Tobit 4

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 That same day Tobit remembered the money he had deposited with Gabael at Rages in Media, and he thought,	1 Therefore, when Tobit considered that his prayer was heard, so that he might be able to die, he called his son Tobias to him.
2 "Now that I have asked for death, why should I not call my son Tobiah and let him know about this money before I die?"	2 And he said to him: “My son, hear the words of my mouth, and set them, like a foundation, in your heart.
3 So he called his son Tobiah; and when he came, he said to him: "My son, when I die, give me a decent burial. Honor your mother, and do not abandon her as long as she lives. Do whatever pleases her, and do not grieve her spirit in any way.	3 When God will receive my soul, bury my body. And you shall honor your mother, all the days of her life.
4 Remember, my son, that she went through many trials for your sake while you were in her womb. And when she dies, bury her in the same grave with me.	4 For you are obliged to be mindful of what great perils she suffered because of you in her womb.
5 "Through all your days, my son, keep the Lord in mind, and suppress every desire to sin or to break his commandments. Perform good works all the days of your life, and do not tread the paths of wrongdoing.	5 But when she too will have completed the time of her life, bury her near me.
6 For if you are steadfast in your service, your good works will bring success, not only to you, but also to all those who live uprightly.	6 Yet, for all the days of your life, have God in your mind. And be careful that you never consent to sin, nor overlook the precepts of the Lord our God.
7 "Give alms from your possessions. Do not turn your face away from any of the poor, and God's face will not be turned away from you.	7 Give alms from your substance, and do not turn away your face from any pauper. For so it shall be that neither will the face of the Lord be turned away from you.
8 Son, give alms in proportion to what you own. If you have great wealth, give alms out of your abundance; if you have but little, distribute even some of that. But do not hesitate to give alms;	8 In whatever way that you are able, so shall you be merciful.
9 you will be storing up a goodly treasure for yourself against the day of adversity.	9 If you have much, distribute abundantly. If you have little, nevertheless strive to bestow a little freely.
10 Almsgiving frees one from death, and keeps one from going into the dark abode.	10 For you store up for yourself a good reward for the day of necessity.
11 Alms are a worthy offering in the sight of the Most High for all who give them.	11 For almsgiving liberates from every sin and from death, and it will not suffer the soul to go into darkness.
12 "Be on your guard, son, against every form of immorality, and above all, marry a woman of the lineage of your forefathers. Do not marry a stranger who is not of your father's tribe, because we are sons of the prophets. My boy, keep in mind Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, our fathers from of old: all of them took wives from among their own kinsmen and were blessed in their children. Remember that their posterity shall inherit the land.	12 Almsgiving will be a great act of faith before the most high God, for all those who practice it.
13 Therefore, my son, love your kinsmen. Do not be so proudhearted toward your kinsmen, the sons and daughters of your people, as to refuse to take a wife for yourself from among them. For in such arrogance there is ruin and great disorder. Likewise, in worthlessness there is decay and dire poverty, for worthlessness is the mother of famine.	13 Take care to keep yourself, my son, from all fornication, and, except for your wife, never permit yourself to know such an offense.
14 "Do not keep with you overnight the wages of any man who works for you, but pay him immediately. If you thus behave as God's servant, you will receive your reward. Keep a close watch on yourself, my son, in everything you do, and discipline yourself in all your conduct.	14 Never permit arrogance to rule in your mind or in your words. For in it, all perdition had its beginning.
15 Do to no one what you yourself dislike. Do not drink wine till you become drunk, nor let drunkenness accompany you on your way.	15 And whoever has done any kind of work for you, immediately pay him his wages, and do not let the wages of your hired hand remain with you at all.
16 "Give to the hungry some of your bread, and to the naked some of your clothing. Whatever you have left over, give away as alms; and do not begrudge the alms you give.	16 Whatever you would hate to have done to you by another, see that you never do so to another.
17 Be lavish with your bread and wine at the burial of the virtuous, but do not share them with sinners.	17 Eat your bread with the hungry and the needy, and cover the naked with your own garments.
18 "Seek counsel from every wise man, and do not think lightly of any advice that can be useful.	18 Set out your bread and your wine at the burial of a just man, and do not eat and drink from it with sinners.
19 At all times bless the Lord God, and ask him to make all your paths straight and to grant success to all your endeavors and plans. For no pagan nation possesses good counsel, but the Lord himself gives all good things. If the Lord chooses, he raises a man up; but if he should decide otherwise, he casts him down to the deepest recesses of the nether world. So now, my son, keep in mind my commandments, and never let them be erased from your heart.	19 Always seek the counsel of a wise man.
20 "And now, son, I wish to inform you that I have deposited a great sum of money with Gabri's son Gabael at Rages in Media.	20 Bless God at all times. And petition him that he direct your ways and that all your counsels may remain in him.
21 Do not be discouraged, my child, because of our poverty. You will be a rich man if you fear God, avoid all sin, and do what is right before the Lord your God."	21 And now, I reveal to you, my son, that I lent ten talents of silver, while you were still a young child, to Gabael, in Rages, a city of the Medes, and I have his written agreement with me.
	22 And so, inquire how you may travel to him and receive from him the aforementioned weight of silver, and return to him the written agreement.
	23 Do not be afraid, my son. We do indeed lead a poor life, but we will have many good things: if we fear God, and withdraw from all sin, and do what is good.”