Tobit 4 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Tobit Gives Instructions to His Son

4 That same day Tobit remembered the money that he had left in trust with Gabael at Rages in Media, 2 and he said to himself, ‘Now I have asked for death. Why do I not call my son Tobias and explain to him about the money before I die?’ 3 Then he called his son Tobias, and when he came to him he said, ‘My son, when I die,[a] give me a proper burial. Honour your mother and do not abandon her all the days of her life. Do whatever pleases her, and do not grieve her in anything. 4 Remember her, my son, because she faced many dangers for you while you were in her womb. And when she dies, bury her beside me in the same grave.

5 ‘Revere the Lord all your days, my son, and refuse to sin or to transgress his commandments. Live uprightly all the days of your life, and do not walk in the ways of wrongdoing; 6 for those who act in accordance with truth will prosper in all their activities. To all those who practise righteousness[b] 7 give alms from your possessions, and do not let your eye begrudge the gift when you make it. Do not turn your face away from anyone who is poor, and the face of God will not be turned away from you. 8 If you have many possessions, make your gift from them in proportion; if few, do not be afraid to give according to the little you have. 9 So you will be laying up a good treasure for yourself against the day of necessity. 10 For almsgiving delivers from death and keeps you from going into the Darkness. 11 Indeed, almsgiving, for all who practise it, is an excellent offering in the presence of the Most High.

12 ‘Beware, my son, of every kind of fornication. First of all, marry a woman from among the descendants of your ancestors; do not marry a foreign woman, who is not of your father’s tribe; for we are the descendants of the prophets. Remember, my son, that Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, our ancestors of old, all took wives from among their kindred. They were blessed in their children, and their posterity will inherit the land. 13 So now, my son, love your kindred, and in your heart do not disdain your kindred, the sons and daughters of your people, by refusing to take a wife for yourself from among them. For in pride there is ruin and great confusion. And in idleness there is loss and dire poverty, because idleness is the mother of famine.

14 ‘Do not keep over until the next day the wages of those who work for you, but pay them at once. If you serve God you will receive payment. Watch yourself, my son, in everything you do, and discipline yourself in all your conduct. 15 And what you hate, do not do to anyone. Do not drink wine to excess or let drunkenness go with you on your way. 16 Give some of your food to the hungry, and some of your clothing to the naked. Give all your surplus as alms, and do not let your eye begrudge your giving of alms. 17 Place your bread on the grave of the righteous, but give none to sinners. 18 Seek advice from every wise person and do not despise any useful counsel. 19 At all times bless the Lord God, and ask him that your ways may be made straight and that all your paths and plans may prosper. For none of the nations has understanding, but the Lord himself will give them good counsel; but if he chooses otherwise, he casts down to deepest Hades. So now, my child, remember these commandments, and do not let them be erased from your heart.

Money Left in Trust with Gabael

20 ‘And now, my son, let me explain to you that I left ten talents of silver in trust with Gabael son of Gabrias, at Rages in Media. 21 Do not be afraid, my son, because we have become poor. You have great wealth if you fear God and flee from every sin and do what is good in the sight of the Lord your God.’

Footnotes

  1. Tobit 4:3 Lat
  2. Tobit 4:6 The text of codex Sinaiticus goes directly from verse 6 to verse 19, reading To those who practise righteousness 19 the Lord will give good counsel. In order to fill the lacuna, verses 7 to 18 are derived from other ancient authorities

You Might Also Like:

Tobit 4 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

4 Therefore when Tobit guessed his prayer to be heard, that he might die, he called Tobias, his son, to him, [Then when Tobit guessed his prayer to be heard, that he might die, he called to him Tobias, his son,] 2 and said to him, My son, hear thou the words of my mouth, and build or ground thou the...
Read More

Tobit 4 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Tobit Gives Instructions to His Son4 On that day Tobit remembered the money which he had left in trust with Gab′ael at Rages in Media, and he said to himself: 2 “I have asked for death. Why do I not call my son Tobi′as so that I may explain to him about the money[a] before I die?” 3 So he called h...
Read More

Tobit 4 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Tobit Gives Instructions to His Son4 On that day Tobit remembered the money which he had left in trust with Gab′ael at Rages in Media, and he said to himself: 2 “I have asked for death. Why do I not call my son Tobi′as so that I may explain to him about the money[a] before I die?” 3 So he called h...
Read More

Tobit 4 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Tobit Gives Instructions to His Son4 That same day Tobit remembered the money that he had left in trust with Gabael at Rages in Media, 2 and he said to himself, “Now I have asked for death. Why do I not call my son Tobias and explain to him about the money before I die?” 3 Then he called his son T...
Read More

Tobit 4 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Tobit Gives Instructions to His Son4 That same day Tobit remembered the money that he had left in trust with Gabael at Rages in Media, 2 and he said to himself, ‘Now I have asked for death. Why do I not call my son Tobias and explain to him about the money before I die?’ 3 Then he called his son T...
Read More

Tobit 4 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Tobit Gives Instructions to His Son4 That same day Tobit remembered the money that he had left in trust with Gabael at Rages in Media,(A)2 and he said to himself, “Now that I have asked for death, why do I not call my son Tobias and explain to him about this money before I die?”(B)3 Then he called h...
Read More

Tobit 4 - New Catholic Bible (NCB)

The Righteous Are Rewarded[a]Tobit’s TestamentChapter 41 That same day Tobit remembered the money he had left in the custody of Gabael at Rages in Media, 2 and he said to himself, “I have now asked for death. Therefore, before I die, I should call my son Tobiah and tell him about this money.” 3 [b]T...
Read More

Tobit 4 - New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

III. Preparation for the JourneyChapter 4A Father’s Instruction. 1 That same day Tobit remembered the money he had deposited in trust with Gabael at Rages in Media. 2 He thought to himself, “Now that I have asked for death, why should I not call my son Tobiah and let him know about this money befor...
Read More

Tobit 4 - Good News Translation (GNT)

Tobit's Advice to Tobias4 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, ...
Read More

Tobit 4 - Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)

4 Therefore when Tobias thought that his prayer was heard that he might die, he called to him Tobias his son, 2 And said to him: Hear, my son, the words of my mouth, and lay them as a foundation in thy heart. 3 When God shall take my soul, thou shalt bury my body: and thou shalt honour thy mother al...
Read More

Tobit 4 - Common English Bible (CEB)

Tobit tells Tobias about the money4 That day Tobit remembered the silver he had entrusted to Gabael in Rages of Media. 2 He said to himself, I have asked for death; I should call my son Tobias and tell him about the money before I die. 3 So he called for his son Tobias, and Tobias came to him. Tobit...
Read More