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Giovedi, 16 maggio 2024 - San Simone Stock ( Letture di oggi)

Tobit 12


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DOUAI-RHEIMSNEW JERUSALEM
1 Then Tobias called to him his son, and said to him: What can we give to this holy man, that is come with thee?1 When the wedding feast was over, Tobit cal ed his son Tobias and said, 'My son, you ought to thinkabout paying the amount due to your fellow travel er; give him more than the figure agreed on.'
2 Tobias answering, said to his father: Father, what wages shall we give him? or what can be worthy of his benefits?2 'Father,' he replied, 'how much am I to give him for his help? Even if I give him half the goods hebrought back with me, I shal not be the loser.
3 He conducted me and brought me safe again, he received the money of Gabelus, he caused me to have my wife, and he chased from her the evil spirit, he gave joy to her parents, myself he delivered from being devoured by the fish, thee also he hath made to see the light of heaven, and we are filled with all good things through him. What can we give him sufficient for these things?3 He has brought me back safe and sound, he has cured my wife, he has brought the money back too,and now he has cured you as wel . How much am I to give him for al this?'
4 But I beseech thee, my father, to desire him, that he would vouchsafe to accept one half of all things that have been brought.4 Tobit said, 'He has richly earned half what he brought back'.
5 So the father and the son, calling him, took him aside: and began to desire him that he would vouchsafe to accept of half of all things that they had brought.5 So Tobias cal ed his companion and said, 'Take half of what you brought back, in payment for al youhave done, and go in peace.'
6 Then he said to them secretly: Bless ye the God of heaven, give glory to him in the sight of all that live, because he hath shewn his mercy to you.6 Then Raphael took them both aside and said, 'Bless God, utter his praise before al the living for thefavour he has shown you. Bless and extol his name. Proclaim before all people the deeds of God as theydeserve, and never tire of giving him thanks.
7 For it is good to hide the secret of a king: but honourable to reveal and confess the works of God.7 It is right to keep the secret of a king, yet right to reveal and publish the works of God as they deserve.Do what is good, and no evil can befall you.
8 Prayer is good with fasting and alms more than to lay up treasures of gold:8 'Prayer with fasting and alms with uprightness are better than riches with iniquity. Better to practisealmsgiving than to hoard up gold.
9 For alms delivereth from death, and the same is that which purgeth away sins, and maketh to find mercy and life everlasting.9 Almsgiving saves from death and purges every kind of sin. Those who give alms have their fill of days;
10 But they that commit sin and iniquity, are enemies to their own soul.10 those who commit sin and do evil bring harm on themselves.
11 I discover then the truth unto you, and I will not hide the secret from you.11 'I am going to tel you the whole truth, hiding nothing from you. I have already told you that it is rightto keep the secret of a king, yet right too to reveal in a worthy way the words of God.
12 When thou didst pray with tears, and didst bury the dead, and didst leave thy dinner, and hide the dead by day in thy house, and bury them by night, I offered thy prayer to the Lord.12 So you must know that when you and Sarah were at prayer, it was I who offered your supplicationsbefore the glory of the Lord and who read them; so too when you were burying the dead.
13 And because thou wast acceptable to God, it was necessary that temptation should prove thee.13 When you did not hesitate to get up and leave the table to go and bury a dead man, I was sent to testyour faith,
14 And now the Lord hath sent me to heal thee, and to deliver Sara thy son's wife from the devil.14 and at the same time God sent me to heal you and your daughter-in-law Sarah.
15 For I am the angel Raphael, one of the seven, who stand before the Lord.15 I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand ever ready to enter the presence of the glory of theLord.'
16 And when they had heard these things, they were troubled, and being seized with fear they fell upon the ground on their face.16 They were both overwhelmed with awe; they fel on their faces in terror.
17 And the angel said to them: Peace be to you, fear not.17 But the angel said, 'Do not be afraid; peace be with you. Bless God for ever.
18 For when I was with you, I was there by the will of God: bless ye him, and sing praises to him.18 As far as I was concerned, when I was with you, my presence was not by any decision of mine, butby the wil of God; he is the one whom you must bless as long as you live, he the one that you must praise.
19 I seemed indeed to eat and to drink with you: but I use an invisible meat and drink, which cannot be seen by men.19 You thought you saw me eating, but that was appearance and no more.
20 It is time therefore that I return to him that sent me: but bless ye God, and publish all his wonderful works.20 Now bless the Lord on earth and give thanks to God. I am about to return to him who sent me fromabove. Write down al that has happened.' And he rose in the air.
21 And when he had said these things, he was taken from their sight, and they could see him no more.21 When they stood up again, he was no longer visible. They praised God with hymns; they thanked himfor having performed such wonders; had not an angel of God appeared to them?
22 Then they lying prostrate for three hours upon their face, blessed God: and rising up, they told all his wonderful works.