Good News [1976], GOOD NEWS BIBLE WITH DEUTEROCANONICALS / APOCRYPHA Today's English Version (AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY, New York) [word count] [B15000].
To look up a word in a dictionary, select the word with your mouse and press 'd' on your keyboard.
The Angel Raphael
1 When the wedding feast was
over, Tobit called his son Tobias
and said to him, “Son, be sure
to pay your traveling companion,
and don't forget to give him a bonus.”
2 Tobias asked him, “Father, how
much do you think I should pay him?
I wouldn't mind giving him half of
everything we brought back with us.
3 He brought me back home safe and
sound; he went to get the money for
me from Gabael; he rid my wife of a
demon; and he cured your blindness.
How much of a bonus should I give
him?”
4 Tobit answered, “Give him half
of what he helped you bring back.
He well deserves that.”
5 Tobias then called Raphael and
said to him, “Here is half of what
you helped me bring back. You have
earned it; have a safe journey home.
6 Then Raphael called the two
men aside and said to them, “Praise
God and tell everyone about the
good things he has done for you, so
that they too will honor him and sing
his praises. Let everyone know what
-- --
God has done. Never stop praising
him.
7 “It's a good idea to keep a king's
secret, but what God does should be
told everywhere, so that he may be
praised and honored.
7 “If you do good, no harm will
come to you.
8 “It is better to pray sincerely
and to please God by helping the
poor than to be rich and dishonest. It
is better to give to the poor than to
store up gold. note
9 Such generosity will
save you from death and will wash
away all your sins. Those who give
to the poor will live full lives, note
10 but
those who live a life of sin and wickedness
are their own worst enemies.
11 “I have already told you that a
king's secret ought to be kept, but
the things God does should be told
to everyone. Now I will reveal to you
the full truth and keep nothing back.
12 Tobit, when you and Sarah prayed
to the Lord, I was the one who
brought your prayers into his glorious
presence. I did the same thing
each time you buried the dead. note
13 On
the day you got up from the table
without eating your meal in order to
bury that corpse, God sent me to
test you.
14 But he also sent me to
cure you and to rescue your daughter-in-law,
Sarah, from her troubles.
15 I am Raphael, one of the seven angels
who stand in the glorious presence
of the Lord, ready to serve
him.” note
16 Tobit and Tobias were terrified
and fell to the ground, trembling
with fear.
17 But Raphael said to
them, “Don't be afraid; everything is
all right. Always remember to praise
God.
18 He wanted me to come and
help you; I did not come on my own.
So sing God's praises as long as you
live.
19 When you thought you saw
me eating, I did not really eat anything;
it only seemed so.
20 While
you are on this earth, you must
praise the Lord God and give him
thanks. Now I must go back to him
who sent me. Write down everything
that has happened to you.”
21 Then Raphael disappeared into
the sky. Tobit and Tobias stood up,
but they could no longer see him.
22 They began to sing hymns of
praise, giving thanks for all the
mighty deeds God had done while
his angel Raphael had been with
them.
Good News [1976], GOOD NEWS BIBLE WITH DEUTEROCANONICALS / APOCRYPHA Today's English Version (AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY, New York) [word count] [B15000].
|