Chapter 88

6:22. And when the third night is past, thou shalt take the virgin with the fear of the Lord, moved rather for love of children than for lust, that in the seed of Abraham thou mayst obtain a blessing in children.

Tobias Chapter 7

They are kindly entertained by Raguel. Tobias demandeth Sara to wife.

7:1. And they went in to Raguel, and Raguel received them with joy.

7:2. And Raguel looking upon Tobias, said to Anna his wife: How like is this young man to my cousin?

7:3. And when he had spoken these words, he said: Whence are ye young men our brethren?

7:4. But they said: We are of the tribe of Nephtali, of the captivity of Ninive.

7:5. And Raguel said to them: Do you know Tobias my brother? And they said: We know him.

7:6. And when he was speaking many good things of him, the angel said to Raguel: Tobias concerning whom thou inquirest is this young man's father.

7:7. And Raguel went to him, and kissed him with tears and weeping upon his neck, said: A blessing be upon thee, my son, because thou art the son of a good and most virtuous man.

7:8. And Anna his wife, and Sara their daughter wept.

7:9. And after they had spoken, Raguel commanded a sheep to be killed, and a feast to be prepared. And when he desired them to sit down to dinner,

7:10. Tobias said: I will not eat nor drink here this day, unless thou first grant me my petition, and promise to give me Sara thy daughter.

7:11. Now when Raguel heard this he was afraid, knowing what had happened to those seven husbands, that went in unto her: and he began to fear lest it might happen to him also in like manner: and as he was in suspense, and gave no answer to his petition,

7:12. The angel said to him: Be not afraid to give her to this man, for to him who feareth God is thy daughter due to be his wife: therefore another could not have her.

7:13. Then Raguel said: I doubt not but God hath regarded my prayers and tears in his sight.

7:14. And I believe he hath therefore made you come to me, that this maid might be married to one of her own kindred, according to the law of Moses: and now doubt not but I will give her to thee.

7:15. And taking the right hand of his daughter, he gave it into the right hand of Tobias, saying: The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob be with you, and may he join you together, and fulfil his blessing in you.

7:16. And taking paper they made a writing of the marriage.

7:17. And afterwards they made merry, blessing God.

7:18. And Raguel called to him Anna his wife, and bade her to prepare another chamber.

7:19. And she brought Sara her daughter in thither, and she wept.

7:20. And she said to her: Be of good cheer, my daughter: the Lord of heaven give thee joy for the trouble thou hast undergone.

Tobias Chapter 8

Tobias burneth part of the fish's liver, and Raphael bindeth the devil. Tobias and Sara pray.

8:1. And after they had supped, they brought in the young man to her.

8:2. And Tobias remembering the angel's word, took out of his bag part of the liver, and laid it upon burning coals.

8:3. Then the angel Raphael took the devil, and bound him in the desert of upper Egypt.

8:4. Then Tobias exhorted the virgin, and said to her: Sara, arise, and let us pray to God to day, and to morrow, and the next day: because for these three nights we are joined to God: and when the third night is over, we will be in our own wedlock.

8:5. For we are the children of saints, and we must not be joined together like heathens that know not God.

8:6. So they both arose, and prayed earnestly both together that health might be given them,

8:7. And Tobias said: Lord God of our fathers, may the heavens and the earth, and the sea, and the fountains, and the rivers, and all thy creatures that are in them, bless thee.

8:8. Thou madest Adam of the slime of the earth, and gavest him Eve for a helper.

8:9. And now, Lord, thou knowest, that not for fleshly lust do I take my sister to wife, but only for the love of posterity, in which thy name may be blessed for ever and ever.

8:10. Sara also said: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, and let us grow old both together in health.

8:11. And it came to pass about the cockcrowing, Raguel ordered his servants to be called for, and they went with him together to dig a grave.

8:12. For he said: Lest perhaps it may have happened to him, in like manner as it did to the other seven husbands, that went in unto her.

8:13. And when they had prepared the pit, Raguel went back to his wife, and said to her:

8:14. Send one of thy maids, and let her see if he be dead, that I may bury him before it be day.

8:15. So she sent one of her maidservants, who went into the chamber, and found them safe and sound, sleeping both together.

8:16. And returning she brought the good news: and Raguel and Anna his wife blessed the Lord,

8:17. And said: We bless thee, O Lord God of Israel, because it hath not happened as we suspected.

8:18. For thou hast shewn thy mercy to us, and hast shut out from us the enemy that persecuted us.

8:19. And thou hast taken pity upon two only children. Make them, O Lord, bless thee more fully: and to offer up to thee a sacrifice of thy praise, and of their health, that all nations may know, that thou alone art God in all the earth.

8:20. And immediately Raguel commanded his servants, to fill up the pit they had made, before it was day.

8:21. And he spoke to his wife to make ready a feast, and prepare all kind of provisions that are necessary for such as go a journey.

8:22. He caused also two fat kine, and four wethers to be killed, and a banquet to be prepared for all his neighbours, and all his friends,

8:23. And Raguel adjured Tobias, to abide with him two weeks.

8:24. And of all things which Raguel possessed, he gave one half to Tobias, and made a writing, that the half that remained should after their decease come also to Tobias.

Tobias Chapter 9

The angel Raphael goeth to Gabelus, receiveth the money, and bringeth him to the marriage.

9:1. Then Tobias called the angel to him, whom he took to be a man, and said to him: Brother Azarias, I pray thee hearken to my words:

9:2. If I should give myself to be thy servant I should not make a worthy return for thy care.

9:3. However, I beseech thee, to take with thee beasts and servants, and to go to Gabelus to Rages the city of the Medes: and to restore to him his note of hand, and receive of him the money, and desire him to come to my wedding.

9:4. For thou knowest that my father numbereth the days: and if I stay one day more, his soul will be afflicted.

9:5. And indeed thou seest how Raguel hath adjured me, whose adjuring I cannot despise.

9:6. Then Raphael took four of Raguel's servants, and two camels, and went to Rages the city of the Medes: and finding Gabelus, gave him his note of hand, and received of him all the money.

9:7. And he told him concerning Tobias the son of Tobias, all that had been done: and made him come with him to the wedding.

9:8. And when he was come into Raguel's house he found Tobias sitting at the table: and he leaped up, and they kissed each other: and Gabelus wept, and blessed God,

9:9. And said: The God of Israel bless thee, because thou art the son of a very good and just man, and that feareth God, and doth almsdeeds:

9:10. And may a blessing come upon thy wife and upon your parents.

9:11. And may you see your children, and your children's children, unto the third and fourth generation: and may your seed be blessed by the God of Israel, who reigneth for ever and ever.

9:12. And when all had said, Amen, they went to the feast: but the marriage feast they celebrated also with the fear of the Lord.

Tobias Chapter 10

The parents lament the long absence of their son Tobias. He sets out to return.

10:1. But as Tobias made longer stay upon occasion of the marriage, Tobias his father was solicitous, saying: Why thinkest thou doth my son tarry, or why is he detained there?

10:2. Is Gabelus dead, thinkest thou, and no man will pay him the money?

10:3. And he began to be exceeding sad, both he and Anna his wife with him: and they began both to weep together, because their son did not return to them on the day appointed.

10:4. But his mother wept and was quite disconsolate, and said: Woe, woe is me, my son; why did we send thee to go to a strange country, the light of our eyes, the staff of our old age, the comfort of our life, the hope of our posterity?

10:5. We having all things together in thee alone, ought not to have let thee go from us.

10:6. And Tobias said to her: Hold thy peace, and be not troubled, our son is safe: that man with whom we sent him is very trusty.

10:7. But she could by no means be comforted, but daily running out looked round about, and went into all the ways by which there seemed any hope he might return, that she might if possible see him coming afar off.

10:8. But Raguel said to his son in law: Stay here, and I will send a messenger to Tobias thy father, that thou art in health.

10:9. And Tobias said to him: I know that my father and mother now count the days, and their spirit is grievously afflicted within them.

10:10. And when Raguel had pressed Tobias with many words, and he by no means would hearken to him, he delivered Sara unto him, and half of all his substance in menservants, and womenservants, in cattle, in camels, and in kine, and in much money, and sent him away safe and joyful from him,

10:11. Saying: The holy angel of the Lord be with you in your journey, and bring you through safe, and that you may find all things well about your parents, and my eyes may see your children before I die.

10:12. And the parents taking their daughter kissed her, and let her go:

10:13. Admonishing her to honour her father and mother in law, to love her husband, to take care of the family, to govern the house, and to behave herself irreprehensibly.

Tobias Chapter 11

Tobias anointeth his father's eyes with the fish's gall, and he recovereth his sight.

11:1. And as they were returning they came to Charan, which is in the midway to Ninive, the eleventh day.

11:2. And the angel said: Brother Tobias, thou knowest how thou didst leave thy father.

11:3. If it please thee therefore, let us go before, and let the family follow softly after us, together with thy wife, and with the beasts.

11:4. And as this their going pleased him, Raphael said to Tobias: Take with thee of the gall of the fish, for it will be necessary. So Tobias took some of that gall and departed.

11:5. But Anna sat beside the way daily, on the top of a hill, from whence she might see afar off.

11:6. And while she watched his coming from that place, she saw him afar off, and presently perceived it was her son coming: and returning she told her husband, saying: Behold thy son cometh.

11:7. And Raphael said to Tobias: As soon as thou shalt come into thy house, forthwith adore the Lord thy God: and giving thanks to him, go to thy father, and kiss him.

11:8. And immediately anoint his eyes with this gall of the fish, which thou carriest with thee. For be assured that his eyes shall be presently opened, and thy father shall see the light of heaven, and shall rejoice in the sight of thee.

11:9. Then the dog, which had been with them in the way, ran before, and coming as if he had brought the news, shewed his joy by his fawning and wagging his tail.

The dog, etc. . .This may seem a very minute circumstance to be recorded in sacred history: but as we learn from our Saviour, St. Matt. 5.18, there are iotas and tittles in the word of God: that is to say, things that appear minute, but which have indeed a deep and mysterious meaning in them.

11:10. And his father that was blind, rising up, began to run stumbling with his feet: and giving a servant his hand, went to meet his son.

11:11. And receiving him kissed him, as did also his wife, and they began to weep for joy.

11:12. And when they had adored God, and given him thanks, they sat down together.

11:13. Then Tobias taking of the gall of the fish, anointed his father's eyes.

11:14. And he stayed about half an hour: and a white skin began to come out of his eyes, like the skin of an egg.

11:15. And Tobias took hold of it, and drew it from his eyes, and recovered his sight.

11:16. And they glorified God, both he and his wife and all that knew him.

11:17. And Tobias said: I bless thee, O Lord God of Israel, because thou hast chastised me, and thou hast saved me and behold I see Tobias my son.

11:18. And after seven days Sara his son's wife and all the family arrived safe, and the cattle, and the camels, and an abundance of money of his wife's: and that money also which he had received of Gabelus,

11:19. And he told his parents all the benefits of God, which he had done to him by the man that conducted him.

11:20. And Achior and Nabath the kinsmen of Tobias came, rejoicing for Tobias, and congratulating with him for all the good things that God had done for him.

11:21. And for seven days they feasted and rejoiced all with great joy.

Tobias Chapter 12

Raphael maketh himself known.

12:1. Then Tobias called to him his son and said to him: What can we give to this holy man, that is come with thee?

12:2. Tobias answering, said to his father: Father, what wages shall we give him? or what can be worthy of his benefits?

12:3. He conducted me and brought me safe again, he received the money of Gabelus, he caused me to have my wife, and he chased from her the evil spirit, he gave joy to her parents, myself he delivered from being devoured by the fish, thee also he hath made to see the light of heaven, and we are filled with all good things through him. What can we give him sufficient for these things?

12:4. But I beseech thee, my father, to desire him, that he would vouchsafe to accept of one half of all things that have been brought.

12:5. So the father and the son calling him, took him aside: and began to desire him that he would vouchsafe to accept of half of all things that they had brought,

12:6. Then he said to them secretly, Bless ye the God of heaven, give glory to him in the sight of all that live, because he hath shewn his mercy to you.

12:7. For it is good to hide the secret of a king: to reveal and confess the works of God.

12:8. Prayer is good with fasting and alms more than to lay up treasures of gold.

12:9. For alms delivereth from death, and the same is that which purgeth away sins, and maketh to find mercy and life everlasting.

12:10. But they that commit sin and iniquity, are enemies to their own soul.

12:11. I discover then the truth unto you, and I will not hide the secret from you.

12:12. When thou didst pray with tears, and didst bury the dead, and didst leave thy dinner, and hide the dead by day in thy house, and bury them by night, I offered thy prayer to the Lord.

12:13. And because thou wast acceptable to God, it was necessary that temptation should prove thee.

12:14. And now the Lord hath sent me to heal thee, and to deliver Sara thy son's wife from the devil.

12:15. For I am the angel Raphael, one of the seven, who stand before the Lord.

12:16. And when they had heard these things, they were troubled, and being seized with fear they fell upon the ground on their face.

12:17. And the angel said to them: Peace be to you, fear not.

12:18. For when I was with you, I was there by the will of God: bless ye him, and sing praises to him.

12:19. I seemed indeed to eat and to drink with you but I use an invisible meat and drink, which cannot be seen by men.

12:20. It is time therefore that I return to him that sent me: but bless ye God, and publish all his wonderful works.

12:21. And when he had said these things, he was taken from their sight, and they could see him no more.

12:22. Then they lying prostrate for three hours upon their face, blessed God, and rising up, they told all his wonderful works.

Tobias Chapter 13

Tobias the father praiseth God, exhorting all Israel to do the same. Prophesieth the restoration and better state of Jerusalem.

13:1. And Tobias the elder opening his mouth, blessed the Lord, and said: Thou art great O Lord, for ever, and thy kingdom is unto all ages.

13:2. For thou scourgest, and thou savest: thou leadest down to hell, and bringest up again: and there is none that can escape thy hand.

13:3. Give glory to the Lord, ye children of Israel, and praise him in the sight of the Gentiles:

13:4. Because he hath therefore scattered you among the Gentiles, who know not him, that you may declare his wonderful works, and make them know that there is no other almighty God besides him.

13:5. He hath chastised us for our iniquities: and he will save us for his own mercy.

13:6. See then what he hath done with us, and with fear and trembling give ye glory to him: and extol the eternal King of worlds in your works.

13:7. As for me, I will praise him in the land of my captivity: because he hath shewn his majesty toward a sinful nation,

13:8. Be converted therefore, ye sinners, and do justice before God, believing that he will shew his mercy to you.

13:9. And I and my soul will rejoice in him.

13:10. Bless ye the Lord, all his elect, keep days of joy, and give glory to him.

13:11. Jerusalem, city of God, the Lord hath chastised thee for the works of thy hands.

Jerusalem. . .What is prophetically delivered here, and in the following chapter, with relation to Jerusalem, is partly to be understood of the rebuilding of the city after the captivity: and partly of the spiritual Jerusalem, which is the church of Christ, and the eternal Jerusalem in heaven.

13:12. Give glory to the Lord for thy good things, and bless the God eternal that he may rebuild his tabernacle in thee, and may call back all the captives to thee, and thou mayst rejoice for ever and ever.

13:13. Thou shalt shine with a glorious light: and all the ends of the earth shall worship thee,

13:14. Nations from afar shall come to thee: and shall bring gifts, and shall adore the Lord in thee, and shall esteem thy land as holy.

13:15. For they shall call upon the great name in thee,

13:16. They shall be cursed that shall despise thee: and they shall be condemned that shall blaspheme thee: and blessed shall they be that shall build thee up,

13:17. But thou shalt rejoice in thy children, because they shall all be blessed, and shall be gathered together to the Lord.

13:18. Blessed are all they that love thee, and that rejoice in thy peace,

13:19. My soul, bless thou the Lord, because the Lord our God hath delivered Jerusalem his city from all her troubles.

13:20. Happy shall I be if there shall remain of my seed, to see the glory of Jerusalem.

13:21. The gates of Jerusalem shall be built of sapphire, and of emerald, and all the walls thereof round about of precious stones.

13:22. All its streets shall be paved with white and clean stones: and Alleluia shall be sung in its streets,

13:23. Blessed be the Lord, who hath exalted it, and may he reign over it for ever and ever, Amen.

Tobias Chapter 14

Old Tobias dieth at the age of a hundred and two years, after exhorting his son and grandsons to piety, foreshewing that Ninive shall be destroyed, and Jerusalem rebuilt. The younger Tobias returneth with his family to Raguel, and dieth happily as he had lived.

14:1. And the words of Tobias were ended. And after Tobias was restored to his sight, he lived two and forty years, and saw the children of his grandchildren.

14:2. And after he had lived a hundred and two years, he was buried honorably in Ninive.

14:3. For he was six and fifty years old when he lost the sight of his eyes, and sixty when he recovered it again.

14:4. And the rest of his life was in joy, and with great increase of the fear of God he departed in peace.

14:5. And at the hour of his death he called unto him his son Tobias and his children, seven young men, his grandsons, and said to them:

14:6. The destruction of Ninive is at hand: for the word of the Lord must be fulfilled: and our brethren, that are scattered abroad from the land of Israel, shall return to it.

14:7. And all the land thereof that is desert shall be filled with people, and the house of God which is burnt in it, shall again be rebuilt: and all that fear God shall return thither.

14:8. And the Gentiles shall leave their idols, and shall come into Jerusalem, and shall dwell in it.

14:9. And all the kings of the earth shall rejoice in it, adoring the King of Israel.

14:10. Hearken therefore, my children, to your father: serve the Lord in truth, and seek to do the things that please him:

14:11. And command your children that they do justice and almsdeeds, and that they be mindful of God, and bless him at all times in truth, and with all their power.

14:12. And now, children, hear me, and do not stay here: but as soon as you shall bury your mother by me in one sepulchre, without delay direct your steps to depart hence:

14:13. For I see that its iniquity will bring it to destruction.

14:14. And it came to pass that after the death of his mother, Tobias departed out of Ninive with his wife, and children, and children's children, and returned to his father and mother in law.

14:15. And he found them in health in a good old age: and he took care of them, and he closed their eyes: and all the inheritance of Raguel's house came to him: and he saw his children's children to the fifth generation.

14:16. And after he had lived ninety-nine years in the fear of the Lord, with joy they buried him.

14:17. And all his kindred, and all his generation continued in good life, and in holy conversation, so that they were acceptable both to God, and to men, and to all that dwelt in the land.

THE BOOK OF JUDITH

The sacred writer of this Book is generally believed to be the high priest Eliachim (called also Joachim). The transactions herein related, most probably happened in his days, and in the reign of Manasses, after his repentance and return from captivity. It takes its name from that illustrious woman, by whose virtue and fortitude, and armed with prayer, the children of Israel were preserved from the destruction threatened them by Holofernes and his great army. It finishes with her canticle of thanksgiving to God.

Judith Chapter 1

Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians overcometh Arphaxad king of the Medes.

1:1. Now Arphaxad king of the Medes had brought many nations under his dominions, and he built a very strong city, which he called Ecbatana,

Arphaxad. . .He was probably the same as is called Dejoces by Herodotus; to whom he attributes the building of Ecbatana, the capital city of Media.

1:2. Of stones squared and hewed: he made the walls thereof seventy cubits broad, and thirty cubits high, and the towers thereof he made a hundred cubits high. But on the square of them, each side was extended the space of twenty feet.

1:3. And he made the gates thereof according to the height of the towers:

1:4. And he gloried as a mighty one in the force of his army and in the glory of his chariots.

1:5. Now in the twelfth year of his reign, Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians, who reigned in Ninive the great city, fought against Arphaxad and overcame him,

Nabuchodonosor. . .Not the king of Babylon, who took and destroyed Jerusalem, but another of the same name, who reigned in Ninive: and is called by profane historians Saosduchin. He succeeded Asarhaddan in the kingdom of the Assyrians, and was contemporary with Manasses king of Juda.

1:6. In the great plain which is called Ragua, about the Euphrates, and the Tigris, and the Jadason, in the plain of Erioch the king of the Elicians.

1:7. Then was the kingdom of Nabuchodonosor exalted, and his heart was elevated: and he sent to all that dwelt in Cilicia and Damascus, and Libanus,