The Bible, Douay-Rheims Part 289

7:18. And Raguel called to him Anna his wife, and bade her to prepare another chamber.

7:19. And she brought Sara her daughter in thither, and she wept.

7:20. And she said to her: Be of good cheer, my daughter: the Lord of heaven give thee joy for the trouble thou hast undergone.

Tobias Chapter 8

Tobias burneth part of the fish's liver, and Raphael bindeth the devil.

Tobias and Sara pray.

8:1. And after they had supped, they brought in the young man to her.

8:2. And Tobias remembering the angel's word, took out of his bag part of the liver, and laid it upon burning coals.

8:3. Then the angel Raphael took the devil, and bound him in the desert of upper Egypt.

8:4. Then Tobias exhorted the virgin, and said to her: Sara, arise, and let us pray to G.o.d to day, and to morrow, and the next day: because for these three nights we are joined to G.o.d: and when the third night is over, we will be in our own wedlock.

8:5. For we are the children of saints, and we must not be joined together like heathens that know not G.o.d.

8:6. So they both arose, and prayed earnestly both together that health might be given them,

8:7. And Tobias said: Lord G.o.d of our fathers, may the heavens and the earth, and the sea, and the fountains, and the rivers, and all thy creatures that are in them, bless thee.

8:8. Thou madest Adam of the slime of the earth, and gavest him Eve for a helper.

8:9. And now, Lord, thou knowest, that not for fleshly l.u.s.t do I take my sister to wife, but only for the love of posterity, in which thy name may be blessed for ever and ever.

8:10. Sara also said: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, and let us grow old both together in health.

8:11. And it came to pa.s.s about the c.o.c.kcrowing, Raguel ordered his servants to be called for, and they went with him together to dig a grave.

8:12. For he said: Lest perhaps it may have happened to him, in like manner as it did to the other seven husbands, that went in unto her.

8:13. And when they had prepared the pit, Raguel went back to his wife, and said to her:

8:14. Send one of thy maids, and let her see if he be dead, that I may bury him before it be day.

8:15. So she sent one of her maidservants, who went into the chamber, and found them safe and sound, sleeping both together.

8:16. And returning she brought the good news: and Raguel and Anna his wife blessed the Lord,

8:17. And said: We bless thee, O Lord G.o.d of Israel, because it hath not happened as we suspected.

8:18. For thou hast shewn thy mercy to us, and hast shut out from us the enemy that persecuted us.

8:19. And thou hast taken pity upon two only children. Make them, O Lord, bless thee more fully: and to offer up to thee a sacrifice of thy praise, and of their health, that all nations may know, that thou alone art G.o.d in all the earth.

8:20. And immediately Raguel commanded his servants, to fill up the pit they had made, before it was day.

8:21. And he spoke to his wife to make ready a feast, and prepare all kind of provisions that are necessary for such as go a journey.

8:22. He caused also two fat kine, and four wethers to be killed, and a banquet to be prepared for all his neighbours, and all his friends,

8:23. And Raguel adjured Tobias, to abide with him two weeks.

8:24. And of all things which Raguel possessed, he gave one half to Tobias, and made a writing, that the half that remained should after their decease come also to Tobias.

Tobias Chapter 9

The angel Raphael goeth to Gabelus, receiveth the money, and bringeth him to the marriage.

9:1. Then Tobias called the angel to him, whom he took to be a man, and said to him: Brother Azarias, I pray thee hearken to my words:

9:2. If I should give myself to be thy servant I should not make a worthy return for thy care.

9:3. However, I beseech thee, to take with thee beasts and servants, and to go to Gabelus to Rages the city of the Medes: and to restore to him his note of hand, and receive of him the money, and desire him to come to my wedding.

9:4. For thou knowest that my father numbereth the days: and if I stay one day more, his soul will be afflicted.

9:5. And indeed thou seest how Raguel hath adjured me, whose adjuring I cannot despise.

9:6. Then Raphael took four of Raguel's servants, and two camels, and went to Rages the city of the Medes: and finding Gabelus, gave him his note of hand, and received of him all the money.

9:7. And he told him concerning Tobias the son of Tobias, all that had been done: and made him come with him to the wedding.

9:8. And when he was come into Raguel's house he found Tobias sitting at the table: and he leaped up, and they kissed each other: and Gabelus wept, and blessed G.o.d,

9:9. And said: The G.o.d of Israel bless thee, because thou art the son of a very good and just man, and that feareth G.o.d, and doth almsdeeds:

9:10. And may a blessing come upon thy wife and upon your parents.

9:11. And may you see your children, and your children's children, unto the third and fourth generation: and may your seed be blessed by the G.o.d of Israel, who reigneth for ever and ever.

9:12. And when all had said, Amen, they went to the feast: but the marriage feast they celebrated also with the fear of the Lord.

Tobias Chapter 10

The parents lament the long absence of their son Tobias. He sets out to return.

10:1. But as Tobias made longer stay upon occasion of the marriage, Tobias his father was solicitous, saying: Why thinkest thou doth my son tarry, or why is he detained there?

10:2. Is Gabelus dead, thinkest thou, and no man will pay him the money?

10:3. And he began to be exceeding sad, both he and Anna his wife with him: and they began both to weep together, because their son did not return to them on the day appointed.

10:4. But his mother wept and was quite disconsolate, and said: Woe, woe is me, my son; why did we send thee to go to a strange country, the light of our eyes, the staff of our old age, the comfort of our life, the hope of our posterity?

10:5. We having all things together in thee alone, ought not to have let thee go from us.