Tobit, 10

1. Every day, meanwhile, Tobit kept reckoning the days required for the journey there and the journey back. The full number went by, and still his son had not come.

1. Now his father Tobit was counting each day, and when the days for the journey had expired and they did not arrive,

2. Then he thought, 'I hope he has not been delayed there! I hope Gabael is not dead, so that no one will give him the silver.'

2. he said, "Is it possible that he has been detained? Or is it possible that Gabael has died and there is no one to give him the money?"

3. And he began to worry.

3. And he was greatly distressed.

4. His wife Anna kept saying, 'My son is dead! He is no longer among the living!' And she began to weep and mourn over her son. She kept saying,

4. And his wife said to him, "The lad has perished; his long delay proves it." Then she began to mourn for him, and said,

5. 'Alas! I should never have let you leave me, my child, you, the light of my eyes.'

5. "Am I not distressed, my child, that I let you go, you who are the light of my eyes?"

6. And Tobit would reply, 'Hush, my sister! Do not worry. All is well with him. Something has happened there to delay them. His companion is someone we can trust, one of our kinsmen at that. Do not lose heart, my sister.

6. But Tobit said to her, "Be still and stop worrying; he is well."

7. He will soon be here.' But all she would say was, 'Leave me alone; do not try to deceive me. My child is dead.' And every day she would go abruptly out to watch the road by which her son had left. She trusted no eyes but her own. Once the sun had set she would come home again, only to weep and moan all night, unable to sleep. After the fourteen days of feasting that Raguel had sworn to keep for his daughter's marriage, Tobias came to him and said,' Let me go now; my father and mother must have lost all hope of seeing me again. So I beg you father, to let me return to my father's house; I have told you the plight he was in when I left him.'

7. And she answered him, "Be still and stop deceiving me; my child has perished." And she went out every day to the road by which they had left; she ate nothing in the daytime, and throughout the nights she never stopped mourning for her son Tobias, until the fourteen days of the wedding feast had expired which Raguel had sworn that he should spend there. At that time Tobias said to Raguel, "Send me back, for my father and mother have given up hope of ever seeing me again."

8. Raguel said to Tobias, 'Stay, my son, stay with me. I shall send messengers to your father Tobit to give him news of you.'

8. But his father-in-law said to him, "Stay with me, and I will send messengers to your father, and they will inform him how things are with you."

9. But Tobias pressed him, 'No, I beg you to let me go back to my father's house.'

9. Tobias replied, "No, send me back to my father."

10. Without more ado, Raguel committed Sarah his bride into his keeping. He gave Tobias half his wealth, slaves, men and women, oxen and sheep, donkeys and camels, clothes and money and household things.

10. So Raguel arose and gave him his wife Sarah and half of his property in slaves, cattle, and money.

11. And so he let them leave happily. To Tobias he said these parting words, 'Good health, my son, and a happy journey! May the Lord of heaven be gracious to you and to your wife Sarah! I hope to see your children before I die.'

11. And when he had blessed them he sent them away, saying, "The God of heaven will prosper you, my children, before I die."

12. To his daughter Sarah he said, 'Go now to your father-in-law's house, since henceforward they are as much your parents as those who gave you life. Go in peace, my daughter, I hope to hear nothing but good of you, as long as I live.' He said goodbye to them and let them go. Edna in her turn said to Tobias, 'Dear son and brother, may it please the Lord to bring you back again! I hope to live long enough to see the children of you and my daughter Sarah before I die. In the sight of the Lord I give my daughter into your keeping. Never make her unhappy as long as you live. Go in peace, my son. Henceforward I am your mother and Sarah is your sister. May we all live happily for the rest of our lives!' And she kissed them both and saw them set out happily.

12. He said also to his daughter, "Honor your father-in-law and your mother-in-law; they are now your parents. Let me hear a good report of you. " And he kissed her. And Edna said to Tobias, "The Lord of heaven bring you back safely, dear brother, and grant me to see your children by my daughter Sarah, that I may rejoice before the Lord. See, I am entrusting my daughter to you; do nothing to grieve her."

13. Tobias left Raguel's house with his mind at ease. In his gladness he blessed the Lord of heaven and earth, the King of all that is, for the happy issue of his travels. He gave this blessing to Raguel and his wife Edna, 'May it be my happiness to honour you for the rest of my life!'

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