The Bible, Douay-Rheims Part 290

10:6. And Tobias said to her: Hold thy peace, and be not troubled, our son is safe: that man with whom we sent him is very trusty.

10:7. But she could by no means be comforted, but daily running out looked round about, and went into all the ways by which there seemed any hope he might return, that she might if possible see him coming afar off.

10:8. But Raguel said to his son in law: Stay here, and I will send a messenger to Tobias thy father, that thou art in health.

10:9. And Tobias said to him: I know that my father and mother now count the days, and their spirit is grievously afflicted within them.

10:10. And when Raguel had pressed Tobias with many words, and he by no means would hearken to him, he delivered Sara unto him, and half of all his substance in menservants, and womenservants, in cattle, in camels, and in kine, and in much money, and sent him away safe and joyful from him,

10:11. Saying: The holy angel of the Lord be with you in your journey, and bring you through safe, and that you may find all things well about your parents, and my eyes may see your children before I die.

10:12. And the parents taking their daughter kissed her, and let her go:

10:13. Admonis.h.i.+ng her to honour her father and mother in law, to love her husband, to take care of the family, to govern the house, and to behave herself irreprehensibly.

Tobias Chapter 11

Tobias anointeth his father's eyes with the fish's gall, and he recovereth his sight.

11:1. And as they were returning they came to Charan, which is in the midway to Ninive, the eleventh day.

11:2. And the angel said: Brother Tobias, thou knowest how thou didst leave thy father.

11:3. If it please thee therefore, let us go before, and let the family follow softly after us, together with thy wife, and with the beasts.

11:4. And as this their going pleased him, Raphael said to Tobias: Take with thee of the gall of the fish, for it will be necessary. So Tobias took some of that gall and departed.

11:5. But Anna sat beside the way daily, on the top of a hill, from whence she might see afar off.

11:6. And while she watched his coming from that place, she saw him afar off, and presently perceived it was her son coming: and returning she told her husband, saying: Behold thy son cometh.

11:7. And Raphael said to Tobias: As soon as thou shalt come into thy house, forthwith adore the Lord thy G.o.d: and giving thanks to him, go to thy father, and kiss him.

11:8. And immediately anoint his eyes with this gall of the fish, which thou carriest with thee. For be a.s.sured that his eyes shall be presently opened, and thy father shall see the light of heaven, and shall rejoice in the sight of thee.

11:9. Then the dog, which had been with them in the way, ran before, and coming as if he had brought the news, shewed his joy by his fawning and wagging his tail.

The dog, etc... This may seem a very minute circ.u.mstance to be recorded in sacred history: but as we learn from our Saviour, St. Matt. 5.18, there are iotas and t.i.ttles in the word of G.o.d: that is to say, things that appear minute, but which have indeed a deep and mysterious meaning in them.

11:10. And his father that was blind, rising up, began to run stumbling with his feet: and giving a servant his hand, went to meet his son.

11:11. And receiving him kissed him, as did also his wife, and they began to weep for joy.

11:12. And when they had adored G.o.d, and given him thanks, they sat down together.

11:13. Then Tobias taking of the gall of the fish, anointed his father's eyes.

11:14. And he stayed about half an hour: and a white skin began to come out of his eyes, like the skin of an egg.

11:15. And Tobias took hold of it, and drew it from his eyes, and recovered his sight.

11:16. And they glorified G.o.d, both he and his wife and all that knew him.

11:17. And Tobias said: I bless thee, O Lord G.o.d of Israel, because thou hast chastised me, and thou hast saved me and behold I see Tobias my son.

11:18. And after seven days Sara his son's wife and all the family arrived safe, and the cattle, and the camels, and an abundance of money of his wife's: and that money also which he had received of Gabelus,

11:19. And he told his parents all the benefits of G.o.d, which he had done to him by the man that conducted him.

11:20. And Achior and Nabath the kinsmen of Tobias came, rejoicing for Tobias, and congratulating with him for all the good things that G.o.d had done for him.

11:21. And for seven days they feasted and rejoiced all with great joy.

Tobias Chapter 12

Raphael maketh himself known.

12:1. Then Tobias called to him his son and said to him: What can we give to this holy man, that is come with thee?

12:2. Tobias answering, said to his father: Father, what wages shall we give him? or what can be worthy of his benefits?

12:3. He conducted me and brought me safe again, he received the money of Gabelus, he caused me to have my wife, and he chased from her the evil spirit, he gave joy to her parents, myself he delivered from being devoured by the fish, thee also he hath made to see the light of heaven, and we are filled with all good things through him. What can we give him sufficient for these things?

12:4. But I beseech thee, my father, to desire him, that he would vouchsafe to accept of one half of all things that have been brought.

12:5. So the father and the son calling him, took him aside: and began to desire him that he would vouchsafe to accept of half of all things that they had brought,

12:6. Then he said to them secretly, Bless ye the G.o.d of heaven, give glory to him in the sight of all that live, because he hath shewn his mercy to you.

12:7. For it is good to hide the secret of a king: to reveal and confess the works of G.o.d.

12:8. Prayer is good with fasting and alms more than to lay up treasures of gold.

12:9. For alms delivereth from death, and the same is that which purgeth away sins, and maketh to find mercy and life everlasting.

12:10. But they that commit sin and iniquity, are enemies to their own soul.

12:11. I discover then the truth unto you, and I will not hide the secret from you.

12:12. When thou didst pray with tears, and didst bury the dead, and didst leave thy dinner, and hide the dead by day in thy house, and bury them by night, I offered thy prayer to the Lord.

12:13. And because thou wast acceptable to G.o.d, it was necessary that temptation should prove thee.

12:14. And now the Lord hath sent me to heal thee, and to deliver Sara thy son's wife from the devil.

12:15. For I am the angel Raphael, one of the seven, who stand before the Lord.

12:16. And when they had heard these things, they were troubled, and being seized with fear they fell upon the ground on their face.