A   Tobias was of the trybe and cite of Nephtali, which lyeth in the hye countrees of Galile aboue Naason the waye towarde the west, hauynge the cite of Sephet vpon the left syde.

^noteThough he was taken presonner in the dayes of Salmanasar kynge of the Assirians, neuertheles beynge in captiuyte, he forsoke not þe; waye of trueth: In so moch that what so euer he might gett, he parted it dailie with his felow presoners ∧ brethren, that were of his kynred. And though he were yonger th&ebar; all in the trybe of Nephtali, yet dyd not he behaue himself childeshly in his workes. And whan all the other wente to þe; gold&ebar; calues, ^note which Ieroboam the kynge of Israel had made, he himself alone fled all their companies, and gat him to Ierusalem vnto the temple of the LORDE, and there worshipped þe; LORDE God of Israel, ^note faithfully offeringe all his first frutes and tithes, so that in the thirde yeare he ministred all the tithes vnto the straungers and conuertes. These and soch like thinges dyd he acordinge to the lawe of God, whan he was yet but yonge.

B    ^noteBut whan he was a man, he toke out of his owne trybe a wyfe called Anna, and of her he begat a sonne, whom he called after his owne name, and taught him from his youth vp, to feare God, and to refraine from all synne.

Now whan he with his wife, his sonne and with all his kynred was come in captiuite vnto Niniue, what tyme as they all ate of the meates of the Heith&ebar;, ^note he kepte his soule, and was neuer defyled in their meates. And for so moch as he was myndefull of the LORDE in all his hert, God gaue him fauoure in the presence of Salmanasar the kynge, which gaue him power to go where he wolde, and so had he liberte to do what him list. ^note

C    ^noteSo wente Tobias vnto all them that were in preson, and comforted them, and gaue them wholsome exortacions. And whan he came to Rages a cite of the Medes, hauynge ^note ten tal&ebar;tes of syluer (of þe; thinges wherwith the kynge had honoured him) and sawe amonge a greate company of people of his kinred, one Gabelus (which was of his owne trybe) beynge in necessite, he gaue him the sayde weight of syluer vnder an handwritinge.

After a longe season whan Salmanasar the kynge was deed, and Sennacherib his sonne reigned in his steade, which hated the children of Israel, Tobias wente daylie thorow out all his kynred, and comforted them, and gaue of his goodes to euery one of th&ebar;, as moch as he might: he fed the hongrie, clothed the naked, and buried the deed and slaine, and that diligently.

D    ^noteAnd whan Sennacherib the kynge came agayne and fled out of Iewry (what tyme as God punyshed him for his blasphemy) ∧ in his wrath slew many of the children of Israel,

Tobias buried their bodies. ^noteBut whan it was tolde the kynge, he commaunded to slaye him, and toke awaye all his goodes. Neuertheles Tobias with his sonne ∧ with his wife fled his waye, and was hyd naked, for there were many that loued him. But after xlv. dayes the kynge was slayne of his owne sonnes. Then came Tobias againe to his house, and all his goodes were restored vnto him.

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