Tobit Gives Instructions to His Son

¹ On that day Tobit remembered the silver that he had left in trust with Gabael at Rages in Media,

² and he said in his heart: “Behold! I have asked for death. Why do I not call my son Tobias and tell him about this silver before I die?”

³ So he called his son Tobias, and he came to him, and Tobit said to him, “Bury me honourably and respect your mother and do not abandon her all the days of her life. Do what is pleasing to her and do not grieve her spirit in any matter.

⁴ Remember her, child, because she faced many dangers for you while you were in her womb. And when she dies, bury her beside me in one grave.

⁵ “Remember the Lord all your days, child, and refuse to sin or to transgress his commandments. Do righteous deeds all the days of your life and do not walk in the paths of wrongdoing.

⁶ For those who practise what is true will prosper in their deeds.

⁷ Do deeds of mercy from your possessions to all who practise righteousness and do not let your eye begrudge the gift when you make it. Do not turn your face away from any poor man, and the face of God will not be turned away from you.

⁸ If you have many possessions, make your gift from them in proportion; if few, do not be afraid to give according to the little you have.

⁹ So you will be laying up a good treasure for your self against the day of necessity.

¹⁰ For practising mercy delivers from death and keeps you from entering the darkness;

¹¹ for practising mercy is an excellent offering in the sight of the Most High for all who do it.

¹² “Beware, child, of all fornication. First of all take a wife from among the descendants of your fathers and do not marry a foreign woman, who is not of your father’s tribe; for we are the sons of the prophets. Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, our fathers of old—remember, child, that these all took wives from among their kinsmen. They were blessed in their children, and their offspring will inherit the land.

¹³ So now, child, love your kinsfolk and do not disdain in your heart to take for yourself a wife from among your kinsfolk and from the sons and daughters of your people. For in arrogant disdain there is ruin and great confusion; and in idleness there is loss and great want, because idleness is the mother of famine.

¹⁴ “Do not hold over till the next day the wages of any man who works for you, but pay him at once; and if you serve God you will receive payment. Watch yourself, my son, in everything you do and be disciplined in all your conduct.

¹⁵ And what you hate, do not do to anyone. Do not drink wine to excess or let drunkenness go with you on your way.

¹⁶ Give some of your bread to the hungry and some of your clothing to the naked. Give all your surplus to charity and do not let your eye begrudge the gift while you are making it.

¹⁷ Place your loaves on the grave of the righteous, but give none to sinners.

¹⁸ Seek advice from every wise man and do not despise any useful counsel.

¹⁹ Bless the Lord God on every occasion; ask him that your ways may be made straight and that all your paths and plans may prosper. For none of the nations has understanding; but the Lord will give them good counsel, and whomever he wishes he brings down as far as the lowest parts of Hades. “And now, child, remember these commands and let them not be blotted out of your mind.

²⁰ And now, child, I tell you that I entrusted ten talents of silver to Gabael, the brother of Gabri, at Rages in Media.

²¹ Do not be afraid, child, that we have become poor: Many good things are yours if you fear God and flee from every sin and do what is good in the sight of the Lord your God.”