Tobit, 12

1. Then Tobit called his son Tobias, and said unto him, My son, see that the man have his wages, which went with thee, and thou must give him more.

1. When the wedding feast was over, Tobit called Tobias, his son, and said to him, "Be sure you give the wages to the man who accompanied you, and we should add something extra."

2. And Tobias said unto him, O father, it is no harm to me to give him half of those things which I have brought:

2. Tobias said, "What shall I give him? It would not be too much if I were to give him half of what I have brought back since

3. For he hath brought me again to thee in safety, and made whole my wife, and brought me the money, and likewise healed thee.

3. he has brought me home again safe and sound. He has taken care of my wife and he helped me to get back the money. He has also cured your blindness."

4. Then the old man said, It is due unto him.

4. The old man said, "That amount would be well justified in his case."

5. So he called the angel, and he said unto him, Take half of all that ye have brought and go away in safety.

5. Then Tobias called the angel and said to him, "Please take half of all that you have brought."

6. Then he took them both apart, and said unto them, Bless God, praise him, and magnify him, and praise him for the things which he hath done unto you in the sight of all that live. It is good to praise God, and exalt his name, and honourably to shew forth the works of God; therefore be not slack to praise him.

6. The angel took Tobit and Tobias to one side and said to them, "Bless God, return thanks to him, proclaim his glory and render him thanks before all the living for all he has done for you. It is good to praise God and to exalt his Name, by making known in a worthy manner the story of God's deeds. Do not be slow in giving him thanks.

7. It is good to keep close the secret of a king, but it is honourable to reveal the works of God. Do that which is good, and no evil shall touch you.

7. It is good to hide the secrets of kings but to make known publicly the works of God. Do the works of God. Do good, and evil will not harm you.

8. Prayer is good with fasting and alms and righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than much with unrighteousness. It is better to give alms than to lay up gold:

8. It is a good thing to accompany prayer with fasting, almsgiving and justice. It is better to do a little with honor than much with injustice. It is better to give alms than to treasure up gold.

9. For alms doth deliver from death, and shall purge away all sin. Those that exercise alms and righteousness shall be filled with life:

9. Almsgiving preserves from death; it purifies from all sin. Those people who give alms and act justly will have a long life,

10. But they that sin are enemies to their own life.

10. but sinners only harm themselves.

11. Surely I will keep close nothing from you. For I said, It was good to keep close the secret of a king, but that it was honourable to reveal the works of God.

11. I will hide nothing from you. Yes, I have said that it is good to keep the secrets of kings but to make known publicly the glorious works of God.

12. Now therefore, when thou didst pray, and Sara thy daughter in law, I did bring the remembrance of your prayers before the Holy One: and when thou didst bury the dead, I was with thee likewise.

12. Tobit, when you and your daughter-in-law Sara prayed, I kept the remembrance of your prayer before the Holy One; when you, Tobit, buried the dead,

13. And when thou didst not delay to rise up, and leave thy dinner, to go and cover the dead, thy good deed was not hid from me: but I was with thee.

13. I was with you in the same way; and when you did not hesitate to rise up and leave your meal in order to hide the dead man, your good deed did not go unnoticed because I was with you.

14. And now God hath sent me to heal thee and Sara thy daughter in law.

14. Well, God sent me to cure you and also to cure Sara, your daughter-in-law.

15. I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels, which present the prayers of the saints, and which go in and out before the glory of the Holy One.

15. I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels who present the prayers of holy people and who stand before the glory of God."

16. Then they were both troubled, and fell upon their faces: for they feared.

16. They both trembled with fear. They threw themselves face downwards on the ground because they were seized with terror.

17. But he said unto them, Fear not, for it shall go well with you; praise God therefore.

17. But Raphael said to them, "Do not be afraid; be at peace! Bless God always,

18. For not of any favour of mine, but by the will of our God I came; wherefore praise him for ever.

18. for I did not come on my own account but because God willed it. Bless him forever.

19. All these days I did appear unto you; but I did neither eat nor drink, but ye did see a vision.

19. All the time that I was visible to you I neither ate nor drank anything. I only appeared to do so.

20. Now therefore give God thanks: for I go up to him that sent me; but write all things which are done in a book.

20. Now bless and give thanks to God, because I am returning to the One who sent me. Write down in a book all that has happened."

21. And when they arose, they saw him no more.

21. Then he rose up and disappeared. Tobit and Tobias got up, but Raphael was no longer visible.

22. Then they confessed the great and wonderful works of God, and how the angel of the Lord had appeared unto them.

22. They made known the great and wonderful works of God and how an angel of the Lord had appeared to them.