Tobie, 6

1. Tobie partit, suivi du chien, et il fit sa première halte près du fleuve du Tigre.

1. Then she stopped weeping.

2. Comme il descendait sur la rive pour se laver les pieds, voici qu'un énorme poisson s'élança pour le dévorer.

2. When the boy left home, accompanied by the angel, the dog followed Tobiah out of the house and went with them. The travelers walked till nightfall, and made camp beside the Tigris River.

3. Effrayé, Tobie poussa un grand cri, en disant : " Seigneur, il se jette sur moi ! "

3. Now when the boy went down to wash his feet in the river, a large fish suddenly leaped out of the water and tried to swallow his foot. He shouted in alarm.

4. L'ange lui dit : " Prends-le par les ouïes et tire-le à toi. " Ce qu'ayant fait, il le tira sur la terre sèche, et le poisson se débattit à ses pieds.

4. But the angel said to him, "Take hold of the fish and don't let it get away!" The boy seized the fish and hauled it up on the shore.

5. L'ange lui dit : " Vide ce poisson, et conserves-en le c?ur, le fiel et le foie, car ils sont employés comme d'utiles remèdes. "

5. The angel then told him: "Cut the fish open and take out its gall, heart, and liver, and keep them with you; but throw away the entrails. Its gall, heart, and liver make useful medicines."

6. Il obéit; puis il fit rôtir une partie de la chair, qu'ils emportèrent avec eux pour la route; ils salèrent le reste, qui devait leur suffire jusqu'à ce qu'ils arrivassent à Ragès, ville des Mèdes.

6. After the lad had cut the fish open, he put aside the gall, heart, and liver. Then he broiled and ate part of the fish; the rest he salted and kept for the journey.

7. Et Tobie interrogea l'ange, en disant : " Je te prie, Azarias mon frère, de me dire quelle vertu curative possèdent les parties de ce poisson que tu m'as commandé de garder. "

7. Afterward they traveled on together till they were near Media. The boy asked the angel this question: "Brother Azariah, what medicinal value is there in the fish's heart, liver, and gall?"

8. L'ange lui répondit : " Si tu poses sur des charbons une petite partie du c?ur, la fumée qui s'en exhale chasse toute espèce de démons, soit d'un homme, soit d'une femme, en sorte qu'ils ne peuvent plus s'en approcher.

8. He answered: "As regards the fish's heart and liver, if you burn them so that the smoke surrounds a man or a woman who is afflicted by a demon or evil spirit, the affliction will leave him completely, and no demons will ever return to him again.

9. Et le fiel sert à oindre les yeux couverts d'une taie, et il les guérit. "

9. And as for the gall, if you rub it on the eyes of a man who has cataracts, blowing into his eyes right on the cataracts, his sight will be restored."

10. Tobie lui dit : " Où veux-tu que nous prenions du repos? " 11 L'ange lui répondit : " Il y a ici un homme appelé Raguel, de ta tribu et de ta famille; il a une fille nommée Sara, mais, en dehors d'elle, il n'a aucun autre enfant, fils ou fille.

10. When they had entered Media and were getting close to Ecbatana,

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11. Raphael said to the boy, "Brother Tobiah!" He answered, "Yes, what is it?" Raphael continued: "Tonight we must stay with Raguel, who is a relative of yours. He has a daughter named Sarah,

12. Tout son bien doit te revenir, et il faut que tu la prennes pour épouse.

12. but no other child. Since you are Sarah's closest relative, you before all other men have the right to marry her. Also, her father's estate is rightfully yours to inherit. Now the girl is sensible, courageous, and very beautiful; and her father loves her dearly."

13. Demande-la donc à son père, et il te la donnera pour femme. "

13. He continued: "Since you have the right to marry her, listen to me, brother. Tonight I will ask the girl's father to let us have her as your bride. When we return from Rages, we will hold the wedding feast for her. I know that Raguel cannot keep her from you or let her become engaged to another man; that would be a capital crime according to the decree in the Book of Moses, and he knows that it is your right, before all other men, to marry his daughter. So heed my words, brother; tonight we must speak for the girl, so that we may have her engaged to you. And when we return from Rages, we will take her and bring her back with us to your house."

14. Alors Tobie répondit : " J'ai ouï dire qu'elle avait déjà épousé sept maris, et qu'ils sont tous morts et l'on m'a dit encore qu'un démon les avait tués.

14. Tobiah objected, however: "Brother Azariah, I have heard that this woman has already been married seven times, and that her husbands died in their bridal chambers. On the very night they approached her, they dropped dead. And I have heard it said that it was a demon who killed them.

15. Je crains donc que le même chose ne m'arrive à moi-même, et que, étant fils unique de mes parents, je ne fasse descendre avec tristesse leur vieillesse dans le tombeau. "

15. So now I too am afraid of this demon. Because he loves her, he does not harm her; but he does slay any man who wishes to come close to her. I am my father's only child. If I should die, I would bring my father and mother down to their grave in sorrow over me. And they have no other son to bury them!"

16. Et l'ange Raphaël lui dit : "Ecoute-moi, et je t'apprendrai qui sont ceux sur lesquels le démon a du pouvoir.

16. Raphael said to him: "Do you not remember your father's orders? He commanded you to marry a woman from your own family. So now listen to me, brother; do not give another thought to this demon, but marry Sarah. I know that tonight you shall have her for your wife!

17. Ce sont ceux qui entrent dans le mariage en bannissant Dieu de leur c?ur et de leur pensée, pour se livrer à leur passion, comme le cheval et le mulet qui n'ont pas de raison : sur ceux-là le démon a pouvoir.

17. When you go into the bridal chamber, take the fish's liver and heart, and place them on the embers for the incense.

18. Mais toi, lorsque tu l'auras épousée, étant entré dans la chambre, vis avec elle en continence pendant trois jours, et ne songe à autre chose qu'à prier Dieu avec elle.

18. As soon as the demon smells the odor they give off, he will flee and never again show himself near her. Then when you are about to have intercourse with her, both of you first rise up to pray. Beg the Lord of heaven to show you mercy and grant you deliverance. But do not be afraid, for she was set apart for you before the world existed. You will save her, and she will go with you. And I suppose that you will have children by her, who will take the place of brothers for you. So do not worry." When Tobiah heard Raphael say that she was his kinswoman, of his own family's lineage, he fell deeply in love with her, and his heart became set on her.

19. La première nuit, livre au feu le foie du poisson, et le démon s'enfuira.

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20. La seconde nuit, tu seras admis dans la société des saints patriarches.

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21. La troisième nuit, tu recevras la bénédiction promise à leur postérité, afin qu'il naisse de vous des enfants pleins de vigueur.

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22. La troisième nuit passée, tu prendras la jeune fille dans la crainte du Seigneur, guidé bien plus par le désir d'avoir des enfants que par la passion, afin que tu obtiennes dans tes enfants la bénédiction promise à la race d'Abraham. "

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