Liber Thobis, 3

1. Et contristatus animo et suspirans ploravi et coepi orare cum gemitibus:

1. Then in my grief I wept, and I prayed in anguish, saying,

2. “Iustus es, Domine, et omnia opera tua iusta sunt, et omnes viae tuae misericordia et veritas, et tu iudicas saeculum.

2. "Righteous art thou, O Lord; all thy deeds and all they ways are mercy and truth, and thou dost render true and righteous judgment for ever.

3. Et nunc, Domine, memor esto mei et respice in me; ne vindictam sumas de me pro peccatis meis et pro neglegentiis meis et parentum meorum, quibus peccaverunt ante te,

3. Remember me and look favorably upon me; do not punish me for my sins and for my unwitting offences and those which my fathers committed before thee.

4. quoniam non oboedivimus praeceptis tuis, et tradidisti nos in direptionem et captivitatem et mortem et in parabolam et fabulam et improperium in omnibus nationibus, in quas nos dispersisti.

4. For they disobeyed thy commandments, and thou gavest us over to plunder, captivity, and death; thou madest us a byword of reproach in all the nations among which we have been dispersed.

5. Et nunc multa sunt iudicia tua vera, quae de me exigas pro peccatis meis et parentum meorum, quia non egimus secundum praecepta tua et non ambulavimus sinceriter coram te.

5. And now thy many judgments are true in exacting penalty from me for my sins and those of my fathers, because we did not keep thy commandments. For we did not walk in truth before thee.

6. Et nunc secundum quod tibi placet fac mecum et praecipe recipi spiritum meum, ut dimittar a facie terrae et fiam terra, quia expedit mihi mori magis quam vivere, quoniam improperia falsa audivi, et tristitia multa est in me. Praecipe, Domine, ut dimittar ab hac necessitate, et dimitte me in locum aeternum et noli avertere a me faciem tuam, Domine, quia expedit mihi mori magis quam videre tantam necessitatem in vita mea, et ne improperia audiam”.

6. And now deal with me according to thy pleasure; command my spirit to be taken up, that I may depart and become dust. For it is better for me to die than to live, because I have heard false reproaches, and great is the sorrow within me. Command that I now be released from my distress to go to the eternal abode; do not turn thy face away from me."

7. Eadem die contigit Sarae filiae Raguel, qui erat Ecbatanis Mediae, ut et ipsa audiret improperia ab una ex ancillis patris sui,

7. On the same day, at Ecbatana in Media, it also happened that Sarah, the daughter of Raguel, was reproached by her father's maids,

8. quoniam tradita erat viris septem, et Asmodeus daemonium nequissimum occidebat eos, antequam cum illa fierent, sicut est solitum mulieribus. Et dixit illi ancilla: “Tu es, quae suffocas viros tuos! Ecce, iam tradita es viris septem, et nemine eorum fruita es.

8. because she had been given to seven husbands, and the evil demon Asmodeus had slain each of them before he had been with her as his wife. So the maids said to her, "Do you not know that you strangle your husbands? You already have had seven and have had no benefit from any of them.

9. Quid nos flagellas causa virorum tuorum, quia mortui sunt? Vade cum illis, nec ex te videamus filium aut filiam in perpetuum”.

9. Why do you beat us? If they are dead, go with them! May we never see a son or daughter of yours!"

10. In illa die contristata est animo puella et lacrimata est et ascendens in superiorem locum patris sui voluit laqueo se suspendere. Et cogitavit iterum et dixit: “Ne forte improperent patri meo et dicant: “Unicam habuisti filiam carissimam, et haec laqueo se suspendit ex malis”; et deducam senectam patris mei cum tristitia ad inferos. Utilius mihi est non me laqueo suspendere, sed deprecari Dominum, ut moriar et iam improperia non audiam in vita mea”.

10. When she heard these things she was deeply grieved, even to the thought of hanging herself. But she said, "I am the only child of my father; if I do this, it will be a disgrace to him, and I shall bring his old age down in sorrow to the grave.

11. Eodem tempore, porrectis manibus ad fenestram, deprecata est et dixit: “Benedictus es, Domine, Deus misericors, et benedictum est nomen tuum sanctum et honorabile in saecula. Benedicant tibi omnia opera tua in aeternum.

11. So she prayed by her window and said, "Blessed art thou, O Lord my God, and blessed is thy holy and honored name for ever. May all thy works praise thee for ever.

12. Et nunc, Domine, ad te faciem meam et oculos meos direxi.

12. And now, O Lord, I have turned my eyes and my face toward thee.

13. Iube me dimitti desuper terram, et ne audiam iam improperia.

13. Command that I be released from the earth and that I hear reproach no more.

14. Tu scis, Domine, quoniam munda sum ab omni immunditia viri

14. Thou knowest, O Lord, that I am innocent of any sin with man,

15. et non coinquinavi nomen meum neque nomen patris mei in terra captivitatis meae. Unica sum patri meo, et non habet alium filium, qui possideat hereditatem illius, neque frater est illi proximus neque propinquus illi, ut custodiam me illi uxorem. Iam perierunt mihi septem, et ut quid mihi adhuc vivere? Et si non tibi videtur, Domine, occidere me, impera, ut respiciatur in me et misereatur mei, et ne iam improperium audiam”.

15. and that I did not stain my name or the name of my father in the land of my captivity. I am my father's only child, and he has no child to be his heir, no near kinsman or kinsman's son for whom I should keep myself as wife. Already seven husbands of mine are dead. Why should I live? But if it be not pleasing to thee to take my life, command that respect be shown to me and pity be taken upon me, and that I hear reproach no more."

16. In ipso tempore exaudita est oratio amborum in conspectu claritatis Dei,

16. The prayer of both was heard in the presence of the glory of the great God.

17. et missus est Raphael angelus sanare duos, Thobin desquamare ab albuginibus oculorum eius, ut videret oculis lumen Dei, et Saram filiam Raguel dare Thobiae filio Thobis uxorem, et colligare Asmodeum daemonium nequissimum, quoniam Thobiae contigit possidere eam prae omnibus, qui volebant accipere eam. In illo tempore reversus est Thobi de atrio in domum suam; et Sara filia Raguel descendit et ipsa de loco superiori.

17. And Raphael was sent to heal the two of them: to scale away the white films of Tobit's eyes; to give Sarah the daughter of Raguel in marriage to Tobias the son of Tobit, and to bind Asmodeus the evil demon, because Tobias was entitled to possess her. At that very moment Tobit returned and entered his house and Sarah the daughter of Raguel came down from her upper room.