“And all the days of thy life have God in thy mind[1], and take heed thou never consent to sin[2], nor transgress the commandments of the Lord our God. Give alms out of thy substance, and turn not thy face away from any poor person. If thou hast much, give abundantly; if thou hast little, take care even so to bestow willingly a little. For alms deliver from sin and death, and will not suffer the soul to go into darkness. Take heed to keep thyself, my son, from all fornication.
“Never suffer pride to reign in thy mind, nor in thy word, for from it all perdition took its beginning[3]. If any man has done work for thee, pay him his hire. See thou never do to another what thou wouldst hate to have done to thee by another. Bless God at all times[4], and desire of him to direct thy ways[5] and that all thy counsels may abide in Him. Fear not, my son, we lead indeed a poor life; but we shall have many good things (grace and consolations on earth and eternal glory in heaven), if we fear God and depart from all sin, and do that which is good.”
Then the son answered, saying: “I will do all these things, father, which thou hast commanded me.”
Tobias, having thus advised his son, sent him to Rages[6], a distant city, to collect a debt [7] of long standing. And the young Tobias, not knowing the road, went out to seek a guide who would show him the way.
He had not gone far when he met a beautiful young man, standing ready girt as for a journey. It was the Archangel Raphael[8]. Tobias did not know who the young man was, but he addressed him, saying: “Good young man, knowest thou the way that leadeth to the country of the Medes?” The Angel
- ↑ In thy mind. Fearing Him and loving Him.
- ↑ To sin. i. e. to sin wilfully.
- ↑ Its beginning. Both the fallen angels and our first parents sinned through pride.
- ↑ At all times. In health and in sickness, in prosperity and adversity.
- ↑ Thy ways. “That His Providence may watch over you, and may keep you in the ways of His commandments.”
- ↑ Rages. This town lay several hundred miles east of Ninive.
- ↑ A debt. When Tobias was rich he had lent a considerable sum of money to a poor Israelite, without charging any interest.
- ↑ The Archangel Raphael. Who had assumed the form of a noble-looking youth.
