Tobit 6

NEW JERUSALEM	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 And she dried her tears.	1 Now as they proceeded on their way they came at evening to the Tigris river and camped there.
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 Then the young man went down to wash himself. A fish leaped up from the river and would have swallowed the young man;
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 the angel said to him, "Catch the fish." So the young man seized the fish and threw it up on the land.
4 and the angel said, 'Catch the fish; do not let it go.' The boy mastered the fish and pulled it onto thebank.	4 Then the angel said to him, "Cut open the fish and take the heart and liver and gall and put them away safely."
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 So the young man did as the angel told him; and they roasted and ate the fish. And they both continued on their way until they came near to Ecbatana.
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 Then the young man said to the angel, "Brother Azarias, of what use is the liver and heart and gall of the fish?"
7 Then the boy asked the angel this question, 'Brother Azarias, what can the fish's heart, liver and galcure?'	7 He replied, "As for the heart and liver, if a demon or evil spirit gives trouble to any one, you make a smoke from these before the man or woman, and that person will never be troubled again.
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 as for the gall, anoint with it a man who has white films in his eyes, and he will be cured."
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 When they approached Ecbatana,
10 They entered Media and had nearly reached Ecbatana	10 the angel said to the young man, "Brother, today we shall stay with Raguel. He is your relative, and he has an only daughter named Sarah. I will suggest that she be given to you in marriage,
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 because you are entitled to her and to her inheritance, for you are her only eligible kinsman.
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 The girl is also beautiful and sensible. Now listen to my plan. I will speak to her father, and as soon as we return from Rages we will celebrate the marriage. For I know that Raguel, according to the law of Moses, cannot give her to another man without incurring the penalty of death, because you rather than any other man are entitled to the inheritance."
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 Then the young man said to the angel, "Brother Azarias, I have heard that the girl has been given to seven husbands and that each died in the bridal chamber.
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 Now I am the only son my father has, and I am afraid that if I go in I will die as those before me did, for a demon is in love with her, and he harms no one except those who approach her. So now I fear that I may die and bring the lives of my father and mother to the grave in sorrow on my account. And they have no other son to bury 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 But the angel said to him, "Do you not remember the words with which your father commanded you to take a wife from among your own people? Now listen to me, brother, for she will become your wife; and do not worry about the demon, for this very night she will be given to you in marriage.
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 When you enter the bridal chamber, you shall take live ashes of incense and lay upon them some of the heart and liver of the fish so as to make a smoke.
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 Then the demon will smell it and flee away, and will never again return. And when you approach her, rise up, both of you, and cry out to the merciful God, and he will save you and have mercy on you. Do not be afraid, for she was destined for you from eternity. You will save her, and she will go with you, and I suppose that you will have children by her." When Tobias heard these things, he fell in love with her and yearned deeply for her.
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.