1   The boy and the angel left the house together, and the dog came out with him and accompanied them. They travelled until night overtook them, and then camped by the river Tigris. 2   Tobias went down to bathe his feet in the river, and a huge fish leapt out of the water and tried to swallow the boy's foot. 3   He cried out, and the angel said to him, ‘Seize the fish and hold it fast.’ So Tobias seized it and hauled it on to the bank. 4   The angel said to him: ‘Split the fish open and take out its gall, heart, and liver; keep them by you, but throw the guts away; the gall, heart, and liver can be used as medicine.’ 5   Tobias split the fish open, and put together its gall, heart, and liver. He cooked and ate part of the fish; the rest he salted and kept.

They continued the journey together until they came near Media. 6   Then the boy asked the angel: ‘Azarias, my friend, what medicine is

The adventures of Tobias there in the fish's heart, liver, and gall?’ 7   He said: ‘You can use the heart and liver as a fumigation for any man or woman attacked by a demon or evil spirit; the attack will cease, and it will give no further trouble. 8   The gall is for anointing a man's eyes when white patches have spread over them, or for blowing on the white patches in the eyes; the eyes will then recover.’

9   When he had entered Media and was now approaching Ecbatana, Raphael said to the boy, ‘Tobias, my friend.’ 10   ‘Yes?’ he replied. Raphael said: ‘We must stay the night with Raguel. He is your kinsman and he has a daughter named Sarah. Apart from Sarah he has neither son nor daughter. 11   You are her next of kin and have the right to marry her and inherit her father's property. 12   The girl is sensible, brave, and very beautiful, and her father is an honourable man.’ He went on: ‘It is right that you should marry her. Be guided by me, my friend; I will speak to her father about the girl this very night and ask for her hand as your bride, and on our return from Rages we will celebrate her marriage. I know that Raguel cannot withhold her from you or betroth her to another man without incurring the death penalty according to the ordinance in the book of Moses; and he is aware that his daughter belongs by right to you rather than to any other man. Now be guided by me, my friend; we will talk about the girl tonight and will betroth her to you, and when we return from Rages we shall take her back with us to your home.’

13   Then Tobias answered Raphael: ‘Azarias, my friend, I have heard that she has already been given to seven husbands and they died the very night they went into the bridal chamber to her. 14   I have been told that it is a demon who kills them. And now it is my turn to be afraid; he does her no harm, but kills any man who tries to come near her. I am my father's only child; I am afraid that if I die I shall bring my father and mother to the grave with grief for me. They have no other son to bury them.’ 15   Raphael said to him: ‘Have you forgotten the orders your father gave you? He told you to take a wife from your father's kindred. Now be guided by me, my friend: do not worry about the demon, but marry her. I am sure that this night she shall be given you as your wife. 16   When you enter the bridal chamber, take some of the fish's liver and its heart, and put them on the smoking incense. 17   The smell will spread, and when the demon smells it he will make off and never be seen near her any more.

The adventures of Tobias When you are about to go to bed with her, both of you must first stand up and pray, beseeching the Lord of heaven to grant you mercy and deliverance. Have no fear; she was destined for you before the world was made. You shall rescue her and she shall go with you. No doubt you will have children by her and they will be very dear to you. ^noteSo do not worry!’ When Tobias heard what Raphael said, and learnt that she was his kinswoman and of his father's house, he was filled with love for her and set his heart on her.

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