Tobit's Advice to Tobias
4 That same day, Tobit remembered the money that he had left with Gabael at Rages in Media. 2 He thought to himself,
Now that I have asked God to let me die, I should call my son Tobias and tell him about the money.
3-4 So Tobit called Tobias and said to him,
Son, when I die, give me a proper burial. And after I'm gone, show respect to your mother. Take care of her for the rest of her life, and when she dies, bury her beside me. Remember, she risked her life to bring you into this world, so try to make her happy and never do anything that would worry her.
5 Every day of your life, keep the Lord our God in mind. Never sin deliberately or disobey any of his commands. Always do what is right and never get involved in anything evil. 6 Be honest, and you will succeed in whatever you do.
7 (A)Give generously to anyone who faithfully obeys God.[a] If you are stingy in giving to the poor, God will be stingy in giving to you. 8 Give according to what you have. The more you have, the more you should give. Even if you have only a little, be sure to give something. 9 This is as good as money saved. You will have your reward in a time of trouble. 10-11 Taking care of the poor is the kind of offering that pleases God in heaven. Do this, and you will be kept safe from the dark world of the dead.
12 Son, be on your guard against prostitutes. Above all, marry a woman of our tribe, because we are descendants of the prophets. Do not marry anyone who is not related to us. Remember that Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, our earliest ancestors, all married relatives. God blessed them with children, and so their descendants will inherit the land of Israel. 13 Son, be loyal to your own relatives. Don't be too proud to marry one of them. Such pride leads to terrible frustration and ruin, just as laziness brings on severe poverty and causes starvation.
14 Pay your workers each day; never keep back their wages overnight. Honor God in this way, and he will reward you. Behave properly at all times. 15 (B)Never do to anyone else anything that you would not want someone to do to you.
Do not drink so much wine that you get drunk, and do not let drinking become a habit.
16 Give food to the hungry and clothes to people in need. If you are prosperous, give generously, and do it gladly!
17 (C)When one of God's faithful people has died, prepare food for the family,[b] but never do this when someone evil dies.
18 Take the advice of sensible people, and never treat any useful advice lightly.
19 Take advantage of every opportunity to praise the Lord your God. Ask him to make you prosper in whatever you set out to do. He does not give his wisdom to the people of any other nation. He is the source of all good things, but he can also destroy you and bring you to certain death, if he wishes.
Remember all my instructions. Don't forget them for one minute.
20 Tobias, I want you to know that I once left a large sum of money with Gabrias' son, Gabael, at Rages in Media. 21 (D)We're poor now, but don't worry. If you obey God and avoid sin, he will be pleased with you and make you prosperous.
Footnotes
- Tobit 4:7 The translation of verses 7b-19b, accidentally omitted in the Greek manuscript that this translation normally follows, is based on other Greek manuscripts.
- Tobit 4:17 prepare...family; or put food on his grave.