Tobit 1-7 (Translated)

## Contents

* 1 Chapter 1
* 2 Chapter 2
* 3 Chapter 3
* 4 Chapter 4
* 5 Chapter 5
* 6 Chapter 6
* 7 Chapter 7

## Chapter 1[edit]

Verse  | 1611 King James Version  | Proposed Conservative Translation  | Analysis

|
|
|

1  | The Booke of the wordes of Tobit, sonne of Tobiel, the son of Ananiel, the sonne of Aduel, the sonne of Gabael, of the seed of Asael, of the Tribe of Nephthali,  |  |
2  | Who in the time of Enemessar king of the Assyrians, was led captiue out of This be which is at the right hand of that citie, which is called properly Nephthali in Galile aboue Aser.  |  |
3  | I Tobit haue walked all the dayes of my life in the way of trueth, and iustice, and I did many almes deeds to my brethren, and my nation, who came with me to Nineue into the land of the Assyrians.  |  |
4  | And when I was in mine owne countrey, in the land of Israel, being but yong, all the tribe of Nephthali my father, fell from the house of Ierusalem, which was chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, that all the tribes should sacrifice there where the Temple of the habitation of the most High was consecrated, and built for all ages.  |  |
5  | Now all the tribes which together reuolted, and the house of my father Nephthali sacrificed vnto the heifer Baal.  |  |
6  | But I alone went often to Ierusalem at the Feasts, as it was ordeined vnto al the people of Israel by an euerlasting decree, hauing the first fruits, and tenths of encrease, with that which was first shorne, and them gaue I at the Altar to the Priestes the children of Aaron.  |  |
7  | The first tenth part of al increase, I gaue to the sonnes of Aaron, who ministred at Ierusalem: another tenth part I sold away, and went, and spent it euery yeere at Ierusalem.  |  |
8  | And the third, I gaue vnto them to whom it was meet, as Debora my fathers mother had commanded mee, because I was left an orphane by my father.  |  |
9  | Furthermore when I was come to the age of a man, I married Anna of mine owne kinred, and of her I begate Tobias.  |  |
10  | And when we were caried away captiues to Nineue, all my brethren, and those that were of my kinred, did eate of the bread of the Gentiles.  |  |
11  | But I kept my selfe from eating  |  |
12  | Because I remembred God with all my heart.  |  |
13  | And the most High gaue me grace, and fauour before Enemessar, so that I was his purueyour.  |  |
14  | And I went into Media, and left in trust with Gabael, the brother of Gabrias at Rages a citie of Media, ten talents of siluer.  |  |
15  | Now when Enemessar was dead, Sennacherib his sonne reigned in his stead, whose estate was troubled, that I could not goe into Media.  |  |
16  | And in the time of Enemessar, I gaue many almes to my brethren, and gaue my bread to the hungry,  |  |
17  | And my clothes to the naked: and if I saw any of my nation dead, or cast about the walles of Nineue, I buried him.  |  |
18  | And if the king Sennacherib had slaine any, when hee was come, and fledde from Iudea, I buried them priuily, (for in his wrath hee killed many) but the bodies were not found, when they were sought for of the king.  |  |
19  | And when one of the Nineuites went, and complained of me to the king that I buried them, and hid my selfe: vnderstanding that I was sought for to be put to death, I withdrew my selfe for feare.  |  |
20  | Then all my goods were forcibly taken away, neither was there any thing left me, besides my wife Anna, and my sonne Tobias.  |  |
21  | And there passed not fiue and fiftie dayes before two of his sonnes killed him, and they fled into the mountaines of Ararath, and Sarchedonus his sonne reigned in his stead, who appointed ouer his fathers accounts, and ouer all his affaires, Achiacharus my brother Anaels sonne.  |  |
22  | And Achiacharus entreating for me, I returned to Nineue: now Achiacharus was Cup-bearer, and keeper of the Signet, and Steward, and ouerseer of the accounts: and Sarchedonus appointed him next vnto him: and hee was my brothers sonne.  |  |

## Chapter 2[edit]

Verse  | 1611 King James Version  | Proposed Conservative Translation  | Analysis

|
|
|

1  | Now when I was come home againe, and my wife Anna was restored vnto me, with my sonne Tobias, in the feast of Pentecost, which is the holy Feast of the seuen weekes, there was a good dinner prepared me, in the which I sate down to eate.  |  |
2  | And when I saw abundance of meate, I sayd to my sonne, Goe and bring what poore man soeuer thou shalt finde out of our brethren, who is mindfull of the Lord, and loe, I tarie for thee.  |  |
3  | But he came againe and said, Father, one of our nation is strangled, and is cast out in the market place.  |  |
4  | Then before I had tasted of any meate, I start vp and tooke him vp into a roume, vntill the going downe of the Sunne.  |  |
5  | Then I returned and washed my selfe, and ate my meate in heauinesse,  |  |
6  | Remembring that prophesie of Amos, as hee said; Your feasts shall be turned into mourning, and all your mirth into lamentation.  |  |
7  | Therefore I wept: and after the going downe of the Sunne, I went and made a graue, and buried him.  |  |
8  | But my neighbours mocked me, and said, This man is not yet afraide to be put to death for this matter, who fledde away, and yet loe, he burieth the dead againe.  |  |
9  | The same night also I returned from the buriall, and slept by the wall of my court yard, being polluted, and my face was vncouered:  |  |
10  | And I knewe not that there were Sparrowes in the wall, and mine eyes being open, the Sparrowes muted warme doung into mine eyes, and a whitenesse came in mine eyes, and I went to the Physicians, but they helped me not: moreouer Achiacharus did nourish mee, vntill I went into Elymais.  |  |
11  | And my wife Anna did take womens workes to doe.  |  |
12  | And when shee had sent them home to the owners, they payd her wages, and gaue her also besides a kid.  |  |
13  | And when it was in mine house, and beganne to crie, I said vnto her, From whence is this kidde? is it not stollen? render it to the owners, for it is not lawfull to eate any thing that is stollen.  |  |
14  | But shee replyed vpon me, It was giuen for a gift more then the wages: Howbeit I did not beleeue her, but bade her render it to the owners: and I was abashed at her. But she replyed vpon me, Where are thine almes, and thy righteous deedes? behold, thou and all thy workes are knowen.  |  |

## Chapter 3[edit]

Verse  | 1611 King James Version  | Proposed Conservative Translation  | Analysis

|
|
|

1  | Then I being grieued, did weepe, and in my sorrowe prayed, saying,  |  |
2  | O Lord, thou art iust and all thy workes, and all thy wayes are mercie and trueth, and thou iudgest truely & iustly for euer.  |  |
3  | Remember me, and looke on me, punish me not for my sinnes and ignorances, and the sinnes of my fathers, who haue sinned before thee.  |  |
4  | For they obeyed not thy commandements, wherefore thou hast deliuered vs for a spoile, and vnto captiuitie, and vnto death, and for a prouerbe of reproch to all the nations among whom we are dispersed.  |  |
5  | And now thy iudgments are many and true: Deale with me according to my sinnes, and my fathers: because we haue not kept thy commandements, neither haue walked in trueth before thee.  |  |
6  | Now therefore deale with me as seemeth best vnto thee, and command my spirit to be taken from me, that I may be dissolued, and become earth: for it is profitable for me to die, rather then to liue, because I haue heard false reproches, and haue much sorow: command therfore that I may now be deliuered out of this distresse, and goe into the euerlasting place: turne not thy face away from me.  |  |
7  | It came to passe the same day, that in Ecbatane a citie of Media, Sara the daughter of Raguel, was also reproched by her fathers maides,  |  |
8  | Because that she had bin maried to seuen husbands, whom Almodeus the euill spirit had killed, before they had lien with her. Doest thou not knowe, said they, that thou hast strangled thine husbands? thou hast had already seuen husbands, neither wast thou named after any of them.  |  |
9  | Wherefore doest thou beate vs for them? If they be dead, goe thy wayes after them, let vs neuer see of thee either sonne or daughter.  |  |
10  | When she heard these things, she was very sorowful, so that she thought to haue strangled her selfe, and she said, I am the onely daughter of my father, and if I doe this, it shall bee a reproch vnto him, and I shall bring his old age with sorow vnto the graue.  |  |
11  | Then she prayed toward the window, & said, Blessed art thou, O Lord my God, and thine holy and glorious Name is blessed, and honourable foreuer, let al thy works praise thee for euer.  |  |
12  | And now, O Lord, I set mine eyes and my face toward thee,  |  |
13  | And say, take me out of the earth, that I may heare no more the reproch.  |  |
14  | Thou knowest, Lord, that I am pure from all sinne with man,  |  |
15  | And that I neuer polluted my name, nor the name of my father in the land of my captiuitie: I am the onely daughter of my father, neither hath he any child to bee his heire, neither any neere kinseman, nor any sonne of his aliue, to whome I may keepe my selfe for a wife: my seuen husbands are already dead, and why should I liue? but if it please not thee that I should die, command some regard to be had of me, and pitie taken of me, that I heare no more reproch.  |  |
16  | So the prayers of them both were heard before the Maiesty of the great God.  |  |
17  | And Raphael was sent to heale them both, that is, to scale away the whitenesse of Tobits eyes, and to giue Sara the daughter of Raguel, for a wife to Tobias the sonne of Tobit, and to bind Asmodeus the euill spirit, because she belongeth to Tobias by right of inheritance. The selfe same time came Tobit home, and entred into his house, and Sara, the daughter of Raguel came downe from her vpper chamber.  |  |

## Chapter 4[edit]

Verse  | 1611 King James Version  | Proposed Conservative Translation  | Analysis

|
|
|

1  | In that day Tobit remembred the money, which he had committed to Gabael in Rages of Media,  |  |
2  | And said with himselfe, I haue wished for death, wherefore doe I not call for my sonne Tobias, that I may signifie to him of the money before I die.  |  |
3  | And when he had called him, he said; My sonne, when I am dead, bury me, and despise not thy mother, but honour her all the dayes of thy life, and doe that which shall please her, and greiue her not.  |  |
4  | Remember, my sonne, that shee saw many dangers for thee, when thou wast in her wombe, and when shee is dead, bury her by me in one graue.  |  |
5  | My sonne, be mindfull of the Lord our God all thy dayes, and let not thy will be set to sinne, or to transgresse his Commandements: doe vprightly all thy life long, and follow not the wayes of vnrighteousnesse.  |  |
6  | For if thou deale truely, thy doings shall prosperously succeed to thee, and to all them that liue iustly.  |  |
7  | Giue almes of thy substance, and when thou giuest almes, let not thine eye be enuious, neither turne thy face from any poore, and the face of God shall not be turned away from thee.  |  |
8  | If thou hast abundance, giue almes accordingly: if thou haue but a litle, be not afraid to giue according to that litle.  |  |
9  | For thou layest vp a good treasure for thy selfe against the day of necessitie.  |  |
10  | Because that almes doth deliuer from death, and suffereth not to come into darknesse.  |  |
11  | For almes is a good gift vnto all that giue it, in the sight of the most High.  |  |
12  | Beware of all whoredome, my sonne, and chiefely take a wife of the seed of thy fathers, and take not a strange woman to wife, which is not of thy fathers tribe: for we are the children of the Prophets, Noe, Abraham, Isaak, and Iacob: remember, my sonne, that our fathers from the beginning, euen that they all maried wiues of their owne kinred, and were blessed in their children, and their seede shall inherite the land.  |  |
13  | Now therefore my sonne, loue thy brethren, and despise not in thy heart thy brethren, the sonnes and daughters of thy people, in not taking a wife of them: for in pride is destruction and much trouble, and in lewdnesse is decay, and great want: for lewdnesse is the mother of famine.  |  |
14  | Let not the wages of any man, which hath wrought for thee, tary with thee, but giue him it out of hand: for if thou serue God he will also repay thee: be circumspect, my sonne, in all things thou doest, and be wise in all thy conuersation.  |  |
15  | Doe that to no man which thou hatest: drinke not wine to make thee drunken; neither let drunkennesse goe with thee in thy iourney.  |  |
16  | Giue of thy bread to the hungry, and of thy garments to them that are naked, and according to thine abundance giue almes, and let not thine eye be enuious, when thou giuest almes.  |  |
17  | Powre out thy bread on the buriall of the iust, but giue nothing to the wicked.  |  |
18  | Aske counsell of all that are wise, and despise not any counsell that is profitable.  |  |
19  | Blesse the Lord thy God alway, and desire of him that thy wayes may be directed, and that all thy pathes, and counsels may prosper: for euery nation hath not counsell, but the Lord himselfe giueth all good things, and hee humbleth whom he will, as he will; now therefore my sonne, remember my commandements, neither let them be put out of thy minde.  |  |
20  | And now I signifie this to thee, that I committed tenne talents to Gabael the sonne of Gabrias at Rages in Media.  |  |
21  | And feare not my sonne, that we are made poore, for thou hast much wealth, if thou feare God, and depart from all sinne, and doe that which is pleasing in his sight.  |  |

## Chapter 5[edit]

Verse  | 1611 King James Version  | Proposed Conservative Translation  | Analysis

|
|
|

1  | Tobias then answered and said, Father, I will doe all things, which thou hast commanded me.  |  |
2  | But how can I receiue the money, seeing, I know him not?  |  |
3  | Then he gaue him the handwriting, and said vnto him, Seeke thee a man which may goe with thee whiles I yet liue, and I will giue him wages, and goe, and receiue the money.  |  |
4  | Therefore when he went to seeke a man, he found Raphael that was an Angell.  | When he went to seek a man, he found Raphael the Archangel.  |
5  | But he knew not; and he said vnto him, Canst thou goe with me to Rages? & knowest thou those places well?  |  |
6  | To whom the Angel said, I will goe with thee, and I know the way well: for I haue lodged with our brother Gabael.  |  |
7  | Then Tobias said vnto him, Tary for me till I tell my father.  |  |
8  | Then he said vnto him, Goe and tary not; so he went in, and said to his father; Behold, I haue found one, which wil goe with me. Then he said, Call him vnto me, that I may know of what tribe he is, and whether hee be a trustie man to goe with thee.  |  |
9  | So he called him, and he came in, and they saluted one another.  |  |
10  | Then Tobit said vnto him, Brother, shew me of what tribe and family thou art.  |  |
11  | To whom hee said, Doest thou seeke for a tribe or family, or an hired man to goe with thy sonne? Then Tobit said vnto him, I would know, brother, thy kinred, and name.  |  |
12  | Then he said, I am Azarias, the sonne of Ananias the great, and of thy brethren.  |  |
13  | Then Tobit said, Thou art welcome brother, be not now angry with mee, because I haue enquired to know thy tribe, and thy family, for thou art my brother, of an honest & good stocke: for I know Ananias, and Ionathas sonnes of that great Samaias: as we went together to Ierusalem to worship, and offered the first borne, and the tenths of the fruits, and they were not seduced with the errour of our brethren: my brother, thou art of a good stocke.  |  |
14  | But tell me, what wages shall I giue thee? wilt thou a drachme a day? and things necessary as to my owne sonne?  |  |
15  | Yea moreouer, if ye returne safe, I will adde some thing to the wages.  |  |
16  | So they were well pleased. Then said he to Tobias; Prepare thy selfe for the iourney, and God send you a good iourney. And when his sonne had prepared all things for the iourney, his father said; Goe thou with this man, and God which dwelleth in heauen prosper your iourney, & the Angel of God keepe you company. So they went foorth both, and the yong mans dogge with them.  |  |
17  | But Anna his mother wept, and said to Tobit, Why hast thou sent away our sonne? is hee not the staffe of our hand, in going in and out before vs?  |  |
18  | Be not greedy (to adde) money to money: but let it bee as refuse in respect of our childe.  |  |
19  | For that which the Lord hath giuen vs to liue with, doeth suffice vs.  |  |
20  | Then said Tobit to her, Take no care my sister he shal returne in safety, and thine eyes shall see him.  |  |
21  | For the good Angel will keepe him company, and his iourney shall be prosperous, and he shall returne safe.  |  |
22  | Then she made an end of weeping.  |  |

## Chapter 6[edit]

Verse  | 1611 King James Version  | Proposed Conservative Translation  | Analysis

|
|
|

1  | And as they went on their iourney, they came in the euening to the riuer Tigris, & they lodged there.  |  |
2  | And when the yong man went downe to wash himselfe, a fish leaped out of the riuer, and would haue deuoured him.  |  |
3  | Then the Angel said vnto him, Take the fish; and the yong man layd hold of the fish, and drew it to land.  |  |
4  | To whom the Angel said, Open the fish, and take the heart, and the liuer and the gall, and put them vp safely.  |  |
5  | So the yong man did as the Angel commaunded him, and when they had rosted the fish, they did eate it: then they both went on their way, till they drew neere to Ecbatane.  |  |
6  | Then the yong man saide to the Angel; Brother Azarias, to what vse is the heart, and the liuer, and the gall of the fish?  |  |
7  | And he said vnto him, Touching the heart and the liuer, if a deuil, or an euil spirit trouble any, we must make a smoke thereof before the man or the woman, and the party shalbe no more vexed.  |  |
8  | As for the gall it is good to anoint a man that hath whitenesse in his eyes, and he shalbe healed.  |  |
9  | And when they were come neere to Rages;  |  |
10  | The Angel said to the yong man, Brother, to day wee shall lodge with Raguel, who is thy cousin; hee also hath one onely daughter, named Sara, I wil speake for her, that she may be giuen thee for a wife.  |  |
11  | For to thee doth the right of her appertaine, seeing thou onely art of her kinred.  |  |
12  | And the maide is faire and wise, now therefore heare me, & I wil speake to her father, and when wee returne from Rages, we will celebrate the mariage: for I know that Raguel cannot marry her to another according to the Law of Moses, but he shalbe guiltie of death, because the right of inheritance doeth rather appertaine to thee, then to any other.  |  |
13  | Then the yong man answered the Angel, I haue heard, brother Azarias, that this maide hath beene giuen to seuen men, who all died in the marriage chamber:  |  |
14  | And now I am the onely sonne of my father, and I am afraid, lest if I goe in vnto her, I die, as the other before; for a wicked spirit loueth her, which hurteth no body, but those which come vnto her; wherefore I also feare, lest I die, and bring my fathers and my mothers life (because of me) to the graue with sorrow, for they haue no other sonne to bury them.  |  |
15  | Then the Angel said vnto him, Doest thou not remember the precepts, which thy father gaue thee, that thou shouldest marrie a wife of thine owne kindred? wherefore heare me, O my brother, for she shall be giuen thee to wife, and make thou no reckoning of the euil spirit, for this same night shall shee be giuen thee in mariage.  |  |
16  | And when thou shalt come into the mariage chamber, thou shalt take the ashes of perfume, and shalt lay vpon them, some of the heart, and liuer of the fish, and shalt make a smoke with it.  |  |
17  | And the deuill shall smell it, and flee away, and neuer come againe any more: but when thou shalt come to her, rise vp both of you, and pray to God, which is mercifull, who will haue pity on you, and saue you: feare not, for shee is appointed vnto thee from the beginning; and thou shalt preserue her, and shee shall goe with thee. Moreouer I suppose that shee shall beare thee children. Now when Tobias had heard these things, he loued her, and his heart was effectually ioyned to her.  |  |

## Chapter 7[edit]

Verse  | 1611 King James Version  | Proposed Conservative Translation  | Analysis

|
|
|

1  | And when they were come to Ecbatane, they came to the house of Raguel; and Sara met them: and after that they had saluted one another, shee brought them into the house.  |  |
2  | Then sayd Raguel to Edna his wife, How like is this yong man to Tobit my cousin?  |  |
3  | And Raguel asked them, From whence are you, brethren? To whom they said, We are of the sonnes of Nephthali, which are captiues in Nineue.  |  |
4  | Then hee said to them, Doe yee know Tobit our kinseman? And they said, We know him. Then said hee, Is he in good health?  |  |
5  | And they said, Hee is both aliue, and in good health: And Tobias sayd, He is my father.  |  |
6  | Then Raguel leaped vp, and kissed him, and wept,  |  |
7  | And blessed him; and said vnto him, Thou art the sonne of an honest and good man: but when he had heard that Tobit was blinde, he was sorowfull, and wept.  |  |
8  | And likewise Edna his wife, and Sara his daughter wept. Moreouer, they entertained them cheerefully, and after that they had killed a ramme of the flocke, they set store of meat on the table. Then said Tobias to Raphael, Brother Azarias, speak of those things, of which thou diddest talke in the way, and let this businesse be dispatched.  |  |
9  | So he communicated the matter with Raguel, and Raguel said to Tobias, Eate and drink, and make merry:  |  |
10  | For it is meet that thou shouldest marry my daughter: neuerthelesse I will declare vnto thee the trueth.  |  |
11  | I haue giuen my daughter in mariage to seuen men, who died that night they came in vnto her: neuerthelesse for the present be merry: But Tobias said, I will eate nothing here, till we agree and sweare one to another.  |  |
12  | Raguel said, Then take her from hencefoorth according to the manner, for thou art her cousin, and she is thine, and the mercifull God giue you good successe in all things.  |  |
13  | Then he called his daughter Sara, and she came to her father, and hee tooke her by the hand, and gaue her to be wife to Tobias, saying, Behold, take her after the Law of Moses, and leade her away to thy father: And he blessed them,  |  |
14  | And called Edna his wife, & tooke paper, and did write an instrument of couenants, and sealed it.  |  |
15  | Then they began to eate.  |  |
16  | After Raguel called his wife Edna, and said vnto her, Sister, prepare another chamber, & bring her in thither.  |  |
17  | Which when she had done as hee had bidden her, she brought her thither, and she wept, & she receiued the teares of her daughter, and said vnto her,  |  |
18  | Be of good comfort, my daughter, the Lord of heauen and earth giue thee ioy for this thy sorow: be of good comfort, my daughter.  |  |