The Book of Tobit (Tobias)

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 5 -

Young Tobias seeking a guide for his journey, the angel Raphael, in shape of a man, undertakes this office.

Then Tobias answered his father, and said: I will do all things, father, which thou hast commanded me.

But how I shall get this money, I cannot tell; he knoweth me not, and I know not him: what token shall I give him? nor did I ever know the way which leadeth thither.

Then his father answered him, and said: I have a note of his hand with me, which when thou shalt shew him, he will presently pay it.

But go now, and seek thee out some faithful man, to go with thee for his hire: that thou mayst receive it, while I yet live.

Then Tobias going forth, found a beautiful young man, standing girded, and as it were ready to walk.

And not knowing that he was an angel of God, he saluted him, and said: From whence art thou, good young man?

But he answered: Of the children of Israel. And Tobias said to him: Knowest thou the way that leadeth to the country of the Medes?

And he answered: I know it: and I have often walked through all the ways thereof, and I have abode with Gabelus our brother, who dwelleth at Rages a city of the Medes, which is situate in the mount of Ecbatana.

And Tobias said to him: Stay for me, I beseech thee, till I tell these same things to my father.

Then Tobias going in told all these things to his father. Upon which his father being in admiration, desired that he would come in unto him.

So going in he saluted him, and said: Joy be to thee always.

And Tobias said: What manner of joy shall be to me, who sit in darkness, and see not the light of heaven?

And the young man said to him: Be of good courage, thy cure from God is at hand.

And Tobias said to him: Canst thou conduct my son to Gabelus at Rages, a city of the Medes? and when thou shalt return, I will pay thee thy hire.

And the angel said to him: I will conduct him thither, and bring him back to thee.

And Tobias said to him: I pray thee, tell me, of what family, or what tribe art thou?

And Raphael the angel answered: Dost thou seek the family of him thou hirest, or the hired servant himself to go with thy son?

But lest I should make thee uneasy, I am Azarias the son of the great Ananias.

And Tobias answered: Thou art of a great family. But I pray thee be not angry that I desired to know thy family.

And the angel said to him: I will lead thy son safe, and bring him to thee again safe.

And Tobias answering, said: May you have a good journey, and God be with you in your way, and his angel accompany you.

Then all things being ready, that were to be carried in their journey, Tobias bade his father and his mother farewell, and they set out both together.

And when they were departed, his mother began to weep, and to say: Thou hast taken the staff of our old age, and sent him away from us.

I wish the money for which thou hast sent him, had never been.

For poverty was sufficient for us, that we might account it as riches, that we saw our son.

And Tobias said to her: Weep not, our son will arrive thither safe, and will return safe to us, and thy eyes shall see him.

For I believe that the good angel of God doth accompany him, and doth order all things well that are done about him, so that he shall return to us with joy.

At these words his mother ceased weeping, and held her peace.

Young Tobias seeking a guide for his journey, the angel Raphael, in shape of a man, undertakes this office.

Then Tobias answered and said to him, “Father, I will do all things, whatever you have commanded me.

But how could I receive the money, since I don’t know him?”

He gave him the handwriting, and said to him, “Seek a man who will go with you, and I will give him wages, while I still live; and go and receive the money.”

He went to seek a man, and found Raphael who was an angel;

and he didn’t know it. He said to him, “Can I go with you to Rages of Media? Do you know those places well?”

The angel said to him, “I will go with you. I know the way well. I have lodged with our brother Gabael.”

Tobias said to him, “Wait for me, and I will tell my father.”

He said to him, “Go, and don’t wait. And he went in and said to his father, “Behold, I have found someone who will go with me.” But he said, “Call him to me, that I may know of what tribe he is, and whether he be a trustworthy man to go with you.”

So he called him, and he came in, and they saluted one another.

And Tobit said to him, “Brother, of what tribe and of what family are you? Tell me.”

He said to him, “Do you seek a tribe and a family, or a hired man which will go with your son?” And Tobit said to him, “I want to know, brother, your kindred and your name.”

And he said, “I am Azarias, the son of Ananias the great, of your kindred.”

And he said to him, “Welcome, brother. Don’t be angry with me, because I sought to know your tribe and family. You are my brother, of an honest and good lineage; for I knew Ananias and Jathan, the sons of Shemaiah the great, when we went together to Jerusalem to worship, and offered the firstborn, and the tenths of our increase; and they didn’t go astray in the error of our kindred. My brother, you are of a great stock.

But tell me, what wages shall I give you? A drachma a day, and those things that be necessary for you, as to my son?

And moreover, if you both return safe and sound, I will add something to your wages.”

And so they agreed. And he said to Tobias, “Prepare yourself for the journey. May God prosper you.” So his son prepared what was needful for the journey, and his father said to him, “Go with this man; but God, who dwells in heaven, will prosper your journey. May his angel go with you.” Then they both departed, and the young man’s dog went with them.

But Anna his mother wept, and said to Tobit, “Why have you sent away our child? Isn’t he the staff of our hand, in going in and out before us?

Don’t be greedy to add money to money; but let it be as refuse compared to our child.

For what the Lord has given us to live is enough for us.”

Tobit said to her, “Don’t worry, my sister. He will return safe and sound, and your eyes will see him.

For a good angel will go with him. His journey will be prospered, and he will return safe and sound.”

So she stopped weeping.