CHAP. I.
Tobias's early piety: his works of mercy, particularly in
burying the dead.
1 Tobias of the tribe,
and city of Nephthali
(which is in
the upper parts of Galilee above
Naasson, beyond the way
that leadeth to the west, having
on the right hand the city
of Sephet)
2 When he was made captive
in the days of Salmanasar
king of the Assyrians, even
in his captivity, forsook not
the way of truth,
3 But every day gave all
he could get to his brethren
his fellow-captives, that were
of his kindred.
4 And when he was younger
than any of the tribe of
Nephthali, yet did he no childish
thing in his work.
5 Moreover when all went
to the golden calves, which
Jeroboam king of Israel had
made, he alone fled the company
of all,
6 And went to Jerusalem
to the temple of the Lord,
and there adored the Lord
God of Israel, offering faithfully
all his first-fruits, and
his tithes,
7 So that in the third year
he gave all his tithes to the
proselytes, and strangers.
8 These and such like
-- --
things did he observe when
but a boy according to the
law of God.
9 But when he was a man,
he took to wife Anna of his
own tribe, and had a son by
her, whom he called after his
own name,
10 And from his infancy
he taught him to fear God,
and to abstain from all sin.
11 And when by the captivity
he with his wife and his
son and all his tribe was come
to the city of Ninive,
12 (When all ate of the
meats of the Gentiles) he
kept his soul, and never was
defiled with their meats.
13 And because he was
mindful of the Lord with all
his heart, God gave him favour
in the sight of Salmanasar
the king.
14 And he gave him leave
to go whithersoever he would,
with liberty to do whatever
he had a mind.
15 He therefore went to
all that were in captivity, and
gave them wholesome admonitions.
16 And when he was come
to Rages a city of the Medes,
and had ten talents of silver
of that with which he
had been honoured by the
king.
17 And when amongst a
great multitude of his kindred,
he saw Gabelus in want, who
was one of his tribe, taking
a note of his hand he gave
him the aforesaid sum of money.
18 But after a long time,
Salmanasar the king being
dead, when Sennacherib his
son who reigned in his place,
had a hatred for the children
of Israel:
19 Tobias daily went among
all his kindred, and
comforted them, and distributed
to every one as he was
able, out of his goods:
20 He fed the hungry, and
gave clothes to the naked, and
was careful to bury the dead,
and they that were slain.
21 And when king Sennacherib
was come back fleeing
from Judea by reason of the
slaughter, that God had made
about him for his blasphemy,
and being angry slew many
of the children of Israel,
Tobias buried their bodies.
22 But when it was told
the king, he commanded him
to be slain, and took away all
his substance.
23 But Tobias fleeing naked
away with his son and
with his wife, lay concealed,
for many loved him.
24 But after forty five days
the king was killed by his
own sons,
25 And Tobias returned to
his house, and all his substance
was restored to him.
-- --
Challoner [1752], THE NEW TESTAMENT OF Our LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST. Translated out of the Latin Vulgat Diligently compared with the original Greek And first published by the English College of Rhemes, anno 1582. Newly revised, and corrected according to the Clementin Edition of the Scriptures. WITH ANNOTATIONS For clearing up modern Controversies in Religion, and other Difficulties of Holy Writ () [word count] [B12000].
