Tobit 7

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 As they entered Ecbatana, Tobias said, 'Brother Azarias, take me at once to our brother Raguel's.' Andhe showed him the way to the house of Raguel, whom they found sitting beside his courtyard door. They greetedhim first, and he replied, 'Welcome and greetings, brothers.' And he took them into his house.	1 When they entered Ecbatana, Tobiah said, "Brother Azariah, lead me straight to our kinsman Raguel." So he brought him to the house of Raguel, whom they found seated by his courtyard gate. They greeted him first. He said to them, "Greetings to you too, brothers! Good health to you, and welcome!" When he brought them into his home,
2 He said to his wife Edna, 'How like my brother Tobit this young man is!'	2 he said to his wife Edna, "This young man looks just like my kinsman Tobit!"
3 Edna asked them where they came from; they said, 'We are sons of Naphtali exiled in Nineveh.'	3 So Edna asked them, "Who are you, brothers?" They answered, "We are of the exiles from Naphtali at Nineveh."
4 'Do you know our brother Tobit?' 'Yes.' 'How is he?'	4 She said, "Do you know our kinsman Tobit?" They answered, "Indeed we do!" She asked, "Is he well?"
5 'He is alive and wel .' And Tobias added, 'He is my father.'	5 They answered, "Yes, he is alive and well." Then Tobiah exclaimed, "He is my father!"
6 Raguel leapt to his feet and kissed him and wept.	6 Raguel sprang up and kissed him, shedding tears of joy.
7 Then, finding words, he said, 'Blessings on you, child! You are the son of a noble father. How sad it isthat someone so bright and ful of good deeds should have gone blind!' He fel on the neck of his kinsman Tobiasand wept.	7 But when he heard that Tobit had lost his eyesight, he was grieved and wept aloud. He said to Tobiah: "My child, God bless you! You are the son of a noble and good father. But what a terrible misfortune that such a righteous and charitable man should be afflicted with blindness!" He continued to weep in the arms of his kinsman Tobiah.
8 And his wife Edna wept for him, and so did his daughter Sarah.	8 His wife Edna also wept for Tobit; and even their daughter Sarah began to weep.
9 Raguel kil ed a ram from the flock, and they gave them a warm welcome. They washed and bathed andsat down to table. Then Tobias said to Raphael, 'Brother Azarias, wil you ask Raguel to give me my sisterSarah?'	9 Afterward, Raguel slaughtered a ram from the flock and gave them a cordial reception. When they had bathed and reclined to eat, Tobiah said to Raphael, "Brother Azariah, ask Raguel to let me marry my kinswoman Sarah."
10 Raguel overheard the words, and said to the young man, 'Eat and drink, and make the most of yourevening; no one else has the right to take my daughter Sarah -- no one but you, my brother. In any case even Iam not at liberty to give her to anyone else, since you are her next of kin. However, my boy, I must be frank with you:	10 Raguel overheard the words; so he said to the boy: "Eat and drink and be merry tonight, for no man is more entitled to marry my daughter Sarah than you, brother. Besides, not even I have the right to give her to anyone but you, because you are my closest relative. But I will explain the situation to you very frankly.
11 I have tried to find a husband for her seven times among our kinsmen, and al of them have died thefirst evening, on going to her room. But for the present, my boy, eat and drink; the Lord wil grant you his graceand peace.' Tobias spoke out, 'I wil not hear of eating and drinking til you have come to a decision about me.'Raguel answered, 'Very wel . Since, by the prescription of the Book of Moses she is given to you, Heaven itselfdecrees she shal be yours. I therefore entrust your sister to you. From now on you are her brother and she isyour sister. She is given to you from today for ever. The Lord of heaven favour you tonight, my child, and grantyou his grace and peace.'	11 I have given her in marriage to seven men, all of whom were kinsmen of ours, and all died on the very night they approached her. But now, son, eat and drink. I am sure the Lord will look after you both." Tobiah answered, "I will eat or drink nothing until you set aside what belongs to me." Raguel said to him: "I will do it. She is yours according to the decree of the Book of Moses. Your marriage to her has been decided in heaven! Take your kinswoman; from now on you are her love, and she is your beloved. She is yours today and ever after. And tonight, son, may the Lord of heaven prosper you both. May he grant you mercy and peace."
12 Raguel called for his daughter Sarah, took her by the hand and gave her to Tobias with these words, 'Ientrust her to you; the law and the ruling recorded in the Book of Moses assign her to you as your wife. Takeher; bring her home safe and sound to your father's house. The God of heaven grant you a good journey inpeace.'	12 Then Raguel called his daughter Sarah, and she came to him. He took her by the hand and gave her to Tobiah with the words: "Take her according to the law. According to the decree written in the Book of Moses she is your wife. Take her and bring her back safely to your father. And may the God of heaven grant both of you peace and prosperity."
13 Then he turned to her mother and asked her to fetch him writing paper. He drew up the marriagecontract, and so he gave his daughter as bride to Tobias according to the ordinance of the Law of Moses.	13 He then called her mother and told her to bring a scroll, so that he might draw up a marriage contract stating that he gave Sarah to Tobiah as his wife according to the decree of the Mosaic law. Her mother brought the scroll, and he drew up the contract, to which they affixed their seals.
14 After this they began to eat and drink.	14 Afterward they began to eat and drink.
15 Raguel called his wife Edna and said, 'My sister, prepare the second room and take her there.'	15 Later Raguel called his wife Edna and said, "My love, prepare the other bedroom and bring the girl there."
16 She went and made the bed in this room as he had ordered, and took her daughter to it. She weptover her, then wiped away her tears and said, 'Courage, daughter! May the Lord of heaven turn your grief to joy!Courage, daughter!' And she went out.	16 She went and made the bed in the room, as she was told, and brought the girl there. After she had cried over her, she wiped away the tears and said:
	17 "Be brave, my daughter. May the Lord of heaven grant you joy in place of your grief. Courage, my daughter." Then she left.