Tobit 6

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 And she dried her tears.	1 And so Tobias continued on, and the dog was following him, and he stayed at the first stopping point, near the river Tigris.
2 The boy left with the angel, and the dog fol owed behind. The two walked on, and when the first eveningcame they camped beside the Tigris.	2 And he went out to wash his feet, and behold, an immense fish came out to devour him.
3 The boy had gone down to the river to wash his feet, when a great fish leapt out of the water and triedto swal ow his foot. The boy gave a shout	3 And Tobias, being frightened of it, cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Sir, it is attacking me!”
4 and the angel said, 'Catch the fish; do not let it go.' The boy mastered the fish and pulled it onto thebank.	4 And the Angel said to him, “Catch it by the gills, and draw it to you.” And when he had done so, he pulled it onto dry land, and it began to thrash before his feet.
5 The angel said, 'Cut it open; take out gall, heart and liver; set these aside and throw the entrails away,for gal and heart and liver have curative properties.'	5 Then the Angel said to him: “Disembowel this fish, and put aside his heart, and his gall, and his liver for yourself. For these things are necessary as useful medicines.”
6 The boy cut the fish open and took out gal and heart and liver. He fried part of the fish for his meal andkept some for salting. Then they walked on again together until they were nearly in Media.	6 And when he had done so, he roasted its flesh, and they took it with them on the way. The rest they salted, so that it might be sufficient for them, until they would arrive at Rages, a city of the Medes.
7 Then the boy asked the angel this question, 'Brother Azarias, what can the fish's heart, liver and galcure?'	7 Then Tobias questioned the Angel, and he said to him, “I implore you, brother Azariah, to tell me what remedies these things hold, which you have told me to retain from the fish?”
8 He replied, 'You burn the fish's heart and liver, and their smoke is used in the case of a man or womanplagued by a demon or evil spirit; any such affliction disappears for good, leaving no trace.	8 And the Angel, answering, said to him: “If you put a little piece of its heart on burning coals, its smoke will drive away all kind of demons, whether from a man or from a woman, so that they will no longer approach them.
9 As regards the gal , this is used as an eye ointment for anyone having white spots on his eyes; afterusing it, you have only to blow on the spots to cure them.'	9 And the gall is useful for anointing the eyes, in which there may be a white speck, and they will be cured.”
10 They entered Media and had nearly reached Ecbatana	10 And Tobias said to him, “Where do you prefer that we stay?”
11 when Raphael said to the boy, 'Brother Tobias.' 'Yes?' he replied. The angel went on, 'Tonight we areto stay with Raguel, who is a kinsman of yours. He has a daughter cal ed Sarah,	11 And the Angel, responding, said: “Here is one named Raguel, a man closely related to you from your tribe, and he has a daughter named Sarah, but he has no other male or female, except her.
12 but apart from Sarah he has no other son or daughter. Now you are her next of kin; she belongs to youbefore anyone else and you may claim her father's inheritance. She is a thoughtful, courageous and very lovelygirl, and her father loves her dearly.	12 All his livelihood is dependent upon you, and you ought to take her to yourself in marriage.
13 You have the right to marry her. Listen, brother; this very evening I shal speak about the girl to herfather and arrange for her to be betrothed to you, and when we come back from Rhages we can celebrate themarriage. I assure you, Raguel has no right whatever to refuse you or to betroth her to anyone else. That wouldbe asking for death, as prescribed in the Book of Moses, once he is aware that kinship gives you the pre-eminent right to marry his daughter. So listen, brother. This very evening we shal speak about the girl and askfor her hand in marriage. When we come back from Rhages we shal fetch her and take her home with us.'	13 Therefore, ask for her from her father, and he will give her to you as wife.”
14 Tobias replied to Raphael, 'Brother Azarias, I have been told that she has already been given inmarriage seven times and that each time her bridegroom has died in the bridal room. He died the same night ashe entered her room; and I have heard people say it was a demon that killed them,	14 Then Tobias responded, and he said: “I hear that she has been given to seven husbands, and they passed away. But I have even heard this: that a demon killed them.
15 and this makes me afraid. To her the demon does no harm because he loves her, but as soon as aman tries to approach her, he kil s him. I am my father's only son, and I have no wish to die. I do not want myfather and mother to grieve over me for the rest of their lives; they have no other son to bury them.'	15 Therefore, I am afraid, lest this may happen to me also. And since I am the only child of my parents, I might send their old age with sorrow to the grave.”
16 The angel said, 'Have you forgotten your father's advice? After all, he urged you to choose a wife fromyour father's family. Listen then, brother. Do not worry about the demon; take her. This very evening, I promise,she wil be given you as your wife.	16 Then the Angel Raphael said to him: “Listen to me, and I will reveal to you who they are, over whom the demon can prevail.
17 Then once you are in the bridal room, take the heart and liver of the fish and lay a little of it on theburning incense. The reek will rise,	17 For example, those who receive marriage in such manner as to exclude God from themselves and from their mind, and in such a manner as to empty themselves to their lust, like the horse and mule, which have no understanding, over them the demon has power.
18 the demon wil smel it and flee, and there is no danger that he wil ever be found near the girl again.Then, before you sleep together, first stand up, both of you, and pray. Ask the Lord of heaven to grant you hisgrace and protection. Do not be afraid; she was destined for you from the beginning, and you are the one tosave her. She will fol ow you, and I pledge my word she wil give you children who will be like brothers to you. Donot worry.' And when Tobias heard Raphael say this, when he understood that Sarah was his sister, akinswoman of his father's family, he fel so deeply in love with her that he could no longer cal his heart his own.	18 But you, when you will have accepted her, enter the bedroom and for three days keep yourself continent from her, and empty yourself to nothing other than prayers with her.
	19 Moreover, on that night, burn the liver of the fish like incense, and the demon will be put to flight.
	20 In truth, on the second night, you will become ready to receive a physical union like that of the holy Patriarchs.
	21 And then, on the third night, you will obtain a blessing, so that healthy children may be procreated from you both.
	22 And so, the third night having been accomplished, you will receive the virgin with the fear of the Lord, led more by love of children than by physical desire, so that, as the offspring of Abraham, you will then obtain a blessing in children.