Liber Thobis, 7

1. Et cum venisset in Ecbatana, dixit illi: “Azaria frater, duc me ad Raguel, fratrem nostrum, viam rectam”. Et duxit eum ad domum Raguel, et invenerunt illum sedentem circa ostium atrii sui et salutaverunt illum priores. Et ille dixit eis: “Bene valeatis, fratres, intrate salvi et sani”. Et induxit eos in domum suam.

1. When they reached Ecbatana and arrived at the house of Raguel, Sarah met them and greeted them. They returned her greeting, and she brought them into the house.

2. Et dixit Ednae uxori suae: “Quam similis est hic iuvenis Thobi fratri meo!”.

2. Then Raguel said to his wife Edna, "How much the young man resembles my cousin Tobit!"

3. Et interrogavit illos Edna et dixit eis: “Unde estis, fratres?”. Et dixerunt illi: “Ex filiis Nephthali nos sumus captivis in Nineve”.

3. And Raguel asked them, "Where are you from, brethren?" They answered him, "We belong to the sons of Naphtali, who are captives in Nineveh."

4. Et dixit eis: “Nostis Thobin fratrem nostrum?”. Et dixerunt ei: “Novimus illum”. Et dixit eis: “Fortis est?”.

4. So he said to them, "Do you know our brother Tobit?" And they said, "Yes, we do." And he asked them, "Is he in good health?"

5. Et dixerunt illi: “Fortis est et vivit”. Et Thobias dixit: “Pater meus est”.

5. They replied, "He is alive and in good health." And Tobias said, "He is my father."

6. Et exsilivit Raguel et osculatus est illum lacrimans

6. Then Raguel sprang up and kissed him and wept.

7. et dixit: “Benedictio tibi sit, fili, boni et optimi patris fili. O infelicitas malorum, quia excaecatus est vir iustus et faciens eleemosynas!”. Et incubuit lacrimans super collum Thobiae filii fratris sui.

7. And he blessed him and exclaimed, "Son of that good and noble man!" When he heard that Tobit had lost his sight, he was stricken with grief and wept.

8. Et Edna uxor eius lacrimata est super eum, et Sara filia eorum lacrimata est et ipsa.

8. And his wife Edna and his daughter Sarah wept. They received them very warmly; and they killed a ram from the flock and set large servings of food before them. Then Tobias said to Raphael, "Brother Azarias, speak of those things which you talked about on the journey, and let the matter be settled."

9. Et occidit arietem ex ovibus et suscepit illos libenter. Et, postquam laverunt et se purificaverunt et discubuerunt ad cenandum, dixit Thobias ad Raphael: “Azaria frater, dic Raguel, ut det mihi Saram sororem meam”.

9. So he communicated the proposal to Raguel. And Raguel said to Tobias, "Eat, drink, and be merry;

10. Et audivit Raguel hunc sermonem et dixit puero: “Manduca et bibe et suaviter tibi sit hac nocte. Non est enim homo, quem oporteat accipere Saram filiam meam nisi tu, frater. Similiter et mihi non licet eam dare alii viro nisi tibi, quia tu proximus mihi es. Verum autem tibi dicam, fili.

10. for it is your right to take my child. But let me explain the true situation to you.

11. Tradidi illam viris septem fratribus nostris, et omnes mortui sunt nocte, cum intrabant ad eam. Et nunc, fili, manduca et bibe, et Dominus faciet in vobis”. Et dixit Thobias: “Hinc non edam neque bibam, donec, quae sunt ad me, confirmes”. Et Raguel dixit ei: “Facio; et ipsa datur tibi secundum iudicium libri Moysis, et de caelo iudicatum est tibi illam dari. Duc sororem tuam; amodo tu illius frater es, et haec tua soror est. Datur tibi ex hodierno et in aeternum. Et Dominus caeli bene disponat vobis, fili, hac nocte et faciat misericordiam et pacem”.

11. I have given my daughter to seven husbands, and when each came to her he died in the night. But for the present be merry." And Tobias said, "I will eat nothing here until you make a binding agreement with me."

12. Et accersivit Raguel Saram filiam suam, et accessit ad illum. Et, apprehensa manu illius, tradidit eam illi et dixit: “Duc secundum legem et iudicium, quod scriptum est in libro Moysis dari tibi uxorem. Habe et duc ad patrem tuum sanus. Et Deus caeli det vobis bonum iter et pacem”.

12. So Raguel said, "Take her right now, in accordance with the law. You are her relative, and she is yours. The merciful God will guide you both for the best."

13. Et vocavit matrem eius et praecepit afferri chartam, ut faceret conscriptionem coniugii et quemadmodum tradidit illam uxorem ei secundum iudicium legis Moysis. Et attulit mater illius chartam, et ille scripsit et signavit.

13. Then he called his daughter Sarah, and taking her by the hand he gave her to Tobias to be his wife, saying, "Here she is; take her according to the law of Moses, and take her with you to your father." And he blessed them.

14. Et ex illa hora coeperunt manducare et bibere.

14. Next he called his wife Edna, and took a scroll and wrote out the contract; and they set their seals to it.

15. Et vocavit Raguel Ednam uxorem suam et dixit illi: “Soror, praepara cubiculum aliud et introduc eam illuc”.

15. Then they began to eat.

16. Et abiens stravit, sicut illi dixit, et introduxit eam illuc et lacrimata est causa illius et extersit lacrimas et dixit illi:

16. And Raguel called his wife Edna and said to her, "Sister, make up the other room, and take her into it."

17. “Forti animo esto, filia. Dominus caeli det tibi gaudium pro taedio tuo. Forti animo esto!”. Et exiit.

17. so she did as he said, and took her there; and the girl began to weep. But the mother comforted her daughter in her tears, and said to her,

18.

18. "Be brave, my child; the Lord of heaven and earth grant you joy in place of this sorrow of yours. Be brave, my daughter."