Tobit 5

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Then Tobiah replied to his father Tobit: "Everything that you have commanded me, father, I will do.	1 Then Tobias responded to his father, and he said: “I will do everything just as you have instructed me, father.
2 But how shall I be able to obtain the money from him, since he does not know me nor do I know him? What can I show him to make him recognize me and trust me, so that he will give me the money? I do not even know which roads to take for the journey into Media!"	2 But I do not know how to obtain this money. He does not know me, and I do not know him. What proof shall I give to him? And I do not know any part of the way, which leads to that place.”
3 Tobit answered his son Tobiah: "We exchanged signatures on a document written in duplicate; I divided it into two parts, and each of us kept one; his copy I put with the money. Think of it, twenty years have already passed since I deposited that money! So now, my son, find yourself a trustworthy man who will make the journey with you. We will, of course, give him a salary when you return; but get back that money from Gabael."	3 Then his father answered him, and he said: “Indeed, I have a written agreement about that in my possession, which, when you show it to him, he will immediately repay it.
4 Tobiah went to look for someone acquainted with the roads who would travel with him to Media. As soon as he went out, he found the angel Raphael standing before him, though he did not know that this was an angel of God.	4 But go out now, and inquire after some faithful man, who would go with you to keep you safe in return for his wages, so that you may receive it while I am still alive.”
5 Tobiah said to him, "Who are you, young man?" He replied "I am an Israelite, one of your kinsmen. I have come here to work." Tobiah said, "Do you know the way to Media?"	5 Then Tobias, departing, found a splendid young man, standing girded and seemingly ready for travel.
6 The other replied: "Yes, I have been there many times. I know the place well and I know all the routes. I have often traveled to Media; I used to stay with our kinsman Gabael, who lives at Rages in Media. It is a good two days' travel from Ecbatana to Rages, for Rages is situated at the mountains, Ecbatana out on the plateau."	6 And not knowing that he was an Angel of God, he greeted him, and he said, “Where are you from, good young man?”
7 Tobiah said to him, "Wait for me, young man, till I go back and tell my father; for I need you to make the journey with me. I will, of course, pay you."	7 And so he answered, “From the sons of Israel.” And Tobias said to him, “Do you know the way that leads to the region of the Medes?”
8 Raphael replied, "Very well, I will wait for you; but do not be long."	8 And he answered: “I know it. And I have frequently walked through all its paths, and I stayed with Gabael, our brother, who lives in Rages, a city of the Medes, which is situated at the mount of Ecbatana.”
9 Tobiah went back to tell his father Tobit what had happened. He said to him, "I have just found a man who is one of our own Israelite kinsmen!" Tobit said, "Call the man, so that I may find out what family and tribe he comes from, and whether he is trustworthy enough to travel with you, son." Tobiah went out to summon the man, saying, "Young man, my father would like to see you."	9 Tobias said to him, “I implore you, wait here for me, until I tell these same things to my father.”
10 When Raphael entered the house, Tobit greeted him first. Raphael said, "Hearty greetings to you!" Tobit replied: "What joy is left for me any more? Here I am, a blind man who cannot see God's sunlight, but must remain in darkness, like the dead who no longer see the light! Though alive, I am among the dead. I can hear a man's voice, but I cannot see him." Raphael said, "Take courage! God has healing in store for you; so take courage!" Tobit then said: "My son Tobiah wants to go to Media. Can you go with him to show him the way? I will of course pay you, brother." Raphael answered: "Yes, I can go with him, for I know all the routes. I have often traveled to Media and crossed all its plains and mountains; so I know every road well."	10 Then Tobias, entering, revealed all these things to his father. Upon which, his father, in admiration, asked that he would enter to him.
11 Tobit asked, "Brother, tell me, please, what family and tribe are you from?"	11 And so, entering, he greeted him, and he said, “May gladness be always with you.”
12 Raphael said: "Why? Do you need a tribe and a family? Or are you looking for a hired man to travel with your son?" Tobit replied, "I wish to know truthfully whose son you are, brother, and what your name is."	12 And Tobit said, “What kind of gladness will be for me, since I sit in darkness and do not see the light of heaven?”
13 Raphael answered, "I am Azariah, son of Hananiah the elder, one of your own kinsmen."	13 And the young man said to him, “Be steadfast in soul. Your cure from God is near.”
14 Tobit exclaimed: "Welcome! God save you, brother! Do not be provoked with me, brother, for wanting to learn the truth about your family. So it turns out that you are a kinsman, and from a noble and good line! I knew Hananiah and Nathaniah, the two sons of Shemaiah the elder; with me they used to make the pilgrimage to Jerusalem, where we would worship together. No, they did not stray from the right path; your kinsmen are good men. You are certainly of good lineage, and welcome!"	14 And so Tobit said to him, “Are you able to lead my son to Gabael in Rages, a city of the Medes? And when you return, I will pay you your wages.”
15 Then he added: "For each day you are away I will give you the normal wages, plus expenses for you and for my son. If you go with my son,	15 And the Angel said to him, “I will lead him, and I will bring him back to you.”
16 I will even add a bonus to your wages!" Raphael replied: "I will go with him; have no fear. In good health we shall leave you, and in good health we shall return to you, for the way is safe."	16 And Tobit responded to him, “I ask you to tell me: which family or which tribe are you from?”
17 Tobit said, "God bless you, brother." Then he called his son and said to him: "My son, prepare whatever you need for the journey, and set out with your kinsman. May God in heaven protect you on the way and bring you back to me safe and sound; and may his angel accompany you for safety, my son." Before setting out on his journey, Tobiah kissed his father and mother. Tobit said to him, "Have a safe journey."	17 And Raphael the Angel said, “Do you seek the family of the one you hire, or else the hired hand himself, to go with your son?
18 But his mother began to weep. She said to Tobit: "Why have you decided to send my child away? Is he not the staff to which we cling, ever there with us in all that we do?	18 But, lest perhaps I cause you to worry: I am Azariah, the son of Hananiah the great.”
19 I hope more money is not your chief concern! Rather let it be a ransom for our son!	19 And Tobit responded, “You are from a great family. But I ask you, do not be angry that I wanted to know your family.”
20 What the Lord has given us to live on is certainly enough for us."	20 But the Angel said to him, “I will lead your son safely, and I will bring him back safely to you.”
21 Tobit reassured her: "Have no such thought. Our son will leave in good health and come back to us in good health. Your own eyes will see the day when he returns to you safe and sound.	21 And so Tobit, answering, said, “May you walk well, and may God be with you on your journey, and may his Angel accompany you.”
22 So, no such thought; do not worry about them, my love. For a good angel will go with him, his journey will be successful, and he will return unharmed."	22 Then, when all things were ready which were to be carried on their journey, Tobias said farewell to his father, and to his mother, and the two of them walked together.
	23 And when they had set out, his mother began to weep, and to say: “You have taken the staff of our old age, and you have sent him away from us.
	24 I wish that the money, for which you sent him, had never been.
	25 For our poverty has been sufficient for us, so that we might count it as riches that we saw our son.”
	26 And Tobit said to her: “Do not weep. Our son will arrive safely, and he will return safely to us, and your eyes shall see him.
	27 For I believe that the good Angel of God accompanies him and that he orders all things well which occur around him, such that he will be returned to us with gladness.”
	28 At these words, his mother ceased weeping, and she was silent.