue them wholsome exhortations.

16 And when he came to Rages a citie of the Medes, hauing ten talentes of sil∣uer (of the thinges wherewith the king had honoured him)

17 And sawe among a great companie of people of his kinred, one Gabelus which was of his owne tribe, beyng in ne∣cessite, he gaue him the sayde wayght of siluer vnder an hande writyng.

18 After a long season, when Salmanasar the kyng was dead, and Sennacherib his sonne raigned in his steade, which hated the children of Israel:

19 Tobias went dayly throughout all his kinrede, and comforted them, and gaue of his goods to euery one of them as much as he might.

20 He fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and buried the dead and slayne, and that [unspec D] diligently.

21 And when Sennacherib the king came agayne and fled out of Iurie (what time as god punished him for his blasphemie) & in his wrath slue many of the children of Israel: Tobias buried their bodies.

22 But when it was told the king, he com∣maunded to slay him, and toke away all his goodes.

23 Neuerthelesse, Tobias with his sonne and with his wyfe, fled his way naked, and was hyd: for there were many that loued hym.

24 But after fourtie and fiue dayes the king was slayne of his owne sonnes:

25 Then came Tobias againe to his house, and all his goodes were restored vnto him.

The .ii. Chapter.

1 Tobias calleth the faythfull to his table. 3 He leaueth the feast to burie the dead. 10 Howe he became blind. 13 His wife laboureth for his liuing. 16 She reprocheth hym bitterly.

[illustration]

[unspec A] 1 AFter those thinges, vp∣pon a solempne day of the Lorde, Tobias made a good feast in his house,

2 And sayde vnto his sonne: Go thy way, & bring hyther some of our tribe, suche as feare God, that they may make mery with vs.

3 And when he was gone, he came a∣gaine, and told his father that one of the children of Israel lay slayne vpon the streete.

4 And immediatly he leapt from his ta∣ble, left the feast, came fasting to the dead coarse, toke him and bare him priuyly into his house, that when the sunne was downe he might safely burie him.

5 And when he had hyd the coarse, he did eate his meate with mourning and feare,

6 Remembring the wordes that the Lord sayde by the * 1.2 prophete Amos: Your hye feastes shalbe turned to sorowe and hea∣uinesse.

[unspec B] 7 But when the sunne was downe, he went his way and buried him.

8 Then al his “ 1.3 neyghbours reproued him, saying: It is not long sence it was com∣maunded to slay thee because of this matter, and hast scarce escaped the daun∣ger of death: and buriest thou the dead againe?

9 Neuerthelesse, Tobias fearing God more then the king, toke the bodies of the slayne, and hyd them in his house, and buried them at midnights.

10 It happened vpon a day that he had buried the dead and was weery, came home and layed him downe by the wal, and slept.

11 And whyle he was asleepe, there fell downe vpon his eyes warme doung out of the swalloes nest, so that he was blinde.

12 This temptation dyd God suffer to happen vnto him, that they which came after, might haue an example of his pa∣cience, like as of holy Iob.

13 For in so much as he euer feared God from his youth vp, and kept his com∣maundementes, he grudged not against God that the plague of blindnesse chaunced vnto hym:

14 But remayned stedfast in the feare [unspec C] of God, and thanked God all the dayes of his lyfe.

15 For like as blessed Iob was had in de∣••sion of kinges: euen so was he laughed to scorne of his elders and kinsfolkes, which sayde vnto him:

16 Where is thy hope, for the whiche thou hast done almes and buried the dead?

17 But Tobias rebuked them, and spake: Say not so,

19 For we are the children of holy men, and loke for the lyfe whiche God shall geue vnto them that neuer turne their beliefe from him.

19 And Anna his wyfe went dayly to the weauing worke:

20 And loke what liuing she coulde get with the labour of her handes, she brought it. And it happened that she toke a byd, and brought it home:

21 And when her husband hearde it crye, [unspec D] he sayde, Loke that it be not stollen: re∣store it againe to the owners, for it is not lawfull for vs to eate or to touch any thing of theft.

22 Then was his wyfe angry, and sayde: Nowe is thy hope become vayne open∣ly, and thy almes deedes are manifest.

23 With these and such like wordes did she cast him in the teeth.

The .iii. Chapter.

3 The prayer of Tobias. 7 Sara Raguels daughter, and the thinges that came vnto her. 12 Her prayer hearde. 19 The angell Raphael sent.

[unspec A] 1 THen Tobias toke “ 1.4 it heauyly, & with teares began to make his prayer,

2 Saying: O Lord thou art righteous, and all thy iudgementes are true: yea al thy wayes are mercie, fayth∣fulnesse, and iudgement.

3 And now O Lorde be myndefull of me, and take no vengeaunce of my sinnes, neither remember my misdeedes, nei∣ther the misdeedes of my forefathers.

4 For we haue not ben obedient vnto thy commaundementes: therefore are we spoyled, brought into captiuite, into death, into derision and shame vnto all nations, among whom thou hast scatte∣red vs.

5 And nowe O Lorde, thy iudgementes are great: for we haue not done accor∣ding to thy commaundementes, neither haue we walked innocently before thee.

6 And nowe O Lord, deale with me ac∣cording to thy will, and commaunde my spirite to be receaued in peace: for more expedient were it for me to die, then to [unspec B] liue.

7 At the same time it happened that Sa∣ra the daughter of Raguel at Rages a citie of the Medes, was also reproched by one of her fathers handmaydes,

8 That she had had seuen husbandes, which assoone as they were gone in vn∣to her, were slayne of the deuyll, called Asmodeus.

9 Therfore when she reproued the may∣den for her ••aut, she aunswered her, say∣ing: God let vs neuer see sonne nor daughter of thee more vpon earth, thou killer of thy husbandes.

10 Wilt thou slay me also, as thou hast slayne seuen men? At this voyce went Sara into an hye chamber of her house, and three dayes and three nightes she neither eate nor dranke.

11 But continued in prayer, and besought God with teares, that he would deliuer her from this rebuke.

12 Vpon the thirde day it came to passe, that when she had made an end of pray∣er, she praysed the Lorde,

13 Saying: Blessed be thy name O God of our fathers, whiche when thou art wroth shewest mercie, and in time of trouble thou forgeuest the sinnes of them that call vpon thee.

14 Vnto thee O Lorde turne I my face, [unspec C] vnto thee lift I vp myne eyes.

15 I beseche thee O Lord, loose me out of the bondes of this rebuke, or els take me vtterly away from of the earth.

16 Thou knowest Lorde that I neuer had desire vnto man, and that I haue kept my soule cleane from all vncleanly lust:

17 I haue not kept companie with those that passe their time in sport, neither haue I made my selfe partaker with them that walke in light behauour.

18 An husband haue I consented to take, not for my pleasure, but in thy feare.

19 Nowe peraduenture eyther I haue ben vnworthy of them, or els were they vnmeete for me: for thou happyly hast kept me to another hushande.

20 For why? thy counsell is not in the power of man.

[unspec D] 21 But euery one that serueth thee is sure of this, that if his life be in triyng, it shal∣be crowned: and if he be in trouble, that God [no doubt] shal deliuer him: and if his life be in chastening, that he shall haue leaue to come vnto thy mercie.

22 For thou hast no pleasure in our * 1.5 damp∣nation: And why? after a storme thou makest the wether faire and still, after weeping & heauinesse thou geuest great ioy.

23 Thy name O God of Israel, be pray∣sed for euer.

24 At the same time were both their pray∣ers hearde in the sight of the maiestie of the hiest God.

25 And Raphael the holy angell of the Lorde, was sent to helpe them both, whose prayers “ 1.6 came at one time toge∣ther before God.

The .iiii. Chapter.

1 Preceptes and exhortations of Tobias to his sonne.

[unspec A] 1 SO when Tobias thought his prayer to be heard, that he might dye, he called vnto him his sonne Tobias,

2 And sayde vnto him: My sonne heare the wordes of my mouth, and lay them in thyne heart as a foundation.

3 When God taketh away my soule, bu∣rie thou my body: and holde thy mother in honour all the dayes of her life.

4 For thou oughtest to remember what and howe great peryls she suffred for thee in her wombe.

5 And when she also hath fulfilled the time of her life, burie her “ 1.7 beside me.

6 Haue God in thy thought all the dayes of thy life, and beware lest at any time thou consent vnto sinne, and lest thou let slippe the commaundementes of the Lorde our God.

[unspec B] 7 Geue almes of thy goods, and turne ne∣uer thy face from the poore: and so shall it come to passe, that the face of the Lord shall not be turned away from thee.

8 Be mercifull after thy power.

9 If thou haue much, geue plenteously: if thou hast litle, do thy diligence gladly to geue of that litle:

10 For so gatherest thou thy selfe a good rewarde in the day of necessitie.

11 For mercie deliuereth from al sinne and from death, and suffreth not the soule to come into darkenesse.

12 A great comfort is mercie before the hie God, vnto all them that shewe it.

13 My sonne, kepe thee wel from al whor∣dome: and beside thy wife, suffer not thy selfe to knowe of sinne.

14 Let neuer pride haue rule in thy minde [unspec C] nor in thy worde: for in pryde began all destruction.

15 Whosoeuer worketh any thing for thee, immediatly geue him his hire, and loke that thy hired seruauntes wages re∣mayne not at all with thee.

16 Loke that thou neuer do vnto a∣nother man, the thing that thou woul∣dest not another man shoulde do vnto thee.

17 Eate thy bread with the hungry and poore, and couer the naked with thy clothes.

18 Set thy bread and wine vpon the buriall of the righteous, and do not thou eate and drinke therof with the sinners.

19 Aske euer counsell at the wyse.

20 Be alway praysing of God, & beseche him that he will “ 1.8 order thy wayes, and that whatsoeuer thou deuisest or takest in hand, it may remayne in him.

21 I certifie thee also my sonne, that when [unspec D] thou wast yet but a babe, I deliuered ten talentes of siluer vnto Gabelus at Rages a citie of the Medes, and his hande wryting haue I by me.

22 And therfore seke some meanes howe thou mayest come by him, and receaue of him the sayd wayght of siluer, & geue him his hande wryting againe.

23 My sonne, be not afrayde: trueth it is we leade here a poore life, but great good shall we haue if we feare God, and de∣part from all sinne, and do well.

¶The .v. Chapter.

2 Tobias is sent to Rages. 5 He meeteth with the angell Raphael which did con∣duct him.

[unspec A] 1 THen aunswered Tobi∣as his father, and said: Father, all that thou hast commaunded me wyl I doe, and that di∣ligently.

2 But how I shall re∣quire this money I can not tell, nei∣ther doth he knowe me, nor I him: What token shall I geue him? And as for the way thyther, I neuer knew it.

3 Then his father aunswered him, and saide, I haue his hand writing by me: which when thou shewest him, imme∣diatly he shall pay thee.

4 But go thy way nowe and get thee some faithful man to go with thee for an hyre, that thou mayst receaue the mo∣ney while I am yet liuing.

5 Then went Tobias out, and vpon the streate he founde a fayre young man standing, girded vp, and as it were one redie to take his iourney.

6 And he knewe not that it was an an∣gell of God, but saluted him, and sayde: From whence art thou, thou good young man?

[unspec B] 7 He aunswered: Of the children of Isra∣el. And Tobias said vnto him: Know∣est thou the way that leadeth vnto the countrey of the Medes?

8 He aunswered: I knowe it well, & all those * 1.9 streates haue I gone oft times, and haue lodged with our brother Ga∣belus that dwelleth in Rages a citie of the Medes, which lyeth vpon the moūt Ecbatanis.

9 Tobias saide vnto him: I pray thee tary for me, till I haue tolde my father these thinges.

10 Then went Tobias in, and tolde his father all: At the which his father mar∣ueyled, and prayed that he woulde come in vnto him.

11 Now when he came in, he saluted him, and saide: Ioy be with thee for euer∣more.

12 And olde Tobias saide: what ioy can I haue that sit here in darkenesse, and see not the light of heauen?

13 The young man saide vnto him: Be of good cheare, God shall helpe thee shortly.

14 And Tobias saide vnto him: Canst thou bring my sonne to Gabelus, vnto [unspec C] the citie of Rages in Medea: and when thou commest againe, I shall pay thee thy hyre?

15 And the angell saide vnto him: I shall leade thy sonne, and bring him to thee againe.

16 Then Tobias aunswered him: Tell me I pray thee, of what house or of what tribe art thou?

17 The angel Raphael saide vnto him: Seekest thou after the kinred of an hireling, or an hired man him selfe for thy sonne to go with him?

18 But that I make thee not carefull, I am Azarias the sonne of great Hana∣mas.

19 And Tobias aunswered, Thou art come of a great kinred: but I pray thee be not displeased that I desire to know thy kindred.

20 The angell said vnto him: Thy sonne shall I leade foorth safely, and bryng [unspec D] him whole sounde to thee againe.

21 Then aunswered Tobias, and saide: well, go on your way, and God be in your iourney, and his angell beare you company.

22 So when they had prepared all thinges that they woulde take with them in their iourney, Tobias bade his father and his mother farewell: and they went on their way both together.

23 Nowe when they were gone, his mo∣ther began to weepe, & saide: The staffe of our age hast thou taken away, and sent him from vs.

24 Woulde God that money had neuer ben, for the which thou hast sent him a∣way.

25 For our pouertie was sufficient for vs, why we shoulde haue counted it ry∣chesse, that we saw our sonne here.

26 Then saide Tobias vnto her: Weepe not, our sonne shall go safely and come to vs againe sounde, and thyne eyes shall see him.

27 For I trust that the good angell of God shall beare him company, and or∣der well all the thinges that he doth,

so that he shall come to vs againe with ioy.

28 At these wordes his mother left of from weeping, and held her peace.

The .vj. Chapter.

2 Tobias deliuered from the fishe. 8 Raphael sheweth him certaine medicines. 19 He conducteth him toward Sara.

[unspec A] 1 SO Tobias went on his way, and a dogge folo∣wed him: and the first night they abode by the water of Tigris.

2 Then went he out to washe his feete, and be∣holde there came foorth an horrible fishe to deuour him.

3 Of whom Tobias was afrayde, and cryed with a loude voyce, saying: Lord, he commeth vpon me.

4 And the angell saide vnto him: Take him by the gyll, and drawe him to thee. And he did so, and drew him vpon the lande: and the fishe began to leape at his feete.

5 Then saide the angell vnto him, Take out the bowels of this fishe: & as for the heart, the gal, and the lyuer, keepe them by thee: for these thinges are necessary and good for medicines.

6 Tobias did so, and rosted the flesh, and they tooke it with them in their iour∣ney: the residue they salted, as much as was sufficient for them, tyll they came to Rages a citie of the Medes.

[unspec B] 7 Then Tobias asked the angell, and saide vnto him: I pray thee brother A∣zaria, tell me whereto are these thinges good of the fishe that thou hast bidden me keepe.

8 The angell aunswered him, and said: If thou layest a peece of the heart vpon the coales, the smoke thereof dryueth a∣way all maner of euill spirites, whether it be from man or from woman, so that from thencefoorth the same shall come no more vnto them.

9 The gal is good to annoynt or to strike the eyes withall, where as there is any blemishe in them, so that they shalbe whole.

10 And Tobias saide vnto him: Where wilt thou that we remaine? The angell aunswered,

11 And saide: Here is a nye kinsman of thyne and of thy tribe, one Raguel by name, which hath a daughter called Sara, & hath neither sonne nor daugh∣ter but her.

12 All his good belongeth vnto thee, and thou must mary her.

13 And therefore desire her of her father, [unspec C] and he shall geue her thee to wyfe.

14 Then aunswered Tobias and saide: As I vnderstand she hath ben maryed vnto seuen husbandes, and they all are dead: and I haue heard say, that the deuill slue them.

15 I am afrayd therfore lest such thinges happen vnto me also: which if it came to passe, seeing I am the onely sonne of my father and my mother, I should bryng them in their age with sorowe to their graues.

16 Then saide the angell Raphael vnto him: Heare me, & I wyll tell thee what they be, of whom the deuil hath power.

17 Namely, they that receaue mariage after such a fashion that they shut God out from them and from their heart, and geue them selues to their owne lust, euen as it were an Horse & Mule which haue no vnderstanding: vpon such hath the deuill power.

18 But when thou takest her, and art come in to the chamber, withhold thy selfe from her three dayes, and geue thy diligence vnto nothing but vnto prayer with her.

19 And in the first night, rost the lyuer of [unspec D] the fishe, and the deuill shalbe driuen a∣way.

20 The second night shalt thou be recea∣ued into the company of the holy patri∣arches.

12 The third night shalt thou obtayne the blessing of God, so that * 1.10 whole chil∣dren shall be borne of you.

22 After the third night take the mayden in the feare of God, and more for the de∣sire of children, then for any fleshely lust, that in the seede of Abraham thou mayest obtayne the blessing in children.

¶The .vii. Chapter.

Tobias maryeth Sara, Raguels daughter.

[unspec A] 1 THen went they in to Raguel, which recea∣ued them ioyfully.

2 And when Raguel loked vpon Tobias, he saide vnto Anna his wyfe: How lyke is this young man vnto my sisters sonne?

3 And when he had spoken this, he said: Whence be ye ye young men and our brethren? They saide: Of the tribe of Nephthali, out of the captiuitie of Nini∣ue.

4 Then said Raguel vnto them: Know ye my brother Tobias? They saide: yea we know him well.

5 And when he had spoken much good of him, the angell saide vnto Raguel: Tobias of whom thou askest, is this young mans father.

6 Then Raguel bowed him selfe downe and wept, and toke him about the necke and kissed him,

[unspec B] 7 And saide: Gods blessing haue thou my sonne, for thou art the sonne of a good vertuous man.

8 And Anna his wyfe and Sara his daughter wept also.

9 Now when they had talked together, Raguel bade kill a wether, & to make a feaste: And when he had exhorted them to sit downe to dinner,

10 Tobias saide: I wyll neither eate nor drinke here this day, except thou first graunt me my petition, and promise me to geue me thy daughter Sara.

11 When Raguel heard this, he was a∣stonied, for he knewe what had happe∣ned vnto the other seuen men that went in vnto her: and he began to feare that it shoulde chaunce vnto him also in lyke maner. And while he stoode so in doubt, and gaue the young man no aunswere,

12 The angell saide vnto him: Feare not to geue him thy daughter, for vnto this man that feareth God, belongeth thy daughter to wyfe: therefore might none other haue her.

13 Then saide Raguel: I doubt not but [unspec C] God hath accepted my prayers & teares in his sight:

14 And I beleue he caused you to come vnto me for the same intent, that this daughter of myne might be maryed in her owne kindred * 1.11 according to the law of Moyses: And nowe doubt thou not but I wyll geue her vnto thee.

15 So he toke the right hande of his daughter, and gaue her into the right hande of Tobias, and saide: The God of Abraham, the God of Isahac, & the God of Iacob be with you, ioyne you together, and fulfill his blessing in you.

16 And they toke a letter, & made a wri∣ting of the mariage.

17 And then made they mery, and pray∣sed God.

18 And Raguel called Anna his wyfe vn∣to him, and bade her prepare another chamber.

19 And thither he brought Sara his [unspec D] daughter, and she wept.

20 Then saide he vnto her, Be of good cheare my daughter: the Lorde of hea∣uen geue thee ioy for the heauinesse that thou hast suffered.

The .viii. Chapter.

2 Tobias driueth away the euill spirite. 4 He prayeth to God with his wyfe, 11 Raguel prepareth a graue for his sonne in lawe. 16 Raguel blesseth the Lorde.

[unspec A]

1 NOW after that they had supped, they brought the young man in to her.

2 Then thought Tobi∣as vpon the wordes of the angel, and toke out of his bagge a peece of the lyuer of the fishe, and layed it vpon the hotte coales.

3 So the angell Raphael tooke holde of the deuil, and sent him away, & bound him in the wildernesse of the hygher Egypt.

4 Then spake Tobias vnto the virgin, and saide: Vp Sara, let vs make our prayer vnto God to day, to morow, and “ 1.12 ouermorow: For these three nightes wyl we “ 1.13 reconcile our selues with God,

and when the third holy night is past, we shall ioyne together in the duetie of mariage.

5 For we are the children of holy men, and we may not come together as the heathen that know not God.

6 Then stoode they vp both together, and besought God earnestly “ 1.14 that he would preserue them.

[unspec B] 7 And Tobias saide: O Lorde God of our fathers, praysed be thou of heauen and earth, of the sea, welles, & fluddes, and of al thy creatures that be therein.

8 Thou madest Adam of the * 1.15 moulde of the earth, and gauest him Eua for an helper.

9 And now Lorde thou knowest that it is not because of voluptuousnes that I take this sister of myne to wyfe, but onely for the loue of children, in whom thy name may be blessed for euer.

10 And Sara saide: Haue mercie vpon vs O Lorde, haue mercy vpon vs, and let vs both come whole and sounde toge∣ther to a good age.

11 And about the cocke crowing, it came to passe, that Raguel called his seruaūtes:

12 And they went with him to make a graue.

[unspec C] 13 For he saide: It is chaunced nowe vnto him peraduenture as it did vnto the o∣ther seuen men that went in vnto her.

14 Now when they had made the graue, Raguel came againe to his wyfe, and saide vnto her: Send one of thy may∣dens to loke if he be dead, that I may bury him afore it be light day.

15 So she sent a mayden to see: which when she came into the chamber, found them whole and founde, sleeping toge∣ther.

16 And so she came againe, and brought good tidinges: Then Raguel and An∣na his wyfe praysed the Lorde,

17 And saide: Praysed be thou O Lorde God of Israel, that it is not happened vnto vs as we thought.

18 For thou hast dealt mercifully with vs, and put away from vs the enemie that persecuted vs,

19 And hast shewed mercy vnto yonder two the onely borne children of their pa∣rentes: [unspec D] O Lorde, cause them to magni∣fie thee more perfectly, and to offer the sacrifice of thy prayse & of their health: that all people may knowe that thou onely art God in all the earth.

20 And immediatly Raguel commaun∣ded his seruauntes to fyll the graue that they had made, with earth, afore it was light,

21 And bade his wyfe prepare a feaste, & to make redie all thinges that were necessary for meate, to such as went by the way.

22 He caused two fat kine also and foure weathers to be slaine, and meates to be prepared for all his neighbours and freindes.

23 And Raguel charged Tobias to re∣mayne with him two weekes.

24 As for all the good that he had, he gaue Tobias the halfe of it, and made this writing, that the halfe which re∣mayned, should fall vnto Tobias after their death.

¶The .ix. Chapter.

The angell goeth to Gabelus, at the desire of Tobias which delyuereth the letter, and receaueth the money.

[unspec A] 1 THen Tobias called vn∣to him the angell, whō he thought to haue ben a man, and saide vnto him: Brother Azarias, I pray thee hearken vnto my wordes,

2 If I shoulde geue my selfe to be thy seruaunt, I shall not deserue thy proui∣dence.

3 Neuerthelesse, I beseche thee that thou wilt take the beastes and the ser∣uauntes, & go vnto Gabelus in Rages the citie of the Medes, and delyuer him his hand writing, and receaue the mo∣ney of him, and pray him to come to my mariage.

4 For thou knowest thy selfe that my fa∣ther doth number the dayes: and if I tary one day to long, he wyll be sory in his minde.

5 Now seest thou how earnestly Ragu∣el hath required me, so that I can not say him nay.

6 Then toke Raphael foure of Ragu∣els seruauntes and two Camels, and went vnto Rages the citie of the Me∣des: And when he had founde Gabe∣lus,

he gaue him his hand writing, and receaued all the money.

[unspec B] 7 He tolde him also of Tobias the sonne of Tobi, how al thinges had happened: and caused him to come with him to the mariage.

8 Now when he came into the house of Raguel, he founde Tobias sittyng at the table: and he leaped vp, & they kis∣sed one another, and Gabelus wept, and praysed God,

9 And saide: The blessing of the God of Israel haue thou, for thou art the sonne of a right vertuous and iust man, and of one that feareth God, & geueth great almes:

10 And blessing haue thy wyfe, and your elders,

11 That ye may see your children, and your childrens children vnto the third & fourth generation: and your seede be blessed of the God of Israel, which raigneth worlde without end.

12 And when they all had sayde Amen, they went to the feast: but with the feare of the Lorde held they the feast of the mariage.

The .x. Chapter.

1 Tobias and his wyfe thinke long for their sonne. 10 Raguel sendeth away Tobias and Sara.

[unspec A] 1 NOw whyle young To∣bias made long tary∣ing, by reason of the mariage, his father was full of care & hea∣uinesse, saying: Canst thou thinke what shoulde be the cause that my sonne tari∣eth so long? or why he should be kept so long there?

2 Thinkest thou Gabelus is dead, and no man wyll geue him the money?

3 Thus began he to be very sorowfull, he and Anna his wyfe with him: and began to weepe both together, because their sonne was not come againe vnto them at the day appoynted.

4 As for his mother, she wept with dis∣comfortable teares, and saide: Wo is me my sonne, Oh what ayled vs to send thee away into a straūge countrey, thou light of our eyes, thou staffe of our age, thou comfort of our life, thou hope of our generation?

5 Seing all the thinges that we haue are onely in thee, we shoulde not haue sent thee away from vs.

6 Then Tobias [comforted her▪ and] saide: Holde thy peace, & be not discom∣forted, our sonne is whole and sounde: the man that we sent him withall, is faithfull inough.

[unspec B] 7 Neuerthelesse, she might in no wyse be comforted: but dayly went out, loked about, and went about all the streates whereby she thought he should come a∣gaine: that if it were possible she might see him comming a farre of.

8 But Raguel saide vnto his sonne in lawe: O tary here, and I shall send a messenger vnto thy father Tobias, to tell him that thou art in good health.

9 Tobias saide vnto him: I am sure that my father and my mother count euery day, and that their heartes are so∣rye.

10 So when Raguel had prayed Tobi∣as with many wordes, and he woulde in no wyse heare him, he deliuered Sa∣ra vnto hym, & the halfe part of all his good, in seruauntes, and handmaydens, in sheepe, in camels, and in kyne, & much money: and so sent him away from him with health and ioy,

11 And said: The holy angel of the Lord be with you in your iourney, and bring you foorth safe and sounde, that ye may finde all thinges in good case with your elders, & that myne eyes may see your children afore I dye.

12 So the elders embraced their daugh∣ter, kissed her, and let her go:

13 Exhorting her to honour her father [unspec C] & mother in law, to loue her husband, to rule well her housholde, to keepe her house in good order, and to shewe her selfe faultlesse.

¶The .xj. Chapter.

1 The returne of Tobias to his father. 11 How he was receaued. 15 His father hath his sight restored, and prayseth the Lorde.

[unspec A] 1 AS they nowe were go∣ing homeward againe, vpon the eleuenth day they came to Charran, which lyeth in the halfe way towarde Ni∣niue.

2 And the angell saide: Brother Tobi∣as, thou knowest how thou hast left thy father:

3 Therfore if it please thee, we two wyl go before, and let the housholde with thy wyfe & the cattaile come faire and softly after vs.

4 And when Tobias was content that they should go before, Raphael said vn∣to him: Take of the gal of the fishe with thee, for it shall be necessary. So Tobi∣as toke of the gall, and they went their way.

5 But Anna the mother of Tobias sate dayly by the way side vpon the toppe of an hill, from whence she might see farre about her.

6 And whyle she was wayting there for his comming, she loked a farre of, and a∣none she perceaued her sonne comming, and ranne and tolde her husband, say∣ing: beholde thy sonne commeth.

[unspec B] 7 And Raphael saide vnto Tobias: As∣soone as thou commest into the house, immediatly worship the lorde thy God, and geue thankes vnto him: then go to thy father, and kisse hym,

8 And straight wayes strike his eyes o∣uer with the gall of the fishe that thou hast brought with thee: For be sure that his eyes shall straight way be opened, and thy father shall see the light of hea∣uen, and shal reioyce at the sight of thee.

9 Then the dogge that had ben with them in their iourney, ranne before, and came as a messenger, and wagged his tayle for gladnesse.

10 So the blynde father arose, and began to runne, and stumbled with his feete: and gaue a seruaunt his hand, & ranne to meete his sonne,

11 Receaued him, and kissed him, he and his wyfe, and they both began to weepe for ioy.

12 Now when they had worshipped and thanked God, they sat downe.

13 Then tooke Tobias of the fishes gall, [unspec C] and annoynted his fathers eyes:

14 And taryed halfe an houre, and then began the blemishe to go out of his eyes, lyke as it had ben the white skinne of an egge:

15 Which Tobias tooke, and drew from his eyes, and immediatly he receaued his sight.

16 Then they praysed God, he and his wyfe, and all they that knew him.

17 And Tobias saide: O Lorde God of Israel I geue thee prayse & thankes, for thou hast chastened me, & made me whole: And lo, nowe do I see my sonne Tobias.

18 After seuen dayes, came Sara his sonnes wyfe also whole and sound, with all the housholde and cattaile, with ca∣mels, & much money of his wyues, and with the money that he had receaued of Gabelus.

19 And he tolde his father and his mo∣ther [unspec D] all the benefites which God had done for him by the man that led him.

20 Achior also and Nabath Tobias sister sonnes came, and were glad, and reioy∣ced with him, by reason of all the good thinges that God had shewed vnto him: And so for the space of seuen dayes they made mery, and were right ioyfull euery one.

¶The .xii. Chapter.

2 Tobias declareth to his father the pleasures that Raguel had done him. 5 the which he would recompence. 11 Raphael declareth that he is an angell sent of God.

[unspec A] 1 THen Tobias called his sonne vnto him, & sayd: What may we geue this holy man, that “ 1.16 went with thee?

2 Tobias aunswered his father, and sayde: Father, what rewarde shall we geue him? or what thing can deserue his be∣nefites?

3 He hath ben my guyde, and brought me safe againe: He receaued the money from Gabelus, he caused me to get my wyfe, he droue the euill spirite from her,

he hath ben an occasion of gladnesse to her father and mother, he delyuered me that I was not deuoured of the fishe, he hath made thee to see the light of heauen: yea, we all haue receaued great good of him.

4 Howe shoulde we worthyly deserue these thinges vnto him? But I pray thee my father that thou wilt desire him, if happyly he wil vouchsafe to take with him the halfe of all that we haue brought.

5 So the father & the sonne called him, toke him asyde, and began to pray him that he woulde be content to take in good worth the halfe part of all that they had brought.

6 Then saide he secretly vnto them: Prayse ye the God of heauen, and geue thankes vnto him before al men lyuing: for he hath shewed his mercy vnto you.

7 It is good to hide the kinges secrete: [unspec B] but to shewe and to prayse the workes of God it is an honorable thing.

8 Prayer is good with fasting, and mer∣cie is better then to hoorde vp treasures of golde.

9 For mercie delyuereth from death, clen∣seth sinne, & causeth to finde mercie and lyfe euerlasting.

10 But they that do sinne and vnrighte∣ousnesse, are the enemies of their owne soule.

11 Wherefore I tell you the trueth, and wyll hide no secret saying from you.

12 When thou prayedst with teares, and buriedst the dead, and leftest thy dynner and hyddest the dead in thyne house vp∣on the day time that thou mightest bu∣ry them in the night, I offred thy pray∣er before the Lorde.

13 And because thou wast accept and be∣loued [unspec C] of God, it was necessary that temptation should trye thee.

14 And nowe hath the Lorde sent me to heale thee, and to delyuer Sara thy sonnes wyfe from the euill spirite.

15 For I am Raphael an angell, one of the seuen that stande before the Lorde.

16 When they heard this, they were sore afrayde, and trembled, and fell downe vpon their faces vnto the grounde.

17 Then saide the angell: Peace be with you, feare not.

18 For where as I haue ben with you, it is the wil of God: geue prayse & thankes vnto him.

19 You thought that I did * 1.17 eate & drinke with you, but I vse meate that is inuisi∣ble, [unspec D] and drinke that can not be seene of men.

20 Now therfore is the time that I must turne againe vnto him that sent me: but be ye thankefull vnto God, and tell out all his wonderous workes.

21 And when he had spokē those wordes, he was taken away out of their sight, so that they could see him no more.

22 Then fell they downe flat vpon their faces by the space of three houres, and praysed God: and when they rose vp, they tolde all his wonderous workes.

¶The .xiii. Chapter.

A thankes geuing of Tobias, who exhorteth all to prayse the Lorde.

[unspec A] 1 THen olde Tobias ope∣ned his mouth & pray∣sed the Lorde, & sayde: Great art thou O lord for euermore, and thy kingdome world with out end.

2 For thou scourgest and healest, thou leadest vnto hell & bringest out againe: and there is none that may escape thyne hande.

3 O geue thankes vnto the Lorde ye children of Israel, and prayse him in the sight of the heathen:

4 For among the heathen which knowe him not hath he scattered you, to the in∣tent that ye should shew forth his mar∣ueilous workes, and cause them for to knowe that there is none other God al∣mightie but he.

5 He hath chastened vs for our mis∣deedes, & for his owne mercie sake shall he saue vs.

6 Consider then how he hath dealt with you, and prayse him with feare & dread: and magnifie the euerlasting king in your workes.

7 I wyll prayse him euen in the lande of [unspec B] my captiuitie: for he hath shewed his maiestie vnto a sinfull people.

8 Turne you therfore O ye sinners, and do righteousnesse before God, and be ye sure that he wyll shew his mercy vpon you.

9 As for me and my soule, we wyll re∣ioyce in God.

10 O prayse the Lorde all ye his chosen: hold the dayes of gladnesse, & be thanke∣full vnto him.

11 O Hierusalem thou citie of God, the lorde hath punished thee for the workes of thyne owne handes.

12 O prayse the Lord in thy good thinges, & geue thankes to the euerlasting God, that he may build vp his tabernacle a∣gaine in thee, that he may call againe vnto thee all such as be in captiuitie, and that thou mayest haue ioy for euermore.

[unspec C] 13 With a faire light shalt thou shyne, and all the endes of the worlde shall ho∣nour thee.

14 The people shall come vnto thee from farre, they shall bring giftes, and wor∣ship the Lorde in thee, and thy land shal they haue for a sanctuary: for they shall call vpon the great name in thee.

15 Cursed shall they be that despise thee, and all that blaspheme thee shal be con∣dempned: But blessed shall they be that builde thee vp.

16 As for thee thou shalt reioyce in thy children: for they all shalbe blessed, and gathered together vnto the Lorde.

17 Blessed are all they that loue thee, and that be glad of thy peace.

18 Prayse thou the Lorde, O my soule: for the Lorde our God hath deliuered his citie Hierusalem from all her trou∣bles.

19 I wyll count my selfe happy, if my seede remayne to see the clearenes of Hierusalem.

20 The gates of Hierusalem shalbe buil∣ded [unspec D] with Saphir and Smaragde, and all the compasse of her walles with pre∣cious stones.

21 All her streates shalbe paued with white and fayre stone, and in all streates shall Halleluia be song.

22 Praysed be the Lorde which hath ex∣alted her, that his kingdome may be vp∣on her for euermore, Amen.

The .xiiii. Chapter.

5 Lessons of Tobias to his sonne. 6 He prophecieth the destruction of Niniue. 7 And the restoring of Hierusalem and the temple. 13 The death of Tobias and his wyfe. 16 Tobias the younger, his age and death.

1 ANd so Tobias made an [unspec A] end of speaking: And af∣ter that Tobias had gotten his sight againe, he lyued fouretie & two yeres, & sawe his chil∣ders children.

2 Nowe when he was an hundred and two yeres olde [he dyed, and] was buried honorably in Niniue.

3 For when he was sixe and fiftie yeres of age, he lost the sight of his eyes: and when he was three score yeres olde, he gate his sight againe.

4 The residue of his lyfe led he in ioy, and increased well in the feare of God, and departed in peace.

5 But in the houre of his death he called vnto him his sonne Tobias, and seuen young “ 1.18 springaldes his sonnes children, and saide vnto them:

6 The destruction of Niniue is at hand, (for the word of the Lord can not fayle) and our brethren that are scattered out of the lande of Israel, shall come thy∣ther [unspec B] agayne.

7 And the whole lande of it that hath ben waste, shall be filled, and the house of God that was brent in it, shal be buil∣ded againe: and all such as feare God, shall returne thyther,

8 The heathen then also shall forsake their idols, and come to Hierusalem, and dwell there:

9 And all the kinges of the earth shalbe glad in her, and worship the Lord God of Israel.

10 And therefore my children, heare your father, serue the Lorde in the trueth, seeke after his wyll to do the thing that pleaseth him:

11 Commaunde your children that they do right, geue almes, be mindefull of God, and euer to be thankefull vnto him in trueth and with all their power.

12 Heare me now therefore my children, [unspec C] and abyde not here: but in what day so euer ye haue buryed your mother by me in one sepulchre, get you from hence:

13 For I see that the wickednesse of it shall bring it to [destruction and] end.

14 After the death of his mother, Tobi∣as departed away from Niniue, with

his wife, and children, and with his chil∣ders children, and came againe to his fa∣ther and mother in lawe,

15 And founde them whole and in a good age, and toke the care of them: and he closed their eyes, and was heyre vnto all Raguels goodes, and sawe the fyft ge∣neration, and his childers children.

16 And ninetie and nine yeres beyng ended in the feare of God, they buried him with ioye.

17 And al his kindred and posteritie conti∣nued in a good life and holy conuersa∣tion: so that they were loued and accep∣ted both of God and men, and of all the people of the lande.

The ende of the booke of Tobias.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Or, tribe.
• * 1.2

  Amos. viii c
• “ 1.3

  Or, His next of kinne.
• “ 1.4

  Or, sighed.
• * 1.5

  Or, de∣st••tions.
• “ 1.6

  Or, were recited at one time together
• “ 1.7

  Or, about.
• “ 1.8

  Or, direct.
• * 1.9

  Or, wayes.
• * 1.10

  Or, sounde.
• * 1.11

  Nume. 36•• c.
• “ 1.12

  Or, the third day.
• “ 1.13

  Or, ioyne our selues to God.
• “ 1.14

  Or, that health might be geuen them.
• * 1.15

  Gen. ii.
• “ 1.16

  Or, came.
• * 1.17

  Gene. 81. a. Iudi. xiii c.
• “ 1.18

  Or, young Pinpes.