house, and Sarah the daughter of Raguel came down from her upper chamber.

3

In that day Tobit remembered concerning the money which he had left in trust with Gabael in Rages of Media, and he said in himself, I have asked for death; why do I not call my son Tobias, that I may shew to him of the money before I die? And he called him and said:

"My child, when I die, bury me: and despise not thy mother; honour her all the days of thy life, and do that which is pleasing unto her, and grieve her not. Remember, my child, that she hath seen many dangers for thee, when thou wast in her womb. When she is dead, bury her by me in one grave. My child, be mindful of the Lord our God•all thy days, and let not thy will be set to sin and to transgress his commandments: do righteousness all the days of thy life, and follow not the ways of unrighteousness. For if thou doest the truth, thy doings shall prosperously succeed to thee, and to all them that do righteousness.

"Give alms of thy substance; and when thou givest alms, let not thine eye be envious: turn not away thy face from any poor man, and the face of God shall not be turned away from thee. As thy substance is, give alms of it according to thine abundance: if thou have little, be not afraid to give alms according to that little for thou layest up a good treasure for thyself against the day of

necessity because alms delivereth from death, and suffereth not to come into darkness. Alms is a good gift in the sight of the Most High for all that give it.

"Beware, my child, of all whoredom, and take first a wife of the seed of thy fathers, and take not a strange wife, which is not of thy father's tribe: for we are the sons of the prophets. Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, our fathers of old time, remember, my child, that they all took wives of their brethren, and were blessed in their children, and their seed shall inherit the land. And now, my child, love thy brethren, and scorn not in thy heart thy brethren, and the sons and the daughters of thy people, to take a wife of them: for in scornfulness is destruction and much trouble, and in naughtiness is decay and great want: for naughtiness is the mother of famine.

"Let not the wages of any man, which shall work for thee, tarry with thee, but render it unto him out of hand: and if thou serve God, recompense shall be made unto thee. Take heed to thyself, my child, in all thy works, and be discreet in all thy behaviour. And what thou thyself hatest, do to no man. "Drink not wine unto drunkenness, and let not drunkenness go with thee on thy way. Give of thy bread to the hungry, and of thy garments to them that are naked: of all thine abundance give alms; and let not thine eye be envious when thou givest alms. Pour out thy bread on the burial of the just, and give nothing to sinners.

"Ask counsel of every man that is wise, and despise not any counsel that is profitable. And bless the Lord thy God at all times, and ask of him that thy ways may be made straight, and that all thy paths and counsels may prosper: for every nation hath not counsel; but the Lord himself giveth all good things, and he humbleth whom he will, as he will. And now, my child, remember my commandments, and let them not be blotted out of thy mind.

"And now I shew thee of the ten talents of silver, which I left in trust with Gabael the son of Gabrias at Rages of Media. And fear not, my child, because we are made poor: thou hast much wealth, if thou fear God, and depart from all sin, and do that which is pleasing in his sight."

And Tobias answered and said unto him, Father, I will do all things, whatsoever thou hast commanded me: but how shall I be able to receive the money, seeing I know him not? And he gave him the handwriting, and said unto him, Seek thee a man which shall go with thee, and I will give him wages, whiles I yet live: and go and receive the money. And he went to seek a man, and found Raphael which was an angel; and he knew it not; and he said unto him, Can I go with thee to Rages of Media? and knowest thou the places well? And the angel said unto him, I will go with thee, and I know the way well: and I have lodged with our brother Gabael. And Tobias said unto him, Wait for me, and I will tell my father.

And he said unto him, Go, and tarry not.

And he went

in and said to his father, Behold, I have found one which will go with me. But he said, Call him unto me, that I may know of what tribe he is, and whether he be a trusty man to go with thee.

And he called him, and he came in, and they saluted one another. And Tobit said unto him, Brother, of what tribe and of what family art thou? Shew me. And he said unto him, Seekest thou a tribe and a family, or a hired man which shall go with thy son? And Tobit said unto him, I would know, brother, thy kindred and thy name. And he said, I am Azarias, the son of Ananias the great, of thy brethren. And he said unto him, Welcome, brother; and be not angry with me, because I sought to know thy tribe and family: and thou art my brother, of an honest and good lineage: for I knew Ananias and Jathan, the sons of Shemaiah the great, when we went together to Jerusalem to worship, and offered the firstborn, and the tenths of our increase; and they went not astray in the error of our brethren: my brother, thou art of a great stock. But tell me, what wages shall I give thee? a drachma a day, and those things that be necessary for thee, as unto my son? And moreover, if ye return safe and sound, I will add something to thy wages. And so they consented. And he said to Tobias, Prepare thyself for the journey, and God prosper you. And his son prepared what was needful for the journey, and his father

said unto him, Go thou with this man; but God, which dwelleth in heaven, shall prosper your journey; and may his angel go with you. And they both went forth to depart, and the young man's dog with them.

But Anna his mother wept, and said to Tobit, Why hast thou sent away our child? is he not the staff of our hand, in going in and out before us? Be not greedy to add money to money: but let it be as refuse in respect of our child. For as the Lord hath given us to live, so doth it suffice us. And Tobit said to her, Take no care, my sister; he shall return safe and sound, and thine eyes shall see him. For a good angel shall go with him, and his journey shall be prospered, and he shall return safe and sound. And she made an end of weeping.

man.

Now as they went on their journey, they came at eventide to the river Tigris, and they lodged there. But the young man went down to wash himself, and a fish leaped out of the river, and would have swallowed up the young But the angel said unto him, Take hold on the fish. And the young man caught hold of the fish, and cast it up on the land. And the angel said unto him, Cut the fish open, and take the heart and the liver and the gall, and put them up safely. And the young man did as the angel commanded him; but they roasted the fish, and ate it. And they both went on their way, till they drew near to