Liber Thobis, 12

1. Et, postquam consummatae sunt nuptiae, vocavit Thobi filium suum Thobiam et dixit illi: “Homini illi, qui tecum ivit, reddamus honorem et adiciamus ad mercedem suam”.

1. Tobit then called his son Tobias and said to him, "My son, see to the wages of the man who went with you; and he must also be given more."

2. Et dixit illi: “Pater, quantam illi dabo mercedem? Non laedor, si dedero illi ex his, quae mecum contulit, dimidiam partem.

2. He replied, "Father, it would do me no harm to give him half of what I have brought back.

3. Duxit me sanum et uxorem meam curavit et pecuniam mecum attulit et te curavit! Quantam illi dabo mercedem adhuc?”.

3. For he has led me back to you safely, he cured my wife, he obtained the money for me, and he also healed you."

4. Et dixit illi Thobi: “Iustum est illum, fili, dimidium omnium horum, quae tecum attulit, accipere”.

4. The old man said, "He deserves it."

5. Et vocavit illum et dixit: “Accipe dimidium omnium horum, quae tecum attulisti, in mercedem tuam et vade sanus”.

5. So he called the angel and said to him, "Take half of all that you two have brought back."

6. Tunc Raphael vocavit ambos abscondite et dixit illis: “Deum benedicite et illi confitemini coram omnibus viventibus, quae fecit nobiscum bona, ut benedicatis et decantetis nomini eius; sermones Dei honorifice ostendite et ne cunctemini confiteri illi.

6. Then the angel called the two of them privately and said to them: "Praise God and give thanks to him; exalt him and give thanks to him in the presence of all the living for what he has done for you. It is good to praise God and to exalt his name, worthily declaring the works of God. Do not be slow to give him thanks.

7. Sacramentum regis bonum est abscondere, opera autem Dei revelare et confiteri honorificum est. Bonum facite, et malum non inveniet vos.

7. It is good to guard the secret of a king, but gloriously to reveal the works of God. Do good, and evil will not overtake you.

8. Bona est oratio cum ieiunio, et eleemosyna cum iustitia. Melius est modicum cum iustitia quam plurimum cum iniquitate. Bonum est facere eleemosynam magis quam thesauros auri condere.

8. Prayer is good when accompanied by fasting, almsgiving, and righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than much with wrongdoing. It is better to give alms than to treasure up gold.

9. Eleemosyna a morte liberat et ipsa purgat omne peccatum. Qui faciunt eleemosynam, saturabuntur vita;

9. For almsgiving delivers from death, and it will purge away every sin. Those who perform deeds of charity and of righteousness will have fulness of life;

10. qui faciunt peccatum et iniquitatem, hostes sunt animae suae.

10. but those who commit sin are the enemies of their own lives.

11. Omnem veritatem vobis manifestabo et non abscondam a vobis ullum sermonem. Iam demonstravi vobis et dixi: Sacramentum regis bonum est abscondere, opera autem Dei revelare honorificum est.

11. "I will not conceal anything from you. I have said, `It is good to guard the secret of a king, but gloriously to reveal the works of God.'

12. Et nunc, quando orabas tu et Sara, ego obtuli memoriam orationis vestrae in conspectu claritatis Domini; et, cum sepeliebas mortuos, similiter.

12. And so, when you and your daughter-in-law Sarah prayed, I brought a reminder of your prayer before the Holy One; and when you buried the dead, I was likewise present with you.

13. Et quia non es cunctatus exsurgere et relinquere prandium tuum et abisti et sepelisti mortuum, tunc missus sum ad te tentare te.

13. When you did not hesitate to rise and leave your dinner in order to go and lay out the dead, your good deed was not hidden from me, but I was with you.

14. Et iterum me misit Deus curare te et Saram nurum tuam.

14. So now God sent me to heal you and your daughter-in-law Sarah.

15. Ego sum Raphael, unus ex septem angelis sanctis, qui assistimus et ingredimur ante claritatem Domini”.

15. I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels who present the prayers of the saints and enter into the presence of the glory of the Holy One."

16. Et conturbati sunt ambo et ceciderunt in faciem suam et timuerunt.

16. They were both alarmed; and they fell upon their faces, for they were afraid.

17. Et dixit illis: “Nolite timere; pax vobis. Deum benedicite in omne aevum.

17. But he said to them, "Do not be afraid; you will be safe. But praise God for ever.

18. Cum essem vobiscum, non mea gratia eram vobiscum sed voluntate Dei. Ipsi benedicite omnibus diebus, decantate ei.

18. For I did not come as a favor on my part, but by the will of our God. Therefore praise him for ever.

19. Et videbatis me quia nihil manducabam, sed visus vobis videbatur.

19. All these days I merely appeared to you and did not eat or drink, but you were seeing a vision.

20. Et nunc benedicite Dominum super terra et confitemini Deo. Ecce ego ascendo ad eum, qui me misit. Scribite omnia haec, quae contigerunt vobis”. Et ascendit.

20. And now give thanks to God, for I am ascending to him who sent me. Write in a book everything that has happened."

21. Et surrexerunt et iam non poterant illum videre.

21. Then they stood up; but they saw him no more.

22. Et benedicebant et decantabant Deo et confitebantur illi in omnibus his magnis operibus illius, quia apparuerat illis angelus Dei.

22. So they confessed the great and wonderful works of God, and acknowledged that the angel of the Lord had appeared to them.