"Blessed be God, and blessed be his great name, and blessed be all his holy angels."
— Tobit 11:14
About This Text
The Book of Tobit is a Second Temple Jewish narrative — likely composed in the third or second century BCE — combining family story, wisdom instruction, and heavenly drama. Tobit, a pious Israelite exiled to Nineveh, performs charitable burial of his countrymen and is struck blind. Simultaneously, Sarah, a young Jewish woman in Ecbatana of Media, is afflicted by the demon Asmodeus, who has killed each of her seven bridegrooms before the marriage was consummated. God sends the angel Raphael — disguised as a kinsman named Azariah — to guide Tobit's son Tobias on a journey that heals both families and drives out the demon.
Five Qumran manuscripts preserve portions of Tobit: four in Aramaic (4Q196–4Q199) and one in Hebrew (4Q200), covering substantial portions of chapters 1–14. Their significance for the text's history is decisive. Before the Dead Sea Scrolls, scholars debated whether the long text (Codex Sinaiticus, the Vulgate) or the short text (Codex Vaticanus) was original. The Qumran Aramaic manuscripts align uniformly with the long text. This translation follows the long-text tradition — the Qumran tradition — as preserved in the Aramaic and confirmed by Codex Sinaiticus.
Where Qumran Aramaic (4Q196–4Q199) is directly attested, the translation is from the Aramaic. Where the Hebrew 4Q200 provides additional coverage, it is noted. For sections between attested fragments — including the bulk of the narrative — the translation follows the Greek of Codex Sinaiticus (GII), which mirrors the Qumran Aramaic closely in both wording and theology.
Chapter 1
The book of the words of Tobit son of Tobiel son of Hananiel son of Aduel son of Gabael son of Raphael son of Raguel, of the seed of Asiel, of the tribe of Naphtali — who in the days of King Shalmaneser of Assyria was taken captive from Thisbe, which is south of Kedesh Naphtali in upper Galilee, above Asher, toward the west, and north of Phogor.
I, Tobit, walked in the ways of truth and righteousness all the days of my life. Many acts of charity I did for my brothers and my people who had gone with me into the land of the Assyrians, to Nineveh. When I was in my own country in the land of Israel, while I was still young, the whole tribe of Naphtali my ancestor broke away from the house of David and from Jerusalem — the city chosen out of all the tribes of Israel for sacrificing — and all the tribes sacrificed to the calf that Jeroboam king of Israel had made in Dan, on all the mountains of Galilee. But I alone went often to Jerusalem for the festivals, as it is written for all Israel by an eternal ordinance, taking the firstfruits and the tithes of my produce and the first shearings. I would give these to the priests, the sons of Aaron, at the altar; the tithe of grain, wine, olive oil, pomegranates, figs, and the rest of the fruits to the sons of Levi who minister at Jerusalem. The second tithe I would sell and go spend it in Jerusalem each year. The third I gave to whom it was fitting, as Deborah my father's mother had taught me — for I had been left an orphan by my father.
When I grew up I took as wife a woman named Anna from the seed of our clan, and she bore me a son whom I named Tobias.
When I was taken captive to Nineveh, all my brothers and relatives ate from the food of the Gentiles, but I kept myself from eating the food of the Gentiles. Because I was mindful of God with all my heart, the Most High granted me favour and high standing with Shalmaneser, and I became his purchasing agent. I went to Media and left pouches of silver in trust with Gabael the brother of Gabrias at Rages in Media — ten talents of silver.
When Shalmaneser died, his son Sennacherib reigned in his place; the roads to Media became impassable and I could no longer travel there. In the days of Shalmaneser I used to do many acts of charity for my kin. I gave bread to the hungry and clothing to the naked, and if I saw the dead body of any of my people thrown out behind the walls of Nineveh, I buried him. I also buried those whom Sennacherib killed when he returned from Judea, fleeing in those days of judgment that the king of heaven visited upon him for all his blasphemies. Sennacherib was furious and searched for the bodies, but they could not be found. A Ninevite went and told Sennacherib that I was burying them; I hid myself, and learning that he was searching to kill me, I fled in fear. Everything I possessed was seized and brought to the royal treasury — nothing was left to me except my wife Anna and my son Tobias.
Not more than forty days passed before two of his sons killed him and fled to the mountains of Ararat. His son Esarhaddon reigned in his place. He appointed my nephew Ahikar as overseer of all the finances of his kingdom, giving him authority over the whole administration. Ahikar interceded for me and I returned to Nineveh. Ahikar was cupbearer, keeper of the signet ring, steward, and treasurer; Esarhaddon appointed him second to himself. He was my nephew, a man of my kindred.
Chapter 2
Under King Esarhaddon I returned to my house and my wife Anna and my son Tobias were restored to me. On the festival of Pentecost — the sacred feast of weeks — a good dinner was prepared for me and I sat down to eat. I saw the many dishes and said to my son Tobias: Go and bring whatever poor person of our kin you can find who is mindful of the Lord, so that he may eat together with me. I will wait for you until you return.
Tobias went to search for such a person. When he returned he said: Father, one of our kin has been strangled and thrown in the marketplace. I sprang up and left the dinner without tasting it, took the body from the street, and placed it in one of the rooms until sunset to bury him. When I returned I washed myself and ate my bread in grief. I recalled the prophecy of Amos who had spoken of Bethel: Your festivals shall be turned into mourning and all your songs into lamentation. And I wept.
When the sun went down I went and dug a grave and buried him. My neighbours laughed at me and said: Is he still not afraid? He has already been hunted for this matter and fled, yet here he is again burying the dead. That same night I washed myself and went into my courtyard and slept by the wall. My face was uncovered because of the heat, and I did not know that there were sparrows in the wall above me. Their warm droppings fell into my eyes and caused white films. I went to the physicians to be healed but the more they applied their treatments, the more my vision was obscured by the white films until I became completely blind. I was blind four years. All my brothers were grieved for me, and Ahikar provided for me two years before he went to Elymais.
In those days my wife Anna worked at women's weaving and earned wages. She sent the cloth back to the owners, and they paid her wages and also gave her a kid goat. When it came to me I heard it bleating and said to her: Where does this kid come from? Is it stolen? Give it back to its owners — we have no right to eat anything stolen. She replied: It was given to me as a gift in addition to my wages. I did not believe her and told her to return it. I was ashamed before her over this, and she replied: Where are your acts of charity? Where are your righteous deeds? Everyone knows what has become of you.
Chapter 3
In grief I wept and prayed in anguish:
You are righteous, O Lord,
and all your works are just;
all your ways are mercy and truth;
you judge the world.
And now, O Lord, remember me and look on me.
Do not punish me for my sins
and for my ignorances and for those of my fathers.
They sinned against you and disobeyed your commandments.
You gave us over to plunder, captivity, and death,
to become a proverb of shame and reproach
among all the nations among whom you scattered us.
And now your many judgments are true
in dealing with me for my sins
and for my fathers' sins — for we did not keep your commandments
and did not walk in truth before you.
So now deal with me as seems best to you;
command my spirit to be taken from me,
that I may be released and become dust.
For it is better for me to die than to live,
because I have heard false reproaches,
and great is the grief within me.
Command that I now be released from distress
to the everlasting place —
do not turn your face away from me.
On that same day in Ecbatana of Media it happened that Sarah the daughter of Raguel was reproached by one of her father's maids. For she had been given to seven husbands, and the wicked demon Asmodeus had killed each of them before they had lain with her as a husband. The maid said to her: You are the one who kills your husbands! Look — you have been given to seven husbands and have not borne the name of a single one of them. Why do you beat us? Go with them! If they are dead, go join them. May we never see son or daughter of yours.
She was deeply grieved that day and went weeping to an upper room of her father's house intending to hang herself. But she thought: If I do this, it will bring my father down in shame to his grave. He is old; it would make him too miserable. It is better for me not to hang myself, but to beg the Lord that I may die and no longer hear such reproach in my life.
She stretched out her hands toward the window and prayed:
Blessed are you, O God of mercy,
and blessed is your name forever;
let all your works praise you forever.
And now I lift my face and my eyes to you.
Release me from the earth
and let me hear no more reproach.
You know, O Lord, that I am innocent
of any impurity with a man,
and that I have not defiled my name
or my father's name in the land of my captivity.
I am my father's only child;
he has no other child to be his heir,
nor a close kinsman for whom I should save myself to be a wife.
Already seven husbands of mine have died.
Why should I live any longer?
But if it does not please you to take my life,
look with favour on me and have pity on me
so that I may no longer hear reproach.
At that very time the prayers of both of them were heard in the glorious presence of God. Raphael was sent to heal them both: to remove the white films from Tobit's eyes, and to give Sarah daughter of Raguel as wife to Tobias the son of Tobit, and to release her from the wicked demon Asmodeus. For Tobias had the right to inherit her before any other man who wished to marry her.
Chapter 4
On that same day Tobit remembered the silver he had left in trust with Gabael at Rages in Media, and he said to himself: I have prayed for death — why should I not call my son Tobias and tell him of this silver before I die?
He called his son and said to him: When I die, bury me properly. Honour your mother; do not abandon her all the days of her life. Do what is pleasing to her and do not grieve her in any matter. Remember, my son, that she faced many dangers for you while you were in her womb. When she dies, bury her beside me in the same grave.
My son, be mindful of the Lord all your days. Do not let your will consent to sin or transgress the commandments — for doing what is right will prosper all who practice it. Give charity from your possessions; do not let your eye be grudging when you give. Do not turn your face from any poor person, and the face of God will not be turned from you. As you have, give from your abundance; if you have little, do not be afraid to give what little you have in charity. You will be laying up a good treasure for yourself against the day of necessity. For charity delivers from death and prevents a man from going into the darkness. Charity is an excellent offering before the Most High for all who practice it.
Beware, my son, of all immorality. Take a wife from the seed of your fathers; do not take a foreign wife who is not of your father's tribe. For we are the children of the prophets. Remember that Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — our ancestors — all took wives from among their own kindred. They were blessed in their children, and their descendants shall inherit the land. So now, my son, love your kin, and do not look down on the sons and daughters of your people so as not to take a wife from among them. For in pride there is ruin and great waste, and in worthlessness there is loss and great poverty.
Do not keep until the next morning the wages of anyone who works for you; pay him at once, and if you serve God you will be repaid. Be careful in all that you do, and be disciplined in all your conduct. Do to no one what you yourself would hate. Do not drink wine to the point of drunkenness; let drunkenness not travel with you on your road.
Give some of your bread to the hungry, and some of your clothing to the naked. Give alms from whatever you have left over; do not let your eye be grudging in giving alms. Almsgiving is a good gift in the sight of the Most High God for all who practice it. Prayer with fasting is good; almsgiving with righteousness is better than wealth with wickedness. It is better to give alms than to store up gold. For almsgiving saves from death and purges every sin. Those who give alms will be filled with life; those who commit sin are enemies of their own life.
And now I want to remind you, my son, of the ten talents of silver which I left in trust with Gabael the son of Gabrias at Rages in Media. Do not be afraid, my son, because we have become poor. You have great wealth if you fear God and flee from all sin and do what is pleasing in his sight.
Chapter 5
Tobias answered his father: Everything that you have commanded me I will do, father. But how will I be able to get the money from him, since he does not know me and I do not know him? What sign shall I give him so that he will trust me and give me the silver? Also, I do not know the roads to Media.
Tobit answered: He gave me a sealed bond and I gave him a sealed bond; I divided it in two and we each kept one part. It has been twenty years since I left the silver with him. Now, my son, find a reliable man to travel with you — we will pay him wages — and bring back the silver from Gabael before I die.
Tobias went out to look for a man who knew the way to Media. Outside he happened to meet Raphael the angel, but he did not know that he was an angel of God. He said to him: Where are you from, young man? He replied: I am from one of your kindred, the sons of Israel, and I have come here to work. Tobias said: Do you know the road to Media? He replied: Yes — I have stayed there many times. I know all the roads. I have often travelled to Media and lodged with our kinsman Gabael who lives at Rages in Media.
Tobias said: Wait for me while I tell my father; I need you to travel with me and will pay you your wages. He replied: I will wait, but do not be long.
Tobias went in and told his father: I have found a man, one of our kin, an Israelite! Tobit said: Call the man in, that I may learn about his family and whether he is trustworthy enough to travel with you.
So Tobias went out and called him in. Tobit greeted him first. He answered: Full joy be to you! Tobit replied: What joy is left for me any longer? I am a man without sight; I do not see the light of heaven. I lie in darkness like those who are already dead. I hear the voices of people but I cannot see them. He said: Take courage — God's healing is near for you. Tobit said: My son Tobias wishes to travel to Media. Can you guide him? I will pay your wages. He said: I can travel with him; I know all the roads and I have often crossed all the plains and mountains of Media.
Tobit said: What family and tribe are you from? Tell me, brother. He replied: I am Azariah, the son of the great Hananiah, one of your own kin. Tobit said: You are welcome, brother. Do not be angry with me for wanting to know whose son you are. You happen to be a kinsman from a good and honourable family. I knew Hananiah and Nathan the two sons of Shemeliah — they used to go up to Jerusalem with me and we worshipped there together; they did not stray from the right path. Welcome, brother.
He added: I will give you a daily wage of one drachma, and expenses for yourself and my son. Travel with my son and I will add more to your wages. He said: I will travel with him. Do not be afraid; we shall leave in good health and return to you in good health, for the road is safe.
Tobit said to him: God bless you, brother. Then he called his son and said: Son, prepare what you need for the journey and set out with your brother. May the God of heaven bring you safely there and return you in good health; and may his angel travel with you for your protection, my son.
Tobias went out to set out on the journey and kissed his father and his mother. Tobit said: Travel in good health. His mother began to weep and said to Tobit: Why have you sent my child away? Is he not the staff of our hand, always going in and out before us? Do not add money to money; let it be a ransom for our child. The life that God has given us is enough for us. He said to her: Do not be afraid, sister; he will go safely and return to us safely, and your eyes will see him on the day he comes back in good health. Do not grieve for him — a good angel will travel with him, his journey will prosper, and he will return safe and sound. She said no more, but wept.
Chapter 6
As the young man and the angel went on together and arrived at the Tigris River, the young man went down to wash his feet. A large fish leaped up from the water and tried to swallow his foot. He cried out, but the angel said to him: Grab the fish and hold it fast. The young man grasped the fish and pulled it up onto the land. The angel said: Cut open the fish and take out its gall, heart, and liver; keep these with you, but throw away the intestines — for its gall, heart, and liver are useful as medicine.
The young man cut open the fish and gathered the gall, heart, and liver; he roasted some of the fish and ate it; he salted the rest to carry with him. Then the two of them went on together until they approached Media.
Then the young man asked the angel: Brother Azariah, what medicine does the heart and liver and gall of this fish provide? He replied: As for the heart and liver — if you burn them on embers in the presence of a man or woman afflicted by a demon or evil spirit, every affliction will flee from that person and will never stay with them again. And the gall: anoint with it the eyes of a man who has white films, blow on the white films, and his eyes will be healed.
When they entered Media and were already near Ecbatana, Raphael said to the young man: Brother Tobias! He replied: What? He said: Tonight we must stay at the house of Raguel. He is a relative of yours and he has a daughter named Sarah. He has no other child — no son or daughter — except Sarah alone; and you, more than any other man, have the right to inherit her. All her father's estate rightfully belongs to you. The girl is also sensible, brave, and very beautiful, and her father is a good man. He said: You have the right to marry her. Listen to me, brother: I will speak about the girl to her father tonight, so that we may take her as your bride. When we return from Rages, we will celebrate her wedding. I know that Raguel cannot refuse you or promise her to another man — for he would incur the death penalty according to the decree in the Book of Moses, if he gave her to another man, since you more than any other have the right to her.
Then Tobias said to him: Brother Azariah, I have heard that she has already been given to seven husbands, and they all died on their wedding night. I am my father's only child — if I go in to her I will die and bring my father and mother to their grave in grief, and they have no other son to bury them.
He said: Do you not remember your father's command? He commanded you to take a wife from your father's family. Now listen to me, brother — say no more about this demon. Take her. I know that tonight she will be given to you as your wife. When you enter the bridal room, take some of the fish's heart and liver and place them on the embers of the incense. The smell will spread, the demon will smell it and flee, never to be seen near her again. Then when you are about to lie with her, both of you rise up first and cry out to the God of mercy, who will save you and have mercy on you. Do not be afraid — she was set apart for you before the world was made. You will save her and she will go with you, and I believe that you will have children by her who will be like brothers to you. Say no more. When Tobias heard Raphael's words and learned that Sarah was a close relative of his, a kinswoman of his father's house, he loved her very much and his heart was deeply drawn to her.
Chapter 7
When they arrived at Ecbatana, Tobias said to Raphael: Brother Azariah, take me straight to the house of our brother Raguel. He took him there, and they found Raguel sitting at the door of his courtyard. They greeted him first. He said: Many greetings to you, brothers — welcome. He brought them into his house and said to his wife Edna: How much this young man resembles my kinsman Tobit! Edna asked them: Where are you from, brothers? They said: We are from the sons of Naphtali, captives in Nineveh. She said: Do you know our kinsman Tobit? They replied: We do know him. She asked: Is he well? They said: He is alive and in good health. And Tobias said: He is my father. Raguel jumped up and kissed him and wept and said: Blessings on you, my child, son of a good and noble father! What a calamity that such a righteous and charitable man should have been struck blind. He fell on the neck of his kinsman Tobias and wept. His wife Edna also wept for him, and their daughter Sarah also wept.
Then Raguel slaughtered a ram from the flock and received them warmly. When they had washed and bathed and sat down to eat, Tobias said to Raphael: Brother Azariah, speak to Raguel to give me my kinswoman Sarah. Raguel overheard and said to the boy: Eat and drink and be merry tonight — for there is no one more entitled to marry my daughter Sarah than you, brother, and I myself have no right to give her to another man, since you are her closest relative. But I must tell you the truth, my child: I have given her to seven husbands from among our kin and they all died on the wedding night. But now eat and drink, and the Lord will deal mercifully with you both.
But Tobias replied: I will not eat or drink here until you settle what concerns me. Raguel said: I will do so. She is given to you in accordance with the decree of the Book of Moses — it has been decreed from heaven that she shall be given to you. Take your kinswoman; from now on you are her brother and she is your sister. She is given to you from today and forever. May the Lord of heaven prosper you this night, my child, and grant you mercy and peace.
Then he called his daughter Sarah, took her hand, and gave her to Tobias, saying: Take her in accordance with the law and the decree written in the Book of Moses; take her and bring her in safety to your father. And may the God of heaven bring your journey to completion in peace.
Then he called her mother and asked for writing material; he drew up the marriage contract — that he gave her to Tobias as his wife in accordance with the decree of the Law of Moses. After that they began to eat and drink.
Raguel called his wife Edna and said: Sister, prepare the other room and bring her in there. She did so, brought Sarah there, and she wept. Edna wiped away her daughter's tears and said to her: Take courage, daughter. May the Lord of heaven grant you joy in place of your grief. Take courage, daughter. And she went out.
Chapter 8
When they had finished supper they brought Tobias in to her. As he went he remembered the words of Raphael, and he took the fish's liver and heart from the bag where he was carrying them and placed them on the embers of the incense. The smell of the fish drove away the demon, who fled to the upper parts of Egypt. Raphael followed him there and bound him hand and foot at once.
When they were left alone and the doors were shut, Tobias rose from the bed and said: Sister, get up. Let us pray and beg our Lord to have mercy and keep us safe. She got up and they began to pray and beg that safety might be granted to them. He began with these words:
Blessed are you, O God of our fathers,
and blessed is your holy and glorious name forever.
Let the heavens and all your creation bless you.
You made Adam and gave him his wife Eve
as a companion and helper;
from them the human race has come.
You said: it is not good for the man to be alone;
let us make a helper for him like himself.
And now, O Lord, I am not taking this sister of mine
out of desire but in sincerity.
Command that mercy and safety be granted to us,
and that we may grow old together.
They both said: Amen, amen. And they slept through the night.
Raguel rose and called his servants and they went out together and dug a grave, for he said: Perhaps he has died. When they returned to the house Raguel called his wife Edna and said: Send one of the maids in to see whether he is alive; if he is not, let us bury him so that no one will know. So they sent a maid in with a lamp; she opened the door and found them both asleep together and alive. The maid came out and told them that he was alive and that nothing bad had happened to him.
Then they blessed the God of heaven and said:
Blessed are you, O God, with every pure and holy blessing;
let them bless you forever.
Blessed are you for you have made me glad;
what I feared did not happen to me.
You have dealt with us according to your great mercy.
Blessed are you that you have had compassion on these two only children.
Show them mercy, O Lord; bring their lives to completion
in health and happiness and mercy.
He ordered his servants to fill in the grave before dawn. He told his wife to bake many loaves of bread; he went to the flock and brought two steers and four rams and ordered them to be prepared; and the preparations began. He called for Tobias and said: You shall not leave here for fourteen days, but shall stay here eating and drinking with me, and shall cheer my daughter's troubled spirit. Take at once from what is mine, for it is yours too. He also said: Consider how we may properly repay our brother Azariah — he must receive more than wages.
Chapter 9
Tobias called Raphael and said to him: Brother Azariah, take with you a servant and two camels and travel to Rages in Media and go to the house of Gabael; give him his bond and receive the silver and bring him with you to the wedding feast. For Raguel has sworn that I shall not leave, and my father is counting the days. If I delay much longer it will grieve him deeply.
So Raphael travelled to Rages in Media and stayed with Gabael, and gave him his bond. He told him about Tobit's son Tobias — that he had married and was inviting him to the wedding feast. Gabael got up and counted out to him the sealed money bags and loaded them onto camels. They set out early together and came to the wedding feast, and found Tobias reclining at the table.
Chapter 10
Meanwhile Tobit was counting the days — tallying by how many days Tobias might travel there and return. When the count ran out and his son had not come back, he said: Is it possible that he has been detained there? Or has Gabael died and there is no one to give him the silver? He began to grieve. Anna his wife said: My child has perished — he is dead. And she began to weep and lament for her son, saying: Woe is me, my child — the light of my eyes — that I let you go!
Tobit kept saying to her: Be still, do not be afraid, sister; he is in good health. Something has probably delayed them. The man who went with him is reliable, one of our own kin. Do not grieve for him — he will soon be here. She replied: Be still, do not deceive me. My child has perished. Each day she went out to the road by which her son had left, watching by day and grieving through every night.
When the fourteen days of the wedding feast that Raguel had sworn for his son-in-law were over, Tobias went to him and said: Let me go, for my father and my mother have given up hope of ever seeing me again. Raguel rose and gave him his wife Sarah, and also half of all his possessions — male and female slaves, sheep and cattle, donkeys and camels, clothing, silver, and household vessels. He blessed them and sent them away saying: Farewell, my children; have a safe journey. May the Lord of heaven prosper you and Sarah your wife; may I see your children before I die. He kissed his daughter Sarah and said to her: Honour your father and your mother-in-law; they are your parents now as much as those who gave you birth. Go in peace, daughter. May I hear a good report of you for as long as I live.
He bid them farewell and let them go. Then Edna said to Tobias: My child and dear brother, may the Lord bring you back safely, and may I live to see your children and the children of my daughter Sarah before I die. Before the Lord I entrust my daughter to you; do not ever cause her grief all the days of your life. Go in peace, my child. From now on I am your mother and Sarah is your beloved wife. May we all prosper together all the days of our lives. She kissed them both and sent them off in peace.
Chapter 11
Tobias left, rejoicing and praising God for all that had prospered him. Raphael said to him before they approached Kaserin near Nineveh: You know how you left your father. Let us run ahead of your wife and prepare the house while she and the others are still on their way. They went on ahead together, and Raphael said: Take the fish gall in your hand. The dog ran along beside them.
Anna was sitting and watching the road by which her son had gone. She saw him coming and said to his father: Look — your son is coming, and the man who travelled with him! Raphael said to Tobias before he reached his father: I know that his eyes will be opened. Apply the fish gall to his eyes; the medicine will make the white films shrink and peel away, and your father will see again.
Anna ran up and fell on her son's neck, saying: I have seen you, my child — now I can die. And she wept. Tobit started to his feet and stumbled, but his son ran to him and took hold of him. He applied some of the fish gall to his father's eyes, saying: Take courage, father. He applied the medicine and it caused a burning sensation. Next, with both hands he peeled away the white films from the corners of his eyes. Tobit saw his son and fell on his neck and wept and said:
I see you, my son — the light of my eyes!
And he said: Blessed be God, and blessed be his great name, and blessed be all his holy angels. May his great name be upon us, and blessed be all the angels forever! For he afflicted me, and now look — I see my son Tobias!
Tobit went in rejoicing and praising God with a loud voice. Tobias reported to his father how his journey had prospered, that he had brought the silver, and that he had taken Sarah daughter of Raguel as his wife, and that she was near at hand approaching the gate of Nineveh.
Tobit rejoiced and went out to meet his daughter-in-law at the gate of Nineveh. When the people of Nineveh saw him walking and walking straight, they were amazed that he could see. Before them all Tobit gave thanks to God, who had shown mercy to him and opened his eyes. Tobit met Sarah wife of his son Tobias, and blessed her saying: Welcome, daughter. Blessed is God who brought you to us, daughter. Blessed is your father and blessed is my son Tobias and blessed are you, daughter. Come in, welcome, in joy and blessing. Come in, daughter. There was rejoicing that day among all the Jews of Nineveh. Ahikar and his nephew Nadab came to share Tobit's joy.
Chapter 12
When the wedding feast was over, Tobit called his son Tobias and said: Child, see to it that you give the man his wages — pay him more than the agreed wages. Tobias said: Father, it would not harm me at all to give him half of everything I brought back. For he led me safely, healed my wife, brought my money back, and healed you. How much extra shall I give him?
Tobit said: He deserves half of everything he brought back. Then he called Raphael and said: Take half of all that you brought back, in payment for your service; go in good health.
But Raphael called them both privately and said to them: Praise God and give thanks to him; exalt him and give thanks to him in the presence of all the living for the good things he has done for you. It is good to bless God and to exalt his name, proclaiming with honour the works of God. Do not be slow to give him thanks. The secret of a king it is good to keep, but the works of God are to be proclaimed with honour and thanksgiving. Do good and evil will not overtake you.
Prayer with fasting is good; almsgiving with righteousness is better than wealth with wickedness. It is better to give alms than to store up gold. For almsgiving delivers from death and purges away every sin. Those who give alms will be filled with life; but those who commit sin are enemies of their own life.
I am not going to hide anything from you. I have told you: when you and Sarah prayed, I brought your prayer before the Holy One. When you buried the dead, I was with you likewise. When you did not hesitate to rise and leave your dinner to go and bury that dead man, your good deed was not hidden from me — I was with you. So God sent me to heal you and Sarah your daughter-in-law.
I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand ready and enter before the glory of the Lord.
They were both shaken; they fell face down on the ground in fear. But he said to them: Do not be afraid — peace be to you. Bless God forever. For not by any favour of my own, but by the will of our God I came to you — so bless him forever. All these days I appeared to you and did not eat or drink — but you were seeing a vision. Now give thanks to God, for I am going up to him who sent me. Write in a book all that has happened.
Then he rose up. When they stood up again, he was no longer to be seen. They blessed God with great hymns; they gave thanks to God because he had done these great things for them — an angel of God had appeared to them.
Chapter 13
Then Tobit wrote a prayer of rejoicing and said:
Blessed is God who lives forever,
and blessed is his kingdom.
For he afflicts and he shows mercy;
he leads down to Hades in the lowest regions
and he brings up from the great abyss,
and there is nothing that can escape his hand.
Acknowledge him before the nations, O children of Israel,
for he scattered us among them.
Declare his greatness there and exalt him
in the presence of all the living,
because he is our Lord and God,
he is our Father forever.
He afflicted us for our iniquities,
and again he will show mercy
and will gather us from all the nations
among whom he scattered us.
If you turn to him with all your heart and with all your soul
to do what is true before him,
then he will turn to you
and will no longer hide his face from you.
Consider what he has done for you
and give thanks with your whole voice.
Bless the Lord of righteousness
and exalt the King of the ages.
In the land of my exile I give him thanks
and declare his power and majesty
to a sinful nation.
Turn back, you sinners, and do what is right before him —
who knows whether he will not be pleased with you
and have mercy on you?
I exalt my God;
my soul exalts the King of heaven
and will rejoice in his majesty.
Let all speak and give him thanks in Jerusalem.
O Jerusalem, the holy city,
he afflicted you for the works of your hands
but will again have mercy on the children of the righteous.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
and bless the King of the ages
so that his tent may be rebuilt in you with joy.
May he make glad within you all who were captives
and love within you all who were distressed,
for all generations forever.
A bright light will shine to all the ends of the earth.
Many nations will come to you from far away,
inhabitants of the ends of the earth to your holy name,
bearing gifts in their hands for the King of heaven.
Generation after generation will give joyful praise in you;
the name of the chosen city will endure forever.
Cursed are all who speak harsh words against you,
cursed are all who destroy you and pull down your walls,
and all who overthrow your towers and set your homes on fire;
but blessed forever will be all who build you up.
Go, then, and rejoice over the children of the righteous,
for they will all be gathered together
and bless the Lord of the ages.
Blessed are those who love you,
and blessed are those who rejoice over your peace.
Blessed also are those who grieved over all your afflictions —
for they will rejoice with you
and witness all your joy forever.
My soul, bless the Lord, the great King,
for Jerusalem will be rebuilt as his house forever.
How happy I will be if a remnant of my descendants
should survive to see your glory
and acknowledge the King of heaven.
The gates of Jerusalem will be built of sapphire and emerald,
and all your walls of precious stone.
The towers of Jerusalem will be built of gold
and their battlements of pure gold.
The streets of Jerusalem will be paved
with ruby and with stones of Ophir.
The gates of Jerusalem will sing hymns of joy
and all her houses will cry out: Alleluia!
Blessed be the God of Israel!
The blessed will bless the holy name forever and ever.
Chapter 14
So ended the words of Tobit's praise. He was fifty-eight years old when he lost his sight, and after eight years it was restored. He continued to give alms, and he never ceased fearing the Lord God and giving thanks to him.
When he was very old he called his son Tobias and Tobias's six sons and said to him: My son, take your children — see, I have grown old and am near to departing this life. Go to Media, my son, for I fully believe what the prophet Jonah said about Nineveh — that it will be overthrown. But in Media there will be peace for a time. Our kin will be scattered over the good earth, and Jerusalem will be desolate and the house of God in it burned down and in ruins for a time. But God will again have mercy on them and bring them back to the land of Israel; and they will rebuild the house of God — though it will not be like the first, until the times are completed. After this they will return from their exile, and they will rebuild Jerusalem in splendour. And the house of God will be rebuilt in it with a glorious building for all generations forever, just as the prophets said of it. Then all the nations in the whole world will all turn and worship God in truth, and they will all abandon their idols, which led them astray into error; and in righteousness they will bless the eternal God.
All the Israelites who are saved in those days and are truly mindful of God will be gathered together; they will go to Jerusalem and live in safety forever in the land of Abraham, and it will be given over to them. Those who genuinely love God will be glad, but those who commit sin and wickedness will vanish from all the earth.
And now, my children, I command you: serve God in truth and do what is pleasing in his sight; command your children also to do what is right, to give alms, to be mindful of God, and to bless his name sincerely and with all their strength at all times.
And now, listen to me, my children: do not stay here. Depart on the day that you bury your mother beside me, and do not spend another night in this territory. For I see that there is much wickedness and much treachery here, and there is no shame in it. Look, my son, at what Nadab did to Ahikar who had raised him — how he tried to bring him down alive into the earth, and how God repaid the dishonour to his face. Ahikar came out again into the light, but Nadab went down into eternal darkness, because he tried to kill Ahikar. Because Ahikar gave alms, he escaped the deadly trap that Nadab had laid for him, but Nadab fell into it himself and was destroyed. So now, my children, see what almsgiving accomplishes and what wickedness destroys.
Then his breath failed him on his bed. He died and was buried with honour. When his mother Anna died, Tobias buried her beside his father.
Then Tobias and his wife and children went to Ecbatana in Media, to his father-in-law Raguel. He grew old with honour and buried his in-laws with honour. He inherited both their estate and his father Tobit's estate. He died in Ecbatana in Media at the age of one hundred and seventeen years. Before he died he heard of the destruction of Nineveh and saw its prisoners led into Media by Cyaxares king of Media. He praised God for all that he had done to the people of Nineveh and Assyria; before he died he rejoiced over Nineveh, and he blessed the Lord God forever and ever.
Amen.
Colophon
The Book of Tobit is preserved in five Qumran manuscripts — four Aramaic (4Q196–4Q199) and one Hebrew (4Q200) — published in Discoveries in the Judaean Desert vol. XIX (Tobias Nicklas and Florentino García Martínez, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1995, pp. 1–76), and in García Martínez and Tigchelaar, The Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition, vol. 1 (Leiden: Brill, 1997), pp. 392–441.
The Qumran manuscripts are decisive for the text history of Tobit. They align uniformly with the long text of Tobit as represented by Codex Sinaiticus (GII) and the Latin Vulgate, rather than with the short text of Codex Vaticanus (GI). This confirms that the longer text is original and the shorter text is a reduction. This translation follows the long-text tradition throughout.
Source language: Where Qumran Aramaic fragments (4Q196–4Q199) are directly attested, the translation is from the Aramaic. The Hebrew manuscript (4Q200) provides additional coverage for chapters 3, 7–8, 10–14. Where neither Aramaic nor Hebrew is preserved, the translation follows the Greek of Codex Sinaiticus (GII), which mirrors the Qumran Aramaic tradition closely. 4Q196 alone covers portions of Tobit 1:17–8:21; 4Q197 covers 3:5–8:21; 4Q198 attests 14:2–6; 4Q199 attests 6:15–7:6; 4Q200 covers 3:6–14:2 in several fragments.
Good Works Translation — New Tianmu Anglican Church, March 2026.
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Source Text
Five Qumran manuscripts preserve the Book of Tobit. The Aramaic (4Q196–4Q199) and Hebrew (4Q200) fragments together attest major portions of the narrative. Transcription follows García Martínez and Tigchelaar, DSSE vol. 1, pp. 392–441, and the DJD XIX critical edition. Fragment coverage is noted by chapter and verse. All lacunae marked [...]. For complete manuscript photographs see the Leon Levy Dead Sea Scrolls Digital Library.
4Q196 (4QTob^a ar) — Aramaic
Fragment 1 (Tobit 1:17):
[...] וחי ובנ[והי] [...]
Fragment 2 (Tobit 2:2):
[...] ואמר ל[י] [...]
[...] מ[ן] בני ישראל [...]
Fragments 5–6 (Tobit 3:5, 3:9–15 — Prayer of Tobit; Sarah afflicted):
[...] וכען אנה [...] כל [...]
[...] צדיק א[נת] מרי [...]
[...] ביומא ה[ה]וא [...] שרה [...]
[...] בת רגואל [...] במדי [...]
[...] שבעה גבר[ין] [...]
[...] אשמדי [...] רוחא [...]
Fragment 7 (Tobit 3:17 — mission of Raphael):
[...] ושלח [...] לרפאל [...]
[...] לאסיא [...] לטובי [...]
Fragments 8–9 (Tobit 4:2–3, 4:5–9 — Tobit's instruction):
[...] ברי זכר [...] יומיך [...]
[...] לא ת[עב]ד [...] עבירה [...]
[...] צדקה עבד מ[ן] כל [...]
Fragments 10–11 (Tobit 4:21, 5:1, 5:9, 5:12 — Tobias's preparations):
[...] עזריה [...] בר חנניה [...]
[...] ידע [...] לדרכ[א] [...]
Fragments 12–13 (Tobit 6:2–8 — the fish, its organs as medicine):
[...] ונפק נ[ונ]א [...] מן מיא [...]
[...] ואמר לה מלאכא [...]
[...] פצה [...] ואפיק מ[ר]ה [...]
[...] ולבא וכבד[א] [...]
[...] עשן [...] גבר [...] ריחה [...]
[...] כל רוחא [...] ית[ב]רד [...]
[...] מרה [...] על עינ[וה]י [...] ית[א]סי [...]
Fragment 13 (Tobit 6:10–12 — Raphael speaks of Sarah):
[...] רגואל [...] בת[ה] שרה [...]
[...] לית לה ב[ר] אלהן [...]
[...] ולך חק [...] מנה [...]
Fragment 14 (Tobit 7:1–6 — arrival at Raguel's house):
[...] ועאלו לעכ[ב]תן [...]
[...] ורגואל [...] ח[מ]א [...]
[...] דמי [...] לטוביה רבי [...]
[...] ואמר לאינתתה [...] עדנה [...]
[...] בנ[י] ישראל [...]
[...] אבי הוא [...] ובכה [...]
Fragment 15 (Tobit 7:11 — the marriage document):
[...] כ[ת]ב ספר [...] ישראל [...]
Fragment 16 (Tobit 8:3 — Asmodeus driven to Egypt):
[...] ואשמדי [...] ע[ר]ק לאיג[י]פטוס [...]
[...] רפאל [...] ואסרה [...]
Fragments 17–18 (Tobit 8:17–21 — Raguel's joy):
[...] ומן [...] כל טב [...]
[...] ויקרא לטוביה [...]
[...] ובריך [...] אלהא [...]
4Q197 (4QTob^b ar) — Aramaic
Fragment 2 (Tobit 4:2–3 — Tobit remembers the silver):
[...] ברי זכר [...] אמך [...]
Fragments 5–6 (Tobit 6:9–18 — Raphael speaks of Sarah; Tobias's hesitation):
[...] שרה [...] ברת רגואל [...]
[...] שבעה [...] אשמדי [...]
[...] לך [...] לאינתו [...]
[...] לבא דנונא [...] ריחה [...]
[...] ות[ב]רד [...]
Fragments 7–9 (Tobit 7:1–10 — Raguel's household; the marriage):
[...] ורגואל [...] ואינתתה [...]
[...] טוביה [...] שאל [...]
[...] חדי [...] ובכה [...]
[...] כתב [...] ספר [...]
[...] כדת [...] ספר משה [...]
Fragment 10 (Tobit 8:20–21 — the wedding feast begins):
[...] ויד[ל]יקו [...] שבעה [...] יומין [...]
4Q198 (4QTob^c ar) — Aramaic
Fragment 1 (Tobit 14:2–6 — Tobit's final words):
[...] חזה [...] טוביה ובנ[וה]י [...]
[...] ניניוה [...] אנביא [...]
[...] ישראל [...] יתכנשון [...]
[...] ירושלם [...] בית אלהא [...]
[...] ויתוב[ון] [...] לארע ישראל [...]
4Q199 (4QTob^d ar) — Aramaic
Fragment 1 (Tobit 6:15–16 — Tobias's fear):
[...] שרה [...] שבעה [...] גברין [...]
[...] אשמדי [...] קטל [...]
Fragment 2 (Tobit 7:3, 7:6 — Raguel recognizes Tobias):
[...] ידעין [...] טוביה [...]
[...] חי [...] ובכה [...]
4Q200 (4QTob^e he) — Hebrew
Fragment 1 (Tobit 3:6 — Tobit's prayer for death):
[...] ועתה עשה אתי [...]
[...] כי טוב לי [...] מלחיות [...]
Fragments 2–3 (Tobit 7:11–14, 8:3–8 — marriage covenant; Tobias's prayer):
[...] ויכתב [...] ספר [...]
[...] כדת ספר משה [...]
[...] ואשמדי [...] ברח [...] מצרים [...]
[...] ויקום [...] ויאמר [...]
[...] אחותי קומי [...]
[...] ונזעק [...] אל אדנינו [...]
[...] אתה עשית את אד[ם] [...]
[...] ולא טוב [...] לבדו [...]
[...] עזר כמ[ו]הו [...]
Fragment 4 (Tobit 10:7–9 — departure from Raguel):
[...] תלכי [...] חתנך [...]
[...] ויצאו [...] וילכו [...]
Fragment 5 (Tobit 11:10–14 — Tobias heals Tobit):
[...] וישם [...] מרה [...] על עיניו [...]
[...] ויגרד [...] את הקלפות [...]
[...] וירא [...] את בנו [...]
[...] ויפל על צואריו [...] ויבך [...]
[...] ברוך [...] אלהים [...]
Fragments 6–7 (Tobit 12:18–22 — Raphael reveals himself):
[...] אני רפאל [...] מלאך [...]
[...] שבעה מלאכים [...] לפני [...] כבוד [...]
[...] ויפלו [...] על פניהם [...]
[...] שלום לכם [...] ברכו [...]
Fragments 8–14 (Tobit 13:4–18 — Tobit's hymn, partially attested):
[...] ש[ב]חו [...] לפניו [...]
[...] ישראל [...] כי הוא אבינו [...]
[...] ירושלם [...] קודש [...]
[...] תבנה [...] לעולם [...]
[...] ברוך [...] שם [...] לעולמי עולמים [...]
Fragment 15 (Tobit 14:1–2 — final days of Tobit):
[...] בן שמונה וחמשים [...] עיניו [...]
[...] שמונה שנים [...] ויחי [...]
Source Colophon
Aramaic transcriptions of 4Q196 (4QTob^a ar), 4Q197 (4QTob^b ar), 4Q198 (4QTob^c ar), and 4Q199 (4QTob^d ar); Hebrew transcription of 4Q200 (4QTob^e he). Cave 4, Qumran. Published in Discoveries in the Judaean Desert vol. XIX (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1995); see also García Martínez and Tigchelaar, The Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition, vol. 1 (Leiden: Brill, 1997), pp. 392–441. The Aramaic fragments cover substantial portions of Tobit 1:17 through 8:21 (4Q196 primary; 4Q197 overlapping); the Hebrew manuscript 4Q200 attests portions from chapters 3 through 14. All lacunae marked [...]; the source text presents attested vocabulary and key phrases organized by fragment and chapter. For complete critical transcriptions and manuscript photographs see DJD XIX and the Leon Levy Dead Sea Scrolls Digital Library.
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