Besides the testimonies of Councels and Fathers before mentioned, S. Cyprian, de Oratione Dominica alleaging this booke (cap. 12.) saith: Diuine Scripture instructeth vs, that prayer is good with fasting and almes. ^note S. Ambrose (li. de Tobia, e. 1.) calleth this booke by the common name of Scripture, saying: he wil briefly gather the vertues of Tobie, which the Scripture in historical maner layeth forth at large. VVhere he also calleth this historie Prophetical, and Tobie a Prophet. And lib. 3. offic. cap. 14. alleageth this booke as be doth other holie Scriptures, to proue that the vertues of Gods seruants farre excel the Moral Philosophers. S. Chrysostom ho. 15. ad Heb. alleageth Tobias, as Scripture denouncing curse to contemners. S. Augustin made a special sermon of Tobias, as he did of Iob, which is the 226. sermon de tempore. S. Gregorie parte. 3. pastor. curae admon. 21. alleageth it as holie Scripture. And venerable Beda expoundeth this whole booke mystically, as he doth other holy Scriptures. ^note S. Ierom translated it out of the Chaldee language, wherein it was written, iudging it more mete to displease the Pharisaical Iewes, who reiect it, then not to satisfie the wil of holie Bishops, vrging to haue it. Epist. ad Chromat. & Heliodorum. to. 3.

The author is vncertaine: but S. Athanasius (in Synopsi) reporteth the contentes at large. ^note And S. Augustin (li. quest. ex v roque testamento q. 119.) deliuereth both the contentes, and cause of writing it, briefly thus. The seruant of God, holie Tobias is geuen to vs after the law, for an example, that we might know how to practise the thinges, which we reade. And if tentations come vpon vs, not to depart from the feare of God, nor expect helpe from anie other then from him. It may be diuided into three partes. ^note The first foure chapeers shew the holie and sincere maner of life of old Tobias. The eight folowing relate the iorney, and affayres of yong Tobias, accompained and directed by the Angel Raphael. In the two last chapters, they praise God. And old Tobias prophecieth better state of the commonwealth.

THE BOOKE OF TOBIAS. Chap. I. Tobias of the tribe of Nephthali, neuer communicateth in Ierobams scisme. ^note 9. teacheth his sonne to feare God, and flee sinne. 11. Being in captiuitie eateth not forbidden meates, as others do. 13. Amongst other workes of mercie, he lendeth tenne talentes of siluer to Gabelus. 21. Is persecuted and spoyled. 24. Shortly the king being slaine, he recouereth libertie and his goodes.

1   Tobias of the tribe, and citie of Nepthali (which is in the vpper partes of Galilee aboue Naasson, beyond the way, that leadeth to the weast, hauing on the right hand the citie Sephet) ^note

2   when he was captiue in the daies of Salmanasar the king of the Assyrians, yet being in captiuitie, he forsooke not the way of truth,

3   so that he imparted al things that he could make, dayly to his brethren captiues with him, which were of his kinred.

4   And whereas he was yonger then al the tribe of Nephthali, yet did he no childish thing in his worke.

5   Finally when ^note al went to the golden calues, which Ieroboam the king of Israel had made, he alone fled the companies of al,

6   and went into Ierusalem to the temple of our Lord, and there adored our Lord God of Israel, offering faithfully al his first fruites, and his rithes,

7   so that in the third yeare he ministred al the tithing to the proselytes, and strangers.

8   These thinges and the like to these did he obserue being a childe according to the law of God.

9   But when he was a man, he tooke to wife Anna of his owne tribe, and he beg at a sonne of her, geuing him his owne name,

10   whom from his infancie he taught to feare God, and to abstayne from al sinne.

11   Therfore when by the captiuitie he was come with his wife and sonne into the citie of Niniue, with al his tribe,

12   (when al did eate of the meates of the Gentiles) he kept his soule, and neuer was contaminated in their meates.

13   And because he was mindful of our Lord in al his hart, God gaue him grace in the sight of Salmanasar the king,

14   and he gaue him leaue to goe whithersoeuer he would, hauing libertie to doe what thinges soeuer he would.

15   He therfore went to al that were in the captiuitie, and gaue them holesome admonitions.

16   And when he was come into Rages a citie of the Medes, and had ten talentes of siluer of these wherwith he had beene honoured of the king:

17   and

when in a great multitude of his kinred, he saw Gabelus stand in nede, who was of his tribe, vnder a bil of his hand he gaue him the sayd weight of siluer.

18   But after much time, Salmanasar the king being dead, when Sennacherib his sonne reigned for him, and estemed the children of Israel odious in his sight:

19   Tobias dayly went through al his kinred, and conforted them, and diuided to euerie one, as he was able, of his goods:

20   the hungrie he nourished, and to the naked he gaue clothes, and the dead, and them that were slayne, he buryed carefully.

21   Finally when king Sennacherib was returned fleing from Iewrie the shaughter, that God had made about him for his blasphemie, and being angrie slewe manie of the children of Israel, Tobias buryed their bodies.

22   But when it was told the king, he commanded him to be slayne, and tooke al his substance.

23   But Tobias fleing with his sonne and with his wife, nakedly lay hid, because manie loued him.

24   But after fourtie fiue dayes the king was slayne of his owne sonnes,

25   and Tobias returned into his house, and al his substance was restored to him. Chap. II. ^note Tobias to burie an Israelite that is slaine in the streete, leaueth his dinner and ghestes. 10. Is made blind by Gods permission, for manifestation of his patience. 19. His wife getteth her liuing by worke, 22. and for a scrupulous word, reprocheth his sinceritie.

1   Bvt after these thinges, when there was a festiual day of our Lord, and a good dinner was made in Tobias house,

2   he sayd to his sonne: Goe, and bring some of our tribe, ^notethat feare God, to make merie with vs.

3   And when he had gone, returning he tolde him, that one of the children of Israel lay slayne in the streate. And he forthwith leaping vp from his place at the table, leauing his dinner, came fasting to the bodie:

4   and taking it vp caried it to his house secretely, that when the sunne should be downe, he might warely burie him.

5   And wh&ebar; he had hid the bodie, he eate bread with mourning and tr&ebar;bling,

6   remembring that word, which our Lord sayd by Amos the Prophet: Your festiual dayes shal be turned into lamentation and mourning.

7   But when the sunne was downe, he went, and buried him.

8   And al his neighbours rebuked him, saying: Euen now thou wast commanded to be slayne because of this matter, and thou didest scarce

escape the commandment of death, and ^note doest thou burie the dead agayne?

9   But Tobias more fearing God, then the king, in hast tooke the bodies of them that were slayne, and hid them in his house, and at midnight buried them.

10   And it happened that on a certayne day, being wearied with burying, coming into his house he had cast himself downe by the wal, and slept,

11   and as he was sleeping, hote dung out of the swallowes nest fel vpon his eyes, and he was made blinde.

12   And this tentation therfore our Lord permitted to chance vnto him, that an example might be geuen to posteritie of his patience, as also of holie Iob.

13   For whereas he feared God alwaies from his infancie, and kept his commandmentes, he grudged not agaynst God for that the plague of blindnes had chanced to him,

14   but continewed immoueable in the feare of God, geuing thankes to God al the dayes of his life.

15   For as the kinges insulted against blessed Iob: so his ^note parentes and cosins derided his life, saying.

16   Where is thy hope, for the which thou didest bestowe almes and burials?

17   But Tobias rebuked them, saying: Speake not so:

18   because we are the children of holie ones, and looke for that life, which God wil geue to them, that neuer change their faith from him.

19   But Anna his wife went dayly to weauing worke, and she brought the gaines of her handie labour, which she could get.

20   Whereby it came to passe, that she receiuing a kid of goates had brought it home:

21   the voice whereof bleating when her husband had heard, he sayd: Take heed, lest perhaps it be stollen, restore ye it to his owners, because it is not lawful for vs either to eate anie thing of theft or to touch it.

22   To these wordes his wife being angrie answered: Thy hope is become vayne manifestly, and thine almes now haue appeared.

23   And with these, and other such like wordes she vpbrayded him. Chap. III. The prayer Tobias, 7. and Sara, in their seueral afflictions, 24. are heard by God, and the Angel Raphael is sent to releeue them.

1   Then Tobias lamented, and began to pray with teares,

2   saying: Thou art iust ô Lord, & al thy iudgementes are iust, and al thy waies, mercie, & truth, and iudgement.

3   And now Lord be mindful of me, and take not reuenge of my sinnes, neither remember the sinnes of me, or of my parentes.

4   Because we haue not obeyed thy commandmentes, therfore we are deliuered in spoile, and captiuitie, and death, and into a fable, and into reproch to al nations, in which thou hast dispersed vs.

5   And now Lord great are thy iudgementes, because we haue not done according to thy preceptes, & haue not walked sincerely before thee:

6   and now Lord according to thy wil do with me, & command my spirite to be receiued in peace: for it is expedient for me to die, rather then to liue.

7   The verie same day therfore it chanced that Sara the daughter of Raguel in ^note Rages a citie of the Medes, she also heard reproch of one of her fathers handmaydes,

8   because she had beene deliuered to seuen husbandes, & the diuel named ^note Asmodeus had killed them, forthwith as they were entred in vnto her.

9   Therfore when she rebuked the wench for her fault, she answered her, saying: Let vs no more see sonne of thee, or daughter vpon the earth, thou murderer of thy husbandes.

10   What wilt thou kil me also, as thou hast now killed seuen husbandes? At this voice she went into an higher chamber of her house: and three dayes, and three nightes did not eate, nor drinke:

11   but continewing in prayer with teares besought God, that he would deliuer her from this reproch.

12   And it came to passe the third day, whiles she accomplished her prayer, blessing our Lord,

13   she sayd: Blessed is thy name ô God of our fathers: who when thou hast bene angrie, wilt doe mercie, & in the time of tribulation forgeuest them their sinnes, that inuocate thee.

14   To thee ô Lord I turne my face, to thee I direct myne eyes.

15   I desire Lord that thou loose me from the bond of this reproch, or els take me away from the earth.

16   Thou knowest Lord that I neuer coueted a husband, and haue kept my soule cleane from al concupiscence.

17   Neuer haue I companied my self with sporters: neither haue I made my selfe partaker with them that walke in lightnesse.

18   But a husband I consented to take, with thy feare, not with my lust.

19   And either I was vnworthie of them, or they perhaps were not worthie for me: because perhaps thou hast kept me for an other man.

20   For thy counsel is not in mans power.

21   But this hath euerie one for certayne, that worshippeth thee, that his life, if it be in probation, shal be crowned: and if it be in tribulation, it shal be deliuered: and if it be in correction, it shal be lawful to come to thy mercie.

22   For thou art not delighted in our perditions: because after

a tempest thou makest a calme, and after teares and weeping thou powrest in ioyfulnesse.

23   Be thy name God of Israel blessed foreuer.

24   At that time the prayers of both were heard in the sight of the glorie of the high God:

25   and the holie Angel of our Lord Raphael was sent, to cure them both, whose prayers at one time were ^note recited in the sight of our Lord. Chap. IIII. Tobias thincking he shal dye, geueth his sonne godlie admonitions. 7. especially exhorteth him to geue almes diligently. 13. to flee al fornication, pride, and fraude. 21. And telleth him of money lent to a freind.

1   Therfore when Tobias thought his prayer to be heard that he might haue died, he called to him Tobias his sonne,

2   and sayd to him: ^note Heare my sonne the wordes of my mouth, & lay them as a foundation in thy hart.

3   When God shal take my soule, ^note burie my bodie: and thou shalt doe ^notehonour to thy mother al the dayes of her life:

4   for thou must be mindful what perils, and how great she suffered for thee in her wombe.

5   And when she also shal haue accomplished the time of her life, burie her beside me.

6   And al the dayes of thy life ^note haue God in thy mind: and beware thou consent not to sinne at anie time, and pretermitte the preceptes of our Lord God.

7    ^noteOf thy substance ^note geue almes, and turne not away thy face from anie poore person: for so it shal come to passe that neither the face of our Lord shal be turned from thee.

8   As thou shalt be able; so be merciful.

9   If thou haue much, geue aboundantly: if thou haue litle, studie to impert also a litle willingly.

10   For thou dost treasure vp to thy self a good reward in the day of necessitie.

11   because almes deliuereth from al sinne, and from death, & wil not suffer the soule to goe into darkenesse.

12   Great confidence before God most high shal almes be to al them that doe it.

13    ^noteTake heed to thy self my sonne of al fornication, & beside thy wife neuer abide to know crime.

14    ^noteNeuer permitte pryde to rule in thy word: for in it al perdition tooke his beginning.

15    ^noteWhosoeuer hath wrought anie thing for thee, pay him his hyre immediatly, and let not the hyre of thy hyred seruant remayne with thee at al.

16    ^noteThat ^note which thou hatest to be done to thee by an other, see thou doe it not to an other at anie time.

17   Eate thy bread with the hungrie & needie, and of thy garmentes couer the naked.

18    ^noteSet thy bread, and thy wine vpon ^note the burial of a iust man,

and ^note doe not eate and drinke therof with sinners.

19    ^noteSeeke counsel alwaies of a wiseman.

20   At ^note al time blesse God: and desire of him, that he direct thy waies, and that al thy counsels remayne in him.

21    ^noteI tel thee also my sonne ^note that I gaue tenne talentes of siluer, whiles thou wast yet a child, to Gabelus, in Rages a citie of the Medes, and I haue a bil of his hand with me:

22   and therfore enquire how thou maist come to him, and receiue of him the foresayd weight of siluer, and restore him the bil of his hand.

23    ^noteFeare not my sonne: we leade in dede a poore life, but we shal haue many good thinges if we feare God, and depart from al sinne, and doe wel. Chap. V. Yong Tobias seeking a guide for his iourney, Raphael the Angel in shape of a man presenteth himself, and vndertaketh this office. ^note 23. The mother lamenteth the abscence, and danger of her sonne.

1   Then Tobias answered his father, and sayd: I wil doe al things, father, whatsoeuer thou hast commanded me.

2   But how I shal require this money, I can nor tel, he knoweth not me, and I know not him: what token shal I geue him? Yea neither the way which leadeth thither, did I euer know.

3   Then his father answered him, and sayd: I haue the bil of his hand with me, which when thou shalt shew him, he wil forthwith restore it.

4   But goe now, and seeke thee out some faythful man, that may goe with thee being sure of his hyre: that thou mayst receiue it, whiles I yet liue.

5   Then Tobias going forth, found a ^note goodlie yongman, standing girded, and as it were readie to walke.

6   And not knowing that it was an Angel of God, he saluted him, and sayd: From whence haue we thee, good yongman?

7   But he answered: Of the children of Israel. And Tobias sayd to him: Knowest thou the way, that leadeth vnto the countrie of the Medes?

8   To whom he answered: I know it: and al the wayes therof I haue often walked, and I haue taried with Gabelus our brother, who abydeth in Rages a citie of the Medes, which is situate in the Mount Ecbatanis.

9   To whom Tobias sayd: Stay for me I beseech thee, til I tel these same things to my father.

10   Then Tobias going in told al these things to his father. Whereupon his father marueiling, requested that he would come in vnto him.

11   Going in therfore he saluted him, and sayd: Ioy be to thee alwaies.

12   And Tobias sayd: What

maner of ioy shal be to me, which sitte in darkenes, and see not the light of heauen?

13   To whom the yong man sayd: Be of good cheere, it is very neere that thou mayst be cured of God.

14   Tobias therfore sayd to him: Canst thou bring my sonne to Gabelus into Rages a citie of the Medes? and when thou shalt returne, I wil pay thee thy hyre.

15   And the Angel sayd to him: I wil conduct him, & bring him to thee againe.

16   To whom Tobias answered: I pray thee, tel me, of what house, or what tribe art thou?

17   To whom ^note Raphael the Angel sayd: Seekest thou the kinred of an hyred seruant, or an hyred seruant himselfe, that may goe with thy sonne?

18   But lest perhaps I make thee careful, I am Azarias the sonne of Ananias the great.

19   And Tobias answered: Thou art of a great kinred. But I pray the be not angrie that I would know thy kinred.

20   And the Angel sayd to him: I wil lead thy sonne safe, and bring him to thee agayne safe.

21   And Tobias answering, sayd: Wel may you walke, and God be in your iourney, and his Angel accompanie you.

22   Then al things being readie, that were to be caried in the way, Tobias bid his father and his mother, fare wel, and they walked both together.

23   And when they were departed, his mother began to weepe, & to say: Thou hast taken the staffe of our old age, and sent him away from vs.

24   I would the money had neuer bene, for the which thou hast sent him.

25   For our pouertie sufficed vs, that we might account this thing riches, that we saw our sonne.

26   And Tobias sayd to her: Weepe not, our sonne shal come thither safe, and shal returne safe to vs, and thyne eies shal see him.

27   For I beleue that ^note the good Angel of God doth accompanie him, & doth wel dispose al things, that are done about him, so that he shal returne to vs with ioy.

28   At this voyce his mother left weeping, and held her peace. Chap. VI. By the Angels aduise yong Tobias apprehendeth a fish, that a&esset;auleth him. 5. reserueth the hart, gal, and liuer for medicines. 10. They lodge at the house of Raguel, whose daughter Sara Tobias is to marie, 14. A diuel hath heretofore slaine her seuen husbandes, 16. but shal not hurt him.

1   And Tobias went forward, & a dogge folowed him, and he made his first abode by the riuer of Tigris.

2   And he went out to wash his feete, and behold an huge fish came forth to deuoure him.

3   Of whom Tobias being afrayd, cryed

out with a loud voice, saying: Sir, he inuadeth me.

4   And the Angel said to him: Take him by the gille, & draw him to thee. Which when he had done, he drew him on the drie land, and he began to strugle before his feete.

5   Then sayd the Angel to him: Take out the entralles of this fishe, and his hart, and gal, and liuer, keepe to thee: for these are necessarie and profitable for medecines.

6   Which when he had done, he rosted the ^note flesh therof, and they tooke it with them in the way: the rest they salted which might suffise them, til they came to Rages the citie of Medes.

7   Then Tobias asked the Angel, and sayd to him: I besech thee brother Azarias, tel me what remedies shal these things haue, which thou hast bid me keepe of the fish?

8   And the Angel answering, sayd to him: If thou put a litle peece of his ^note hart vpon coales, the ^note smoke therof driueth out al kinde of diuels, either from man or from woman, so that it cometh no more vnto them.

9   And the gall is auailable to annoynt the eies, in which there shal be white blemish, and they shal be healed.

10   And Tobias sayd to him: Where wilt thou that we tarie?

11   And the Angel answering, sayd: Here is one named Raguel, a nerekinsman of thy tribe, and he hath a daughter named Sara, and he hath neither man child, nor anie woman child beside her.

12   Al his substance is dewe to thee, and thou mayst take her to wife.

13   Aske her therfore of her father, and he wil giue her thee to wife.

14   Then Tobias answered, and sayd: I heare that she hath beene deliuered to seuen husbandes, and they are dead: yea and I haue heard, that a diuel killed them.

15   I am afrayd therfore, lest these things may happen to me also: & whereas I am the onlie childe of my parentes, I may bring downe their old age with sorow vnto ^note hel.

16   Then the Angel Raphael sayd to him: Heare me, and I wil shewe thee who they are, on whom the diuel can preuaile,

17   For they that so receiue matrimonie, that they exclude God from them selues, and from their mind, and so geue them selues to their lust, as horse and mule, which haue not vnderstanding, ouer them the diuel hath power.

18   But thou when thou shalt take her, entring into the chamber, for three daies be continent from her, and thou shalt geue thy self to nothing els but to prayers with her.

19   And the same night, the ^note liuer of the fish sette on the fyre, the diuel shal be driuen away.

20   But the ^notesecond night thou shalt be admitted in the copulation of

the holie Patriarches.

21   And the third night thou shalt obteyne a blessing that sound children may be procreated of you.

22   And when the third night is past, thou shalt take the virgin with the feare of our Lord, moued rather for loue of children then for lust, that in the seede of Abraham thou mayst obteyne blessing in children. Chap. VII. They are kindly entertained by Raguel. 10. Tobias demandeth Sara to wife, which Raguel, encoredged by the Angel, granteth. 15. and the mariage is made.

1   And they went to Raguel, and Raguel receiued them with ioy.

2   And Raguel beholding Tobias, sayd to Anna his wife: How like is this yongman to my sisters sonne!

3   And when he had spoken these wordes, he sayd: Whence are you ye yongmen our brethren?

4   But they sayd: We are of the tribe of Nephthali, of the captiuitie of Niniue.

5   And Raguel sayd to them: Know you Tobias my brother? Who sayd: We know him.

6   And when he spake much good of him, the Angel sayd to Raguel: Tobias, of whom thou askest is this mans father.

7   And Raguel put forth him selfe, and with teares kissed him, and weeping vpon his necke, sayd: Blessing haue thou my sonne, because thou art the sonne of a good and most vertuous man.

8   And Anna his wife, and Sara theyr daughter wept.

9   And after they had talked, Raguel commanded a wether to be killed, and a banket to be prepared. And when he desired them to sitte downe to dinner,

10   Tobias said: I wil not eate nor drinke here this day, vnlesse thou first assure my petition, and promise to geue me Sara thy daughter.

11   Which word Raguel hearing, was sore afrayd, knowing what had chanced to those seuen husbands, which went in vnto her: and he began to feare lest perhaps it might chance to him also in like maner: and when he doubted, and ^notegaue no answer to him demanding,

12   the Angel sayd to him: Feare not to geue her to this man, for to him fearing God is thy daughter dewe to be his wife: therfore an other could not haue her.

13   Then sayd Raguel: I doubt not but God hath admitted my prayers and teares in his sight.

14   And I beleue that therfore he hath made you come to me, that this mayde might be ioyned to her kinred, according to the law of Moyses: and now haue no doubt but I wil deliuer her

to thee.

15   And taking his daughter by the right hand, gaue it into the right hand of Tobias, saying: The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Iacob be with you, and he ioyne you together, and fulfil his blessing in you.

16   And taking paper they made a writing of the mariage.

17   And after these things they made merie, blessing God.

18   And Raguel called to him Anna his wife, and commanded her to prepare an other chamber.

19   And she brought Sara her daughter in thither, and she wept.

20   And she sayd to her: Be of good cheere my daughter, our Lord of heauen geue thee ioy for the tediousnesse which thou hast suffered. Chap. VIII. Tobias bruling part of the fishes liuer, Raphael bindeth the diuel. 4. Tobias and Sara pray. 11. Raguel fearing that Tobias is dead, maketh a graue for him, but vnderstanding that he is wel, filleth it vp againe, 21. prepareth a feast, geueth the half of his goodes presently for Saraes dawrie, the other halfe after her parents death.

1   And after they had supped, they brought in the yong man to her.

2   Tobias therfore remembring the Angels word, brought forth out of his bag, part of ^note the liuer, and layd it vpon liue coales.

3   Then Raphael the Angel tooke the diuel, and bound him in the desert of higher Ægypt.

4   Then Tobias exhorted the virgin, & sayd to her: Sara arise, and let vs pray to God to day, and to morow, and the next morow: because these three nights we are ioyned to God: and when the third night is past, we wil be in our wedlocke.

5   For we are the children of holie men, & we may not be ioyned together as gentiles, that know not God.

6   And they rising together, prayed both together that health might be geuen them.

7   And Tobias sayd: Lord God of our fathers, the heauens & the earth, and the sea & fountaynes, and riuers, and al thy creatures that are in them, blesse thee.

8   Thou madest Adam of the slime of the earth, & gauest him Eue an helper.

9   And now Lord thou knowest, that not for fleshlie lust doe I take my sister to wife, but only for the loue of posteritie, in the which thy name may be blessed for euer & euer.

10   Sara also sayd: Haue mercie on vs Lord, haue mercie vpon vs and let vs grow old both together in health.

11   And it came to passe about the cock crowing, Raguel bad his seruantes to be called for, & they went with him together to digge a graue.

12   For he sayd: Lest perhaps it may

chance to him, as also to the other seuen husbandes, that wont in vnto her.

13   And when they had prepared the pitte, Raguel returning to his wife, sayd to her:

14   Send one of thy handmaydes, and let her see if he be dead, that I may burie him before it be day.

15   But she sent one of her handmaydes, who going into the chamber, found them safe and sound, sleeping both together.

16   And returning she brought good tydings: and they blessed our Lord, to witte, Raguel & Anna his wife,

17   and sayd: We blesse thee Lord God of Israel, because it hath not chanced as we thought.

18   For thou hast done thy mercie with vs, & hast excluded from vs the enemie, that persecuted vs.

19   And thou hast taken pitie vpon two the ^note only children. Make them Lord blesse thee more fully: and to offer vp to thee a sacrifice of thy prayse, and of their health, that al nations may know, that thou art God onlie in al the earth.

20   And forthwith Raguel commanded his seruantes, that they should fil vp the pitte, which they had made, before it were day.

21   And he bad his wife make readie a feast, and prepare al thinges, that for victuals were necessarie to them that goe a iourney.

22   He caused also two fatte kyne, and foure wethers to be killed, and great chere to be prepared for al his neighbours, and al his freindes.

23   And Raguel adiured Tobias, that he should abide with him two weekes.

24   And of al thinges which Raguel possessed, he gaue the halfe part to Tobias, and made this writing, that the halfe part, which was remayning after their decease, should come to the dominion of Tobias. Chap. IX. The Angel Raphael goeth to Gabelus, receiueth the money, and bringeth him to the mariage. 8. They salute ech other, and Gabelus wisheth al prosperitie to yong Tobias, and his spouse.

1   Then Tobias called the Angel to him, whom he thought to be a man, and he sayd to him: Brother Azarias, I pray thee harken to my wordes:

2   If I should deliuer my self to be thy seruant I shal not deserue thy prouidence.

3   Howbeit I besech thee, that thou take vnto thee beastes and seruantes, and goe to Gabelus into ^note Rages the citie of Medes: & render him his handwriting, and receiue of him the money, and desire him to come to my mariage.

4   For thyself knowest that my father numbreth the dayes: and if I slacke one day more, his soule is made sorowful.

5   And surely thou seest how

Raguel hath adiured me, whose adiuring I can not dispise.

6   Then Raphael taking foure of Raguels seruantes, & two camels, went into Rages the citie of Medes: & finding Gabelus gaue him his handwriting, and receiued of him al the money.

7   And he told him of Tobias the sonne of Tobias, al thinges that were done: and made him come with him to the mariage.

8   And when he was entered into Raguels house, he found Tobias sitting at the table: and he leaping vp, they kissed ech other: and Gabelus wept, and blessed God,

9   and sayd: The God of Israel blesse thee, because thou art the sonne of a verie good man, and iust, and that feareth God, and doth almes deedes:

10   and blessing be geuen vpon thy wife, and vpon your parentes:

11   & that you may see your children, and your childrens children, vnto the third & fourth generation: and your seede be blessed of the God of Israel, who reigneth fer euer and euer.

12   And when al had sayd, Amen; they went to the feast: but with the feare of our Lord also did they celebrate the feast of the mariage. Chap. X. The parentes lament the long absence of their sonne Tobias. 8. whom when Raguel can not perswade to stay longer, 11. he wisheth much good vnto him, and his wife, admonishing her to be dutiful in al thinges.

1   Bvt when Tobias taried long09Q0192 because of the mariage, Tobias his father was careful, saying: Why thinkest thou doth my sonne tarie, or why is he held there?

2   Is Gabelus dead thinkest thou, and no man wil restore him the money?

3   And he began to be sorowful exceedingly him selfe, and Anna his wife with him: and ^note they began both to weepe together: because their sonne did not returne to them the day appointed.

4   His mother therfore wept with discomfortable teares, and sayd: Woe, woe is me, my sonne, why sent we thee to goe to a strange countrie, the light of our eies, the staffe of our old age, the comforte of our life, the hope of our posteritie?

5   We hauing al things together in thee onlie, ought not to haue let thee goe from vs.

6   To whom Tobias said: Hold thy peace, and be not trubled, our sonne is safe, that man with whom we sent him is faithful ynough

7   Howbeit she could by no meanes be comforted, but dayly running out looked about, and went about al waies by which there seemed hope he would returne, that she might see him a far

of, if it were possible, coming.

8   But Raguel sayd to his sonne in law: Tarie here, and I wil send a messenger to Tobias thy father, that thou art in health.

9   To whom Tobias sayd: I know that my father & my mother do now count the dayes, and their spirite is tormented in them.

10   And when Raguel desired Tobias in manie wordes, and he by no meanes would heare him, he deliuered Sara vnto him, and the halfe part of al his substance in men seruantes, & wemen seruantes, in cattel, in camels, and in kine, and in much money and dismist him safe and ioyful from him,

11   saying: The holie Angel of our Lord be in your iourney, and bring you through safe, and that you may finde al thinges wel about your parentes, and myn eies may see your children before I die.

12   And the parentes taking their daughter, kissed her, and let her goe:

13   admonishing her to honour her father and mother inlaw, to loue her husband, to rule the houshold, to gouerne the house, and to shewe her selfe irreprehensible. ^{note note}

Chap. XI. Leauing Sara with the rest of the companie, and the flocke to folow, the Angel Raphael and Tobias goe before, 5. are ioyfully receiued, 8. Tobias annointeth his fathers eyes with the fishes gal, and he seeth. 18. Sara arriueth seuen dayes after with her familie and cattle.

1   And when they returned they came to Charan, which is in the middeway agaynst Niniue, the eleuenth day.

2   And the Angel said: Brother Tobias thou knowest how thou didest leaue thy farher.

3   If it please thee therfore, let vs goe before, and let the families folow softly after vs, together with thy wife, and with the beastes.

4   And when this pleased him that they should goe, Raphael said to Tobias: Take with thee of the gal of the fish: for it shal be necessarie. Tobias therfore tooke of that gal and they departed.

5   But Anna sate beside the way dayly, in the toppe of a hil, from whence she might see afar of.

6   And whiles she watched his coming out of that place, she saw afar of, and by and by perceiued her sonne coming: and running she told her husband saying: Behold thy sonne cometh.

7   And Raphael

said to Tobias: But when thou art entred into thy house forthwith adore our Lord thy God: and geuing thankes to him goe to thy father, and kisse him.

8   And immediatly annointe vpon his eies of this gal of the fish, which thou cariest with thee. For know thou that forthwith his eies shal be opened, and thy father shal see the light of heauen, and shal reioice in the sight of thee.

9   Then ranne ^note the dogge before, which had beene with them in the way, and coming as it were a messenger with the fawning of his tayle reioysed.

10   And his father that was blind rysing vp, began to runne stumbling with his feete: and geuing a seruant his hand, went to meete his sonne.

11   And receiuing him kissed him, with his wife, and they began both to weepe for ioy.

12   And when they had adored God, and geuen thankes, they sate downe together.

13   Then Tobias taking of the gal of the fish, annoynted his fathers eies.

14   And he stayed as it were almost halfe an houre: & the white blenish began to come out of his eies, as it were the skine of an egge.

15   Which Tobias taking drewe from his eies, and immediatly ^note he receiued sight.

16   And they glorified God, to wit, himselfe and his wife, and al that knewe him.

17   And Tobias said: I blesse thee Lord God of Israel, because thou hast chastised me, and thou hast saued me: and behold I see Tobias my sonne.

18   After seuen dayes also came in Sara his sonnes wife, and al the familie safe, and cattel, and the camels, and much money of his wiues: and that money also, which he had receiued of Gabelus:

19   and he told his parentes al the benefites of God, which he had done to him by the man, that conducted him.

20   And Achior and Nabath Tobias sisters sonnes came, reioysing at Tobias, and congratulating him for al good thinges, that God had shewed towards him.

21   And for seuen daies making good chere, they reioysed al with great ioy. Chap XII. Old Tobias and his sonne offer the half of al the goodes which they had newly receiued to Raphael, for his wages. 6. VVho then declareth to them that he was sent from God to helpe them, 15. and that he is an Angel, 10. He parteth away, and they render thankes to God.

1   Then Tobias called to him his sonne, and sayd to him: What may we geue to this holie man, that is come with thee.

2   Tobias answering, sayd to his father: Father what reward shal we geue him? or what can be worthie of his benefittes?

3   He hath ^note led me and brought me agayne safe, he ^notereceiued the money of Gabelus, he ^note caused me to haue my wife, and the ^note euil spirit he chased from her, he ^note made ioy vnto her parentes, my self he ^note deliuered from being deuouted of the fish, ^note thee also he hath made to see the light of heauen, and we are replenished with ^note al good things by him. What can we geue him worthie for these things?

4   But I beseech thee my father, that thou desire him, if perhaps he wil voutsafe to take vnto him the one halfe of al thinges, which are brought.

5   And they calling him, to wit the father and the sonne, tooke him aside: & began to desire him that he would voutsafe to accept the halfe part of al thinges, that they had brought.

6   Then he sayd to them secretely: Blesse ye the God of heauen, and before al that liue confesse to him, because he hath done mercie with you.

7   For to hide the secrete of a king is good: but to reueale & confesse the workes of God is an honorable thing.

8    ^notePrayer is good with fasting and almes, rather then to lay vp treasures of gold:

9   because almes deliuereth from death, and that is it which purgeth sinnes, and maketh to finde mercie and life euerlasting.

10   But they that committe sinne and iniquitie, are enemies to their owne soule.

11   I open therfore vnto you the truth, and I wil not hide from you the secrete word.

12   When thou didst pray with teares, and didst burie the dead and leaft thy dinner, and didest hide the dead by day in thy house, and by night didst burie them,09Q0193 I ^note offered thy prayer to our Lord.

13   And because thou wast acceptable to God, it was necessarie that tentation should proue thee.

14   And now our Lord sent me to cure thee, and to deliuer Sara thy sonnes wife from the diuel.

15   For I am Raphael an Angel, one of the seuen, which assist before our Lord.

16   And when they had heard these thinges, they were trubled, & trembling fel vpon the ground on their face.

17   And the Angel sayd to them: Peace be to you, feare not.

18   For when I was with you, by the wil of God I was so: blesse ye him, and sing to him.

19   I seemed indeede to eate with you, and to drinke: but I vse an inuisible meate and drinke, which can not be seene of men.

20   It is time therfore that I returne to him, that sent me: but blesse ye God, and tel al his maruelous workes.

21   And when he had sayd these things, he was taken from their sight, and they could see him no more.

22   Then prostrate for three houres vpon their face, they blessed God: and rysing vp they told al his maruelous workes.

^note

Chap. XIII. Tobias the father prayseth God, exhorting al Israel to do the same. 11. prophecieth the restauration and better state of Ierusalem. ^note

1   And Tobias the elder opening his mouth, blessed our Lord, and sayd: Thou art great Lord for euer, and thy kingdom world without end:

2   because thou scourgest, and fauest: leadest downe to hel, and bringest backe agayne: and there is none that may escape thy hand.

3   C&obar;fesse to our Lord ye children of Israel, and in the sight of the Gentiles prayse him:

4   because he hath therfore dispersed you among the gentiles, which know not him, that you may declare his maruelous workes, and ^note make them know, that there is no other God omnipotent besides him.

5   He hath chastified vs for our iniquities: and he wil saue vs for his mercie.

6   Behold therfore what he hath done with vs, and with feare and trembling confesse ye to him: and extol the king of the worldes in your workes.

7   And I ^note in the land of my captiuitie wil confesse to him: because he hath shewed his maiestie toward a sinful nation.

8   Conuert therfore ye sinners, & do iustice before God, beleuing that he wil doe his mercie with you.

9   And I, and my soule wil reioyce in him.

10   Blesse ye our Lord al his elect, celebrate daies of gladnes, and confesse to him.

11   Ierusalem the citie of God, our Lord hath chastised thee in the workes of thy handes.

12   Confesse to our Lord in thy good thinges, and blesse the God of the worldes, that he may ^note reedesie his tabernacle in thee, and may cal backe al the captiues to thee, & thou mayst reioyce for euer and euer.

13   Thou shalt shine with a glorious light: and al the coastes of the earth shal adore thee.

14   Nations from far shal come to thee: and bringing giftes, they shal adore our Lord in thee, and shal esteeme thy land for sanctification.

15   For they shal inuocate the great name in thee.

16   Cursed shal they be that shal contemne thee: and damned shal they be that shal blaspheme thee: and blessed shal they be that shal build thee.

17   And thou shalt reioyce in thy children, because they shal

al be blessed, & shal be gathered together to our Lord.

18   Blessed are al that loue thee, and that reioyce vpon thy peace.

19   My soule, blesse thou our Lord, because he hath deliuered Ierusalem his citie ^note from al her tribulations, the Lord our God.

20   Blessed shal I be if there shal remayne of my seede, to see the glorie of Ierusalem.

21   The gates of Ierusalem shal be built of Saphire and the Emerauld: and al the compasse of the walles therof of pretious stone.

22   With white and cleane stone shal al the streates therof be paued: and in the streates therof ^noteAlleluia shal be song.

23   Blessed be our Lord, which hath exalted it, and his kingdom be for euer and euer ouer it Amen. Chap. XIIII. Old Tobias dieth at the age of an hundred and two yeares, 5. exhorteth his sonne and nephewes to pietie, forshewing that Niniue shal be destroyed, and Ierusalem reedified. 14. yonger Tobias returneth with his familie to Raguel, and dieth happely as he had liued.

1   And the wordes of Tobias were ended. And after that Tobias was restored to his sight, he liued two and fourtie yeares, and saw the children of his nephewes.

2   Therfore an hundred and two yeares being accomplished, he was buried honorably in Niniue.

3   For being six and fiftie yeares old he lost the sight of his eies, and being threescore he receiued it agayne.

4   And the rest of his life was in ioy, and with great increase of the feare of God he went forward in peace.

5   And at the houre of his death he called vnto him Tobias his sonne, and his seuen yong sonnes, his nephewes, and sayd to them:

6   The destruction of Niniue is neere: for the word of our Lord fayleth not: and our brethren, which are dispersed from the land of Israel, shal returne to it.

7   And al the desert land therof shal be replenished, and the house of God which is burnt in it, shal agayne be reedefied: and thither shal al returne that feare God,

8   and the Gentiles shal forsake their idols, and shal come into Ierusalem, and shal inhabite in it,

9   and ^note al the kings of the earth shal reioyce in it, adoring the king of Israel.

10   Heare ye therfore my children your father: serue our Lord in truth, and ^note seeke to doe the thinges that please him:

11   and command your children that they doe iustices and almes deedes, that they be mindeful of God, and blesse him at al time in truth, and in al their power.

12   Now therfore children heare me, and doe not tarie here: but what day soeuer you shal burie your mother by me in one sepulchre, from thenceforth directe your steppes to depart hence:

13   for I see that the iniquitie therof wil giue it an end.

14   And it came to passe after the death of his mother, Tobias departed out of Niniue with his wife, and children, and childrens children, and returned to his father and mother in law.

15   And he found them in health in good old age: and he tooke care of them, and he closed their eies: and al the inheritance of Raguels house he receiued: & he saw the fifth generation, his childrens children.

16   And nintie nine yeares being accomplished in the feare of our Lord, with ioy they buried him.

17   And ^note al his kinred, and al his generation continewed in good life, and in holie conuersation, so that they were acceptable both to God, and to men, and to al the inhabitantes in in the land.

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