Tobit · Catholic Public Domain Version
Tobit 6 Catholic Public Domain Version
Notes on this text (3)
- Esther and Daniel are the Vulgate books (Esther 1–16 with the Greek additions as chapters 10:4–16; Daniel 1–14 with the Song of the Three, Susanna and Bel). Baruch 6 is the Letter of Jeremiah.
- The translator's footnotes, cross-references, chapter summaries and book introductions in the CrossWire module are not shown.
- No imprimatur; single translator.
1 And so Tobias continued on, and the dog was following him, and he stayed at the first stopping point, near the river Tigris.
1 Now as they went on their journey, they came at evening to the river Tigris, and they lodged there.
2 And he went out to wash his feet, and behold, an immense fish came out to devour him.
2 But the young man went down to wash himself, and a fish leaped out of the river, and would have swallowed up the young man.
3 And Tobias, being frightened of it, cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Sir, it is attacking me!”
3 But the angel said to him, “Grab the fish!” So the young man grabbed the fish, and hauled it up onto the land.
4 And the Angel said to him, “Catch it by the gills, and draw it to you.” And when he had done so, he pulled it onto dry land, and it began to thrash before his feet.
4 And the angel said to him, “Cut the fish open, and take the heart, the liver, and the bile, and keep them with you.”
5 Then the Angel said to him: “Disembowel this fish, and put aside his heart, and his gall, and his liver for yourself. For these things are necessary as useful medicines.”
5 And the young man did as the angel commanded him; but they roasted the fish, and ate it. And they both went on their way, till they drew near to Ecbatana.
6 And when he had done so, he roasted its flesh, and they took it with them on the way. The rest they salted, so that it might be sufficient for them, until they would arrive at Rages, a city of the Medes.
6 The young man said to the angel, “Brother Azarias, of what use is the heart, the liver, and the bile of the fish?”
7 Then Tobias questioned the Angel, and he said to him, “I implore you, brother Azariah, to tell me what remedies these things hold, which you have told me to retain from the fish?”
7 He said to him, “About the heart and the liver: If a demon or an evil spirit troubles anyone, we must burn those and make smoke of them before the man or the woman, and the affliction will flee.
8 And the Angel, answering, said to him: “If you put a little piece of its heart on burning coals, its smoke will drive away all kinds of demons, whether from a man or from a woman, so that they will no longer approach them.
8 But as for the bile, it is good to anoint a man that has white films in his eyes, and he will be healed.”
9 And the gall is useful for anointing the eyes, in which there may be a white speck, and they will be cured.”
9 But when they drew near to Rages,
10 And Tobias said to him, “Where do you prefer that we stay?”
10 the angel said to the young man, “Brother, today we will lodge with Raguel. He is your kinsman. He has an only daughter named Sarah. I will speak about her, that she should be given to you for a wife.
11 And the Angel, responding, said: “Here is one named Raguel, a man closely related to you from your tribe, and he has a daughter named Sarah, but he has no other male or female, except her.
11 For her inheritance belongs to you, and you only are of her kindred.
12 All his livelihood is dependent upon you, and you ought to take her to yourself in marriage.
12 The maid is fair and wise. And now hear me, and I will speak to her father. When we return from Rages we will celebrate the marriage; for I know that Raguel may in no way marry her to another according to the law of Moses, or else he would be liable to death, because it belongs to you to take the inheritance, rather than any other.”
13 Therefore, ask for her from her father, and he will give her to you as wife.”
13 Then the young man said to the angel, “Brother Azarias, I have heard that this maid has been given to seven men, and that they all perished in the bride-chamber.
14 Then Tobias responded, and he said: “I hear that she has been given to seven husbands, and they passed away. But I have even heard this: that a demon killed them.
14 Now I am the only son of my father, and I am afraid, lest I go in and die, even as those before me. For a demon loves her, which harms no man, but those which come to her. Now I fear lest I die, and bring my father’s and my mother’s life to the grave with sorrow because of me. They have no other son to bury them.”
15 Therefore, I am afraid, lest this may happen to me also. And since I am the only child of my parents, I might send their old age with sorrow to the grave.”
15 But the angel said to him, “Don’t you remember the words which your father commanded you, that you should take a wife of your own kindred? Now hear me, brother; for she will be your wife. Don’t worry about the demon; for this night she will be given you as wife.
16 Then the Angel Raphael said to him: “Listen to me, and I will reveal to you who they are, over whom the demon can prevail.
16 And when you come into the bride-chamber, you shall take the ashes of incense, and shall lay upon them some of the heart and liver of the fish, and shall make smoke with them.
17 For example, those who receive marriage in such manner as to exclude God from themselves and from their mind, and in such a manner as to empty themselves to their lust, like the horse and mule, which have no understanding, over them the demon has power.
17 The demon will smell it, and flee away, and never come again any more. But when you go near to her, both of you rise up, and cry to God who is merciful. He will save you, and have mercy on you. Don’t be afraid, for she was prepared for you from the beginning; and you will save her, and she will go with you. And I suppose that you will have children with her.” When Tobias heard these things, he loved her, and his soul was strongly joined to her.
18 But you, when you will have accepted her, enter the bedroom and for three days keep yourself continent from her, and empty yourself to nothing other than prayers with her.
18 Not in this translation
19 Moreover, on that night, burn the liver of the fish like incense, and the demon will be put to flight.
19 Not in this translation
20 In truth, on the second night, you will become ready to receive a physical union like that of the holy Patriarchs.
20 Not in this translation
21 And then, on the third night, you will obtain a blessing, so that healthy children may be procreated from you both.
21 Not in this translation
22 And so, the third night having been accomplished, you will receive the virgin with the fear of the Lord, led more by love of children than by physical desire, so that, as the offspring of Abraham, you will then obtain a blessing in children.
22 Not in this translation