Tobit 1

1 Tobit, da tribo e da cidade de Neftali (situada na Galileia superior, acima de Naasson, atrás do caminho do ocidente, tendo à esquerda a cidade de Sefet),

2 foi levado para o cativeiro no tempo de Salmanasar, rei dos assírios. Embora cativo, ele não abandonou o caminho da verdade.

3 Tudo aquilo de que podia dispor distribuía cada dia a seus irmãos de raça, que partilhavam com ele sua sorte de cativo.

4 Embora fosse ele o mais jovem da tribo de Neftali, seu proceder nada tinha de pueril.

5 Por isso, enquanto todos eles iam adorar os bezerros de ouro que o rei de Israel, Je­roboão, tinha feito, só ele fugia da companhia de todos e

6 dirigia-se ao Templo do Senhor em Jerusalém, onde adorava o Senhor, Deus de Israel, oferecendo fielmente as primícias e os dízimos de todos os seus bens.

7 De três em três anos, dava aos prosélitos e aos estrangeiros todo o seu dízimo.

8 Esta e outras práticas semelhantes da Lei de Deus, tinha observado desde a sua infância.

9 Quando se tornou adulto, desposou uma mulher de sua tribo, chamada Ana, da qual teve um filho, a quem deu o nome de Tobias.

10 Ensinou-lhe desde a sua mais tenra idade a temer a Deus e a se abster de todo pecado.

11 Desse modo, quando chegou com sua mulher e seu filho, como cativo, no meio de sua tribo, à cidade de Nínive,

12 embora todos os outros comessem dos alimentos dos pagãos, guardou sua alma pura e jamais contraiu mancha alguma com seus alimentos.

13 E porque ele conservava com todo o seu coração a lembrança de Deus, Deus tornou-o simpático ao rei Salmanasar,

14 que o autorizou a ir aonde quisesse e a fazer o que quer que lhe agradasse.

15 Ele ia, pois, visitar todos os deportados e dava-lhes conselhos salutares.

16 Foi um dia a Ragés, cidade da Média, com dez talentos de prata que o rei lhe tinha dado.

17 Encontrando entre a multidão dos seus compatriotas um homem de sua tribo, chamado Gabael, o qual se achava em dificuldades, deu-lhe a sobredita quantia de prata, mediante um recibo.

18 Passou o tempo. Salmanasar morreu e Senaquerib, seu filho, sucedeu-lhe no trono. Ora, Senaquerib odiava os israelitas.

19 Tobit ia diariamente visitar toda a sua parentela, consolava-a e distribuía dos seus bens a cada um, segundo as suas posses.

20 Alimentava os famintos, vestia os nus e, com uma solicitude toda particular, sepultava os defuntos e os que tinham sido mortos.

21 Quando o rei Senaquerib, fugindo da Judeia ao castigo com que Deus o ferira por suas blasfêmias, mandou assassinar, na sua ira, um grande número de israelitas. Tobit sepultou os seus cadáveres.

22 Denunciaram-no ao rei, que o mandou matar e confiscou todos os seus bens.

23 Tobit, porém, despojado de tudo, fugiu com seu filho e sua mulher e, como tinha muitos amigos, conseguiu permanecer oculto.

24 Ora, quarenta e cinco dias depois, o rei foi assassinado por seus filhos,

25 e Tobit voltou para a sua casa; e foram-lhe restituídos todos os seus bens.

1 The book of the words of Tobit, the son of Tobiel, the son of Ananiel, the son of Aduel, the son of Gabael, of the seed of Asiel, of the tribe of Naphtali; 2 who in the days of Enemessar*1:2 That is, Shalmaneser. Compare 2 Kings 17:3, 23. king of the Assyrians was carried away captive out of Thisbe, which is on the right hand of Kedesh Naphtali in Galilee above Asher.

3 I, Tobit walked in the ways of truth and righteousness all the days of my life, and I did many alms deeds to my kindred and my nation, who went with me into the land of the Assyrians, to Nineveh. 4 When I was in my own country, in the land of Israel, while I was yet young, all the tribe of Naphtali my father fell away from the house of Jerusalem, which was chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, that all the tribes should sacrifice there, and the temple of the habitation of the Most High was hallowed and built therein for all ages. 5 All the tribes which fell away together sacrificed to the heifer Baal, and so did the house of Naphtali my father. 6 I alone went often to Jerusalem at the feasts, as it has been ordained to all Israel by an everlasting decree, having the first fruits and the tenths of my increase, and that which was first shorn; and I gave them at the altar to the priests the sons of Aaron. 7 I gave a tenth part of all my increase to the sons of Levi, who ministered at Jerusalem. A second tenth part I sold away, and went, and spent it each year at Jerusalem. 8 A third tenth I gave to them to whom it was appropriate, as Deborah my father’s mother had commanded me, because I was left an orphan by my father. 9 When I became a man, I took as wife Anna of the seed of our own family. With her, I became the father of Tobias. 10 When I was carried away captive to Nineveh, all my kindred and my relatives ate of the bread of the Gentiles; 11 but I kept myself from eating, 12 because I remembered God with all my soul. 13 So the Most High gave me grace and favor*1:13 Gr. beauty. in the sight of Enemessar, and I was his purchasing agent. 14 And I went into Media, and left ten talents of silver in trust with Gabael, the brother of Gabrias, at Rages of Media.

15 And when Enemessar was dead, Sennacherib his son reigned in his place. In his time, the highways were troubled,*1:15 Gr. his highways were troubled. and I could no longer go into Media. 16 In the days of Enemessar, I did many alms deeds to my kindred: I gave my bread to the hungry, 17 and my garments to the naked. If I saw any of my race dead, and thrown out on*1:17 Some ancient authorities read behind. the wall of Ninevah, I buried him. 18 If Sennacherib the king killed any, when he came fleeing from Judea, I buried them privately; for in his wrath he killed many; and the bodies were sought for by the king, and were not found. 19 But one of the Ninevites went and showed to the king concerning me, how I buried them, and hid myself; and when I knew that I was sought for to be put to death, I withdrew myself for fear. 20 And all my goods were forcibly taken away, and there was nothing left to me, save my wife Anna and my son Tobias. 21 No more than fifty five days passed before two of his sons killed him, and they fled into the mountains of Ararat. And Sarchedonus*1:21 That is, Esar-haddon, and so in verse 22. his son reigned in his place; and he appointed Achiacharus my brother Anael’s son over all the accounts of his kingdom, and over all his affairs. 22 Achiacharus requested me, and I came to Nineveh. Now Achiacharus was cupbearer, keeper of the signet, steward, and overseer of the accounts. Sarchedonus appointed him next to himself, but he was my brother’s son.