Tobit 3

1Then Tobias sighed, and began to pray with tears,

2Saying: Thou art just, O Lord, and all thy judgments are just, and all thy ways mercy, and truth, and judgment:

3And now, O Lord, think of me, and take not revenge of my sins, neither remember my offenses, nor those of my parents.

4For we have not obeyed thy commandments, therefore are we delivered to spoil and to captivity, and death, and are made a fable, and a reproach to all nations, amongst which thou hast scattered us.

5And now, O Lord, great are thy judgments, because we have not done according to thy precepts, and have not walked sincerely before thee:

6And now, O Lord, do with me according to thy will, and command my spirit to be received in peace: for it is better for me to die, than to live.

7Now it happened on the same day, that Sara daughter of Raguel, in Rages a city of the Medes, received a reproach from one of her father’s servant maids,

8Because she had been given to seven husbands, and a devil named Asmodeus had killed them, at their first going in unto her.

9So when she reproved the maid for her fault, she answered her, saying: May we never see son, or daughter of thee upon the earth, thou murderer of thy husbands.

10Wilt thou kill me also, as thou hast already killed seven husbands? At these words she went into an upper chamber of her house: and for three days and three nights did neither eat nor drink:

11But continuing in prayer with tears besought God, that he would deliver her from this reproach.

12And it came to pass on the third day, when she was making an end of her prayer, blessing the Lord,

13She said: Blessed is thy name, O God of our fathers: who when thou hast been angry, wilt shew mercy, and in the time of tribulation forgivest the sins of them that call upon thee.

14To thee, O Lord, I turn my face, to thee I direct my eyes.

15I beg, O Lord, that thou loose me from the bond of this reproach, or else take me away from the earth.

16Thou knowest, O Lord, that I never coveted a husband, and have kept my soul clean from all lust.

17Never have I joined myself with them that play: neither have I made myself partaker with them that walk in lightness.

18But a husband I consented to take, with thy fear, not with my lust.

19And either I was unworthy of them, or they perhaps were not worthy of me: because perhaps thou hast kept me for another man.

20For thy counsel is not in man’s power.

21But this every one is sure of that worshippeth thee, that his life, if it be under trial, shall be crowned: and if it be under tribulation, it shall be delivered: and if it be under correction, it shall be allowed to come to thy mercy.

22For thou art not delighted in our being lost: because after a storm thou makest a calm, and after tears and weeping thou pourest in joyfulness.

23Be thy name, O God of Israel, blessed for ever.

24At that time the prayers of them both were heard in the sight of the glory of the most high God:

25And the holy angel of the Lord, Raphael was sent to heal them both, whose prayers at one time were rehearsed in the sight of the Lord.

1Tunc Tobias ingemuit, et cœpit orare cum lacrimis,

2dicens: [Justus es, Domine, et omnia judicia tua justa sunt, et omnes viæ tuæ, misericordia, et veritas, et judicium.

3Et nunc Domine, memor esto mei, et ne vindictam sumas de peccatis meis, neque reminiscaris delicta mea, vel parentum meorum.

4Quoniam non obedivimus præceptis tuis, ideo traditi sumus in direptionem, et captivitatem, et mortem, et in fabulam, et in improperium omnibus nationibus in quibus dispersisti nos.

5Et nunc Domine, magna judicia tua, quia non egimus secundum præcepta tua, et non ambulavimus sinceriter coram te.

6Et nunc Domine, secundum voluntatem tuam fac mecum, et præcipe in pace recipi spiritum meum: expedit enim mihi mori magis quam vivere.]

7Eadem itaque die, contigit ut Sara filia Raguelis in Rages civitate Medorum et ipsa audiret improperium ab una ex ancillis patris sui,

8quoniam tradita fuerat septem viris, et dæmonium nomine Asmodæus occiderat eos, mox ut ingressi fuissent ad eam.

9Ergo cum pro culpa sua increparet puellam, respondit ei, dicens: Amplius ex te non videamus filium aut filiam super terram, interfectrix virorum tuorum.

10Numquid et occidere me vis, sicut jam occidisti septem viros? Ad hanc vocem perrexit in superius cubiculum domus suæ: et tribus diebus, et tribus noctibus non manducavit, neque bibit:

11sed in oratione persistens cum lacrimis deprecabatur Deum, ut ab isto improperio liberaret eam.

12Factum est autem die tertia, dum compleret orationem, benedicens Dominum

13dixit: Benedictum est nomen tuum, Deus patrum nostrorum: qui cum iratus fueris, misericordiam facies, et in tempore tribulationis peccata dimittis his qui invocant te.

14Ad te, Domine, faciem meam converto; ad te oculos meos dirigo.

15Peto, Domine, ut de vinculo improperii hujus absolvas me, aut certe desuper terram eripias me.

16Tu scis, Domine, quia numquam concupivi virum, et mundam servavi animam meam ab omni concupiscentia.

17Numquam cum ludentibus miscui me, neque cum his qui in levitate ambulant, participem me præbui.

18Virum autem cum timore tuo, non cum libidine mea, consensi suscipere.

19Et, aut ego indigna fui illis, aut illi forsitan me non fuerunt digni, quia forsitan viro alii conservasti me.

20Non est enim in hominis potestate consilium tuum.

21Hoc autem pro certo habet omnis qui te colit: quod vita ejus, si in probatione fuerit, coronabitur; si autem in tribulatione fuerit, liberabitur; et si in correptione fuerit, ad misericordiam tuam venire licebit.

22Non enim delectaris in perditionibus nostris: quia post tempestatem tranquillum facis, et post lacrimationem et fletum, exultationem infundis.

23Sit nomen tuum, Deus Israël, benedictum in sæcula.

24In illo tempore exauditæ sunt preces amborum in conspectu gloriæ summi Dei:

25et missus est angelus Domini sanctus Raphaël ut curaret eos ambos, quorum uno tempore sunt orationes in conspectu Domini recitatæ.

1Then Tobit sighed, and he began to pray with tears,

2saying, “O Lord, you are just and all your judgments are just, and all your ways are mercy, and truth, and judgment.

3And now, O Lord, remember me, and do not take vengeance for my sins, and do not call to mind my offenses, nor those of my parents.

4For we have not obeyed your precepts, and so we have been handed over to plundering and to captivity, and to death, and to mockery, and as a disgrace before all the nations, among which you have dispersed us.

5And now, O Lord, great are your judgments. For we have not acted according to your precepts, and we have not walked sincerely before you.

6And now, O Lord, do with me according to your will, and order my spirit to be received in peace. For it is more expedient for me to die, than to live.”

7And so, on the same day, it happened that Sarah, the daughter of Raguel, in Rages, a city of the Medes, also heard a reproach from one of her father’s servant maids.

8For she had been given to seven husbands, and a demon named Asmodeus had killed them, as soon as they had approached her.

9Therefore, when she corrected the maid for her fault, she answered her, saying, “May we never see son or daughter from you upon the earth, you murderess of your husbands.

10Would you also kill me, just as you have already killed seven husbands?” At these words, she proceeded to an upper room of her house. And for three days and three nights, she did not eat or drink.

11But, continuing in prayer with tears, she beseeched God, so that he would liberate her from this reproach.

12And it happened on the third day, while she was completing her prayer, blessing the Lord,

13that she said: “Blessed is your name, O God of our fathers, who, though you had been angry, will show mercy. And in time of tribulation, you dismiss the sins of those who call upon you.

14To you, O Lord, I turn my face; to you, I direct my eyes.

15I beg you, O Lord, that you may absolve me from the chains of this reproach, or at least take me away from the earth.

16You know, O Lord, that I have never coveted a husband, and I have preserved my soul clean from all impure desire.

17I have never mingled myself with those who play. And I have not presented myself as a participant with those who walk with levity.

18But I consented to accept a husband, in your fear, not in my lust.

19And, either I was unworthy of them, or they perhaps were not worthy of me. For perhaps you have preserved me for another husband.

20For your counsel is not within the ability of man.

21But all who worship you are certain of this: that one’s life, if it should be tested, shall be crowned, and if it should be in tribulation, shall be delivered, and if it should be corrected, shall be permitted to approach your mercy.

22For you are not delighted with our perdition. For, after a storm, you create tranquility, and after tears and weeping, you pour out exultation.

23May your name, O God of Israel, be blessed forever.”

24At that time, the prayers of them both were heard in the sight of the glory of the most high God.

25And the holy Angel of the Lord, Raphael, was sent to care for both of them, whose prayers were recited at the same time in the sight of the Lord.