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6¹So she stopped weeping.

Journey to Rages

The young man went out and the angel went with him; ²and the dog came out with him and went along with them. So they both journeyed along, and when the first night overtook them they camped by the Tigris river. ³Then the young man went down to wash his feet in the Tigris river. Suddenly a large fish leapt up from the water and tried to swallow the young man’s foot, and he cried out. ⁴But the angel said to the young man, ‘Catch hold of the fish and hang on to it!’ So the young man grasped the fish and drew it up on the land. ⁵Then the angel said to him, ‘Cut open the fish and take out its gall, heart, and liver. Keep them with you, but throw away the intestines. For its gall, heart, and liver are useful as medicine.’ ⁶So after cutting open the fish the young man gathered together the gall, heart, and liver; then he roasted and ate some of the fish, and kept some to be salted.

The two continued on their way together until they were near Media.^{* 7}Then the young man questioned the angel and said to him, ‘Brother Azariah, what medicinal value is there in the fish’s heart and liver, and in the gall?’ ⁸He replied, ‘As for the fish’s heart and liver, you must burn them to make a smoke in the presence of a man or woman afflicted by a demon or evil spirit, and every affliction will flee away and never remain with that person any longer. ⁹And as for the gall, anoint a person’s eyes where white films have appeared on them; blow upon them, upon the white films, and the eyes^* will be healed.’

Raphael’s Instructions

10 When he entered Media and already was approaching Ecbatana,^{* 11}Raphael said to the young man, ‘Brother Tobias.’ ‘Here I am,’ he answered. Then Raphael^* said to him, ‘We must stay this night in the home of Raguel. He is your relative, and he has a daughter named Sarah. ¹²He has no male heir and no daughter except Sarah only, and you, as next of kin to her, have before all other men a hereditary claim on her. Also it is right for you to inherit her father’s possessions. Moreover, the girl is sensible, brave, and very beautiful, and her father is a good man.’ ¹³He continued, ‘You have every right to take her in marriage. So listen to me, brother; tonight I will speak to her father about the girl, so that we may take her to be your bride. When we return from Rages we will celebrate her marriage. For I know that Raguel can by no means keep her from you or promise her to another man without incurring the penalty of death according to the decree of the book of Moses. Indeed he knows that you, rather than any other man, are entitled to marry his daughter. So now listen to me, brother, and tonight we shall speak concerning the girl and arrange her engagement to you. And when we return from Rages we will take her and bring her back with us to your house.’

14 Then Tobias said in answer to Raphael, ‘Brother Azariah, I have heard that she already has been married to seven husbands and that they died in the bridal chamber. On the night when they went in to her, they would die. I have heard people saying that it was a demon that killed them. ¹⁵It does not harm her, but it kills anyone who desires to approach her. So now, since I am the only son my father has, I am afraid that I may die and bring my father’s and mother’s life down to their grave, grieving for me—and they have no other son to bury them.’

16 But Raphael^* said to him, ‘Do you not remember your father’s orders when he commanded you to take a wife from your father’s house? Now listen to me, brother, and say no more about this demon. Take her. I know that this very night she will be given to you in marriage. ¹⁷When you enter the bridal chamber, take some of the fish’s liver and heart, and put them on the embers of the incense. An odour will be given off; ¹⁸the demon will smell it and flee, and will never be seen near her any more. Now when you are about to go to bed with her, both of you must first stand up and pray, imploring the Lord of heaven that mercy and safety may be granted to you. Do not be afraid, for she was set apart for you before the world was made. You will save her, and she will go with you. I presume that you will have children by her, and they will be as brothers to you. Now say no more!’ When Tobias heard the words of Raphael and learned that she was his kinswoman,^* related through his father’s lineage, he loved her very much, and his heart was drawn to her.

Arrival at the Home of Raguel

7Now when they^* entered Ecbatana, Tobias^* said to him, ‘Brother Azariah, take me straight to our brother Raguel.’ So he took him to Raguel’s house, where they found him sitting beside the courtyard door. They greeted him first, and he replied, ‘Joyous greetings, brothers; welcome and good health!’ Then he brought them into his house. ²He said to his wife Edna, ‘How much the young man resembles my kinsman Tobit!’ ³Then Edna questioned them, saying, ‘Where are you from, brothers?’ They answered, ‘We belong to the descendants of Naphtali who are exiles in Nineveh.’ ⁴She said to them, ‘Do you know our kinsman Tobit?’ And they replied, ‘Yes, we know him.’ Then she asked them, ‘Is he^* in good health?’ ⁵They replied, ‘He is alive and in good health.’ And Tobias added, ‘He is my father!’ ⁶At that Raguel jumped up and kissed him and wept. ⁷He also spoke to him as follows, ‘Blessings on you, my child, son of a good and noble father!^* O most miserable of calamities that such an upright and beneficent man has become blind!’ He then embraced his kinsman Tobias and wept. ⁸His wife Edna also wept for him, and their daughter Sarah likewise wept. ⁹Then Raguel^* slaughtered a ram from the flock and received them very warmly.

Marriage of Tobias and Sarah

When they had bathed and washed themselves and had reclined to dine, Tobias said to Raphael, ‘Brother Azariah, ask Raguel to give me my kinswoman^* Sarah.’ ¹⁰But Raguel overheard it and said to the lad, ‘Eat and drink, and be merry tonight. For no one except you, brother, has the right to marry my daughter Sarah. Likewise I am not at liberty to give her to any other man than yourself, because you are my nearest relative. But let me explain to you the true situation more fully, my child. ¹¹I have given her to seven men of our kinsmen, and all died on the night when they went in to her. But now, my child, eat and drink, and the Lord will act on behalf of you both.’ But Tobias said, ‘I will neither eat nor drink anything until you settle the things that pertain to me.’ So Raguel said, ‘I will do so. She is given to you in accordance with the decree in the book of Moses, and it has been decreed from heaven that she should be given to you. Take your kinswoman;^* from now on you are her brother and she is your sister. She is given to you from today and for ever. May the Lord of heaven, my child, guide and prosper you both this night and grant you mercy and peace.’ ¹²Then Raguel summoned his daughter Sarah. When she came to him he took her by the hand and gave her to Tobias,^* saying, ‘Take her to be your wife in accordance with the law and decree written in the book of Moses. Take her and bring her safely to your father. And may the God of heaven prosper your journey with his peace.’ ¹³Then he called her mother and told her to bring writing material; and he wrote out a copy of a marriage contract, to the effect that he gave her to him as wife according to the decree of the law of Moses. ¹⁴Then they began to eat and drink.

15 Raguel called his wife Edna and said to her, ‘Sister, get the other room ready, and take her there.’ ¹⁶So she went and made the bed in the room as he had told her, and brought Sarah^* there. She wept for her daughter.^* Then, wiping away the tears,^* she said to her, ‘Take courage, my daughter; the Lord of heaven grant you joy^* in place of your sorrow. Take courage, my daughter.’ Then she went out.

Tobias Routs the Demon

8When they had finished eating and drinking they wanted to retire; so they took the young man and brought him into the bedroom. ²Then Tobias remembered the words of Raphael, and he took the fish’s liver and heart out of the bag where he had them and put them on the embers of the incense. ³The odour of the fish so repelled the demon that he fled to the remotest parts^* of Egypt. But Raphael followed him, and at once bound him there hand and foot.

4 When the parents^* had gone out and shut the door of the room, Tobias got out of bed and said to Sarah,^* ‘Sister, get up, and let us pray and implore our Lord that he grant us mercy and safety.’ ⁵So she got up, and they began to pray and implore that they might be kept safe. Tobias^* began by saying,
‘Blessed are you, O God of our ancestors,
   and blessed is your name in all generations for ever.
Let the heavens and the whole creation bless you for ever.
⁶ You made Adam, and for him you made his wife Eve
   as a helper and support.
   From the two of them the human race has sprung.
You said, “It is not good that the man should be alone;
   let us make a helper for him like himself.”
⁷ I now am taking this kinswoman of mine,
   not because of lust,
   but with sincerity.
Grant that she and I may find mercy
   and that we may grow old together.’
⁸And they both said, ‘Amen, Amen.’ ⁹Then they went to sleep for the night.

But Raguel arose and called his servants to him, and they went and dug a grave, ¹⁰for he said, ‘It is possible that he will die and we will become an object of ridicule and derision.’ ¹¹When they had finished digging the grave, Raguel went into his house and called his wife, ¹²saying, ‘Send one of the maids and have her go in to see if he is alive. But if he is dead, let us bury him without anyone knowing it.’ ¹³So they sent the maid, lit a lamp, and opened the door; and she went in and found them sound asleep together. ¹⁴Then the maid came out and informed them that he was alive and that nothing was wrong. ¹⁵So they blessed the God of heaven, and Raguel^* said,
‘Blessed are you, O God, with every pure blessing;
   let all your chosen ones bless you.^*
   Let them bless you for ever.
¹⁶ Blessed are you because you have made me glad.
   It has not turned out as I expected,
   but you have dealt with us according to your great mercy.
¹⁷ Blessed are you because you had compassion
   on two only children.
Be merciful to them, O Master, and keep them safe;
   bring their lives to fulfilment
   in happiness and mercy.’
¹⁸Then he ordered his servants to fill in the grave before daybreak.

Wedding Feast

19 After this he asked his wife to bake many loaves of bread; and he went out to the herd and brought two steers and four rams and ordered them to be slaughtered. So they began to make preparations. ²⁰Then he called for Tobias and swore on oath to him in these words:^* ‘You shall not leave here for fourteen days, but shall stay here eating and drinking with me; and you shall cheer up my daughter, who has been depressed. ²¹Take at once half of what I own and return in safety to your father; the other half will be yours when my wife and I die. Take courage, my child. I am your father and Edna is your mother, and we belong to you as well as to your wife^* now and for ever. Take courage, my child.’