Liber Thobis, 5

1. Tunc Thobias respondens Thobi patri suo dixit: “Omnia, quaecumque mihi praecepisti, pater, faciam.

1. Then Tobias answered him, "Father, I will do everything that you have commanded me;

2. Quomodo autem potero hanc pecuniam recipere ab illo? Neque ille me novit, neque ego novi illum. Quod signum dabo illi, ut me cognoscat et credat et det mihi hanc pecuniam? Sed neque vias, quae ad Mediam, novi, ut eam illuc”.

2. but how can I obtain the money when I do not know the man?"

3. Tunc respondens Thobi Thobiae filio suo dixit: “Chirographum dedit mihi, et chirographum meum dedi illi et divisi in duas partes, et unusquisque unam accepimus, et posui cum ipsa pecunia. Et ecce nunc anni sunt viginti, ex quibus penes illum commendavi hanc pecuniam. Et nunc, fili, inquire tibi hominem fidelem, qui eat tecum, et dabimus illi mercedem, donec venias. Et, dum vivo, recipe pecuniam ab illo”.

3. Then Tobit gave him the receipt, and said to him, "Find a man to go with you and I will pay him wages as long as I live; and go and get the money."

4. Et exiit Thobias quaerere hominem, qui iret cum ipso in Mediam et qui haberet notitiam viae. Et invenit Raphael angelum stantem ante ipsum et nesciebat illum angelum Dei esse.

4. So he went to look for a man; and he found Raphael, who was an angel,

5. Et dixit illi: “Unde es, iuvenis?”. Et dixit illi: “Ex filiis Israel fratribus tuis et veni huc, ut operer”. Et dixit illi Thobias: “Nosti viam, quae ducit in Mediam?”.

5. but Tobias did not know it. Tobias said to him, "Can you go with me to Rages in Media? Are you acquainted with that region?"

6. Et ille dixit: “Utique, aliquotiens fui ibi et habeo notitiam et scio omnes vias et aliquotiens ibam in Mediam et manebam penes Gabael fratrem nostrum, qui commoratur in Rages Mediae, et abest iter bidui statuti ex Ecbatanis usque Rages. Nam posita est in monte et Ecbatana in medio campo”.

6. The angel replied, "I will go with you; I am familiar with the way, and I have stayed with our brother Gabael."

7. Et dixit illi Thobias: “Sustine me, iuvenis, donec intrans patri meo nuntiem. Necessarium est enim mihi, ut eas mecum, et dabo tibi mercedem tuam”.

7. Then Tobias said to him, "Wait for me, and I shall tell my father."

8. Et dixit illi: “Ecce sustineo; tantum noli tardare”.

8. And he said to him, "Go, and do not delay." So he went in and said to his father, "I have found some one to go with me." He said, "Call him to me, so that I may learn to what tribe he belongs, and whether he is a reliable man to go with you."

9. Et introiens Thobias renuntiavit Thobi patri suo et dixit ei: “Ecce inveni hominem ex fratribus nostris, de filiis Israel, qui eat mecum”. Et dixit illi: “Roga mihi hominem, ut sciam quid sit genus eius, et ex qua tribu sit et an fidelis sit, ut eat tecum, fili”.

9. So Tobias invited him in; he entered and they greeted each other.

10. Et exivit Thobias et vocavit illum et dixit ei: “Iuvenis, pater te rogat”. Et introivit ad eum, et prior Thobis salutavit eum. Et ille dixit ei: “Gaudium tibi magnum sit!”. Et respondens Thobi dixit illi: “Quid mihi adhuc gaudium est? Homo sum inutilis oculis et non video lumen caelorum, sed in tenebris positus sum sicut mortui, qui non amplius vident lumen. Vivus ego sum inter mortuos. Vocem hominum audio et ipsos non video”. Et dixit ei: “Forti esto animo; in proximo est, ut a Deo cureris. Forti animo esto!”. Et respondit illi Thobi: “Thobias filius meus vult ire in Mediam. Nonne poteris ire cum illo et ducere illum? Et dabo tibi mercedem tuam, frater”. Et dixit illi: “Potero ire cum illo, quoniam novi omnes vias et aliquotiens ivi in Mediam et perambulavi omnes campos eius et montes et omnes commeatus scio”.

10. Then Tobit said to him, "My brother, to what tribe and family do you belong? Tell me. "

11. Et dixit ei: “Frater, ex qua patria es et ex qua tribu? Narra mihi, frater”.

11. But he answered, "Are you looking for a tribe and a family or for a man whom you will pay to go with your son?" And Tobit said to him, "I should like to know, my brother, your people and your name."

12. Et ille dixit: “Quid tibi necesse est tribus?”. Et dixit ei: “Volo scire ex veritate cuius sis et nomen tuum”.

12. He replied, "I am Azarias the son of the great Ananias, one of your relatives."

13. Et dixit: “Ego sum Azarias Ananiae magni filius, ex fratribus tuis”.

13. Then Tobit said to him, "You are welcome, my brother. Do not be angry with me because I tried to learn your tribe and family. You are a relative of mine, of a good and noble lineage. For I used to know Ananias and Jathan, the sons of the great Shemaiah, when we went together to Jerusalem to worship and offered the first-born of our flocks and the tithes of our produce. They did not go astray in the error of our brethren. My brother, you come of good stock.

14. Et dixit illi Thobi: “Salvus et sanus venias, frater, sed ne irascaris, frater, quod voluerim verum scire et patriam tuam. Tu frater meus es et de genere bono et optimo! Noveram Ananiam et Nathan duos filios Semeliae magni; et ipsi mecum ibant in Ierusalem et adorabant ibi mecum et non exerraverunt. Fratres tui viri optimi sunt; ex bona radice es. Et gaudens venias!”.

14. But tell me, what wages am I to pay you -- a drachma a day, and expenses for yourself as for my son?

15. Et dixit ei: “Ego tibi dabo mercedis nomine drachmam diurnam et, quaecumque necessaria sunt tibi et filio meo, similiter; et vade cum illo,

15. And besides, I will add to your wages if you both return safe and sound." So they agreed to these terms.

16. et adiciam tibi ad mercedem”.

16. Then he said to Tobias, "Get ready for the journey, and good success to you both." So his son made the preparations for the journey. And his father said to him, "Go with this man; God who dwells in heaven will prosper your way, and may his angel attend you." So they both went out and departed, and the young man's dog was with them.

17. Et dixit illi: “Ibo cum illo, ne timueris; salvi ibimus et salvi revertemur ad te, quoniam via tuta est”. Et dixit ei: “Benedictio sit tibi, frater!”. Et vocavit filium suum et dixit illi: “Fili, praepara, quae ad viam, et exi cum fratre tuo. Deus autem, qui in caelo est, protegat vos ibi et reducat vos ad me salvos; et angelus illius comitetur vos cum sanitate, fili!”. Et exiit, ut iret viam suam, et osculatus est patrem suum et matrem. Et dixit illi Thobi: “Vade sanus!”.

17. But Anna, his mother, began to weep, and said to Tobit, "Why have you sent our child away? Is he not the staff of our hands as he goes in and out before us?

18. Et lacrimata est mater illius et dixit Thobi: “Quid dimisisti filium meum? Nonne ipse est virga manus nostrae et ipse intrat et exit coram nobis?

18. Do not add money to money, but consider it as rubbish as compared to our child.

19. Pecunia ne adveniat pecuniae, sed purgamentum sit filii nostri.

19. For the life that is given to us by the Lord is enough for us."

20. Quomodo datum est nos a Domino vivere, hoc sufficiebat nobis”.

20. And Tobit said to her, "Do not worry, my sister; he will return safe and sound, and your eyes will see him.

21. Et dixit illi: “Noli computare; salvus ibit filius noster et salvus revertetur ad nos, et oculi tui videbunt eum illa die, qua venerit ad te sanus. Ne computaveris, ne timueris de illis, soror.

21. For a good angel will go with him; his journey will be successful, and he will come back safe and sound." Tob 5:[22] So she stopped weeping.

22. Angelus enim bonus ibit cum illo, et bene disponetur via illius, et revertetur sanus”.

22.