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| [1]The book of the words of Tobit, son of Tobiel, the son of Ananiel, the son of Aduel, the son of Gabael, of the seed of Asael, of the tribe of Nephthali; |
[1]Tobias was of the tribe & citie of Nepthali, which lyeth in the hye countreys of Galilee aboue Naasson, beside ye way that leadeth to the west, hauyng the citie of Sephet vpon the left side. |
| [2]Who in the time of Enemessar king of the Assyrians was led captive out of Thisbe, which is at the right hand of that city, which is called properly Nephthali in Galilee above Aser. |
[2]Though he was taken prisoner in the dayes of Salmanasar king of the Assyrians, neuerthelesse beyng in captiuitie, he forsoke not the way of trueth: |
| [3]I Tobit have walked all the days of my life in the ways of truth and justice, and I did many almsdeeds to my brethren, and my nation, who came with me to Nineve, into the land of the Assyrians. |
[3]In so much that whatsoeuer he might get, he parted it dayly with his felowe prisoners and brethren that were of his kinred. |
| [4]And when I was in mine own country, in the land of Israel being but young, all the tribe of Nephthali my father fell from the house of Jerusalem, which was chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, that all the tribes should sacrifice there, where the temple of the habitation of the most High was consecrated and built for all ages. |
[4]And though he were younger then al in the tribe of Nephthali, yet did not he behaue him selfe childyshly in his workes. |
| [5]Now all the tribes which together revolted, and the house of my father Nephthali, sacrificed unto the heifer Baal. |
[5]And when all the other went to the golden calues whiche Ieroboam the king of Israel had made, he alone fled al their companies, |
| [6]But I alone went often to Jerusalem at the feasts, as it was ordained unto all the people of Israel by an everlasting decree, having the firstfruits and tenths of increase, with that which was first shorn; and them gave I at the altar to the priests the children of Aaron. |
[6]And gat him to Hierusalem vnto the temple of the Lorde, and there worshipped the Lord God of Israel, faythfully offering of al his first fruites and tithes: |
| [7]The first tenth part of all increase I gave to the sons of Aaron, who ministered at Jerusalem: another tenth part I sold away, and went, and spent it every year at Jerusalem: |
[7]So that in the thirde yere, he ministred all the tithes vnto the straungers and conuertes. |
| [8]And the third I gave unto them to whom it was meet, as Debora my father's mother had commanded me, because I was left an orphan by my father. |
[8]These and such like thinges dyd he obserue according to the law of God when he was yet but young. |
| [9]Furthermore, when I was come to the age of a man, I married Anna of mine own kindred, and of her I begat Tobias. |
[9]But when he was a man, he toke out of his owne tribe a wyfe called Anna: and of her he begat a sonne, whom he called after his owne name, |
| [10]And when we were carried away captives to Nineve, all my brethren and those that were of my kindred did eat of the bread of the Gentiles. |
[10]And taught him from his youth vp to feare God, and to refrayne from al sinne, |
| [11]But I kept myself from eating; |
[11]Now when he with his wife, his sonne, and with all his kinred, was come in captiuitie vnto the citie of Niniue, |
| [12]Because I remembered God with all my heart. |
[12]What time as they all dyd eate of the meates of the heathen: he kept his soule, and was neuer defiled in their meates. |
| [13]And the most High gave me grace and favour before Enemessar, so that I was his purveyor. |
[13]And for so much as he was mindeful of the Lorde in all his heart, God gaue him fauour in the sight of Salmanasar the king, |
| [14]And I went into Media, and left in trust with Gabael, the brother of Gabrias, at Rages a city of Media ten talents of silver. |
[14]Which gaue him power to go where he woulde, and so had he libertie to do whatsoeuer he woulde. |
| [15]Now when Enemessar was dead, Sennacherib his son reigned in his stead; whose estate was troubled, that I could not go into Media. |
[15]So went Tobias vnto all them that were in captiuitie [and comforted them] and gaue them wholsome exhortations. |
| [16]And in the time of Enemessar I gave many alms to my brethren, and gave my bread to the hungry, |
[16]And when he came to Rages a citie of the Medes, hauing ten talentes of siluer (of the thinges wherewith the king had honoured him) |
| [17]And my clothes to the naked: and if I saw any of my nation dead, or cast about the walls of Nineve, I buried him. |
[17]And sawe among a great companie of people of his kinred, one Gabelus which was of his owne tribe, beyng in necessite, he gaue him the sayde wayght of siluer vnder an hande writyng. |
| [18]And if the king Sennacherib had slain any, when he was come, and fled from Judea, I buried them privily; for in his wrath he killed many; but the bodies were not found, when they were sought for of the king. |
[18]After a long season, when Salmanasar the kyng was dead, and Sennacherib his sonne raigned in his steade, which hated the children of Israel: |
| [19]And when one of the Ninevites went and complained of me to the king, that I buried them, and hid myself; understanding that I was sought for to be put to death, I withdrew myself for fear. |
[19]Tobias went dayly throughout all his kinrede, and comforted them, and gaue of his goods to euery one of them as much as he might. |
| [20]Then all my goods were forcibly taken away, neither was there any thing left me, beside my wife Anna and my son Tobias. |
[20]He fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and buried the dead and slayne, and that diligently. |
| [21]And there passed not five and fifty days, before two of his sons killed him, and they fled into the mountains of Ararath; and Sarchedonus his son reigned in his stead; who appointed over his father's accounts, and over all his affairs, Achiacharus my brother Anael's son. |
[21]And when Sennacherib the king came agayne and fled out of Iurie (what time as god punished him for his blasphemie) & in his wrath slue many of the children of Israel: Tobias buried their bodies. |
| [22]And Achiacharus intreating for me, I returned to Nineve. Now Achiacharus was cupbearer, and keeper of the signet, and steward, and overseer of the accounts: and Sarchedonus appointed him next unto him: and he was my brother's son. |
[22]But when it was told the king, he commaunded to slay him, and toke away all his goodes. |
| [23]Neuerthelesse, Tobias with his sonne and with his wyfe, fled his way naked, and was hyd: for there were many that loued hym. |
| [24]But after fourtie and fiue dayes the king was slayne of his owne sonnes: |
| [25]Then came Tobias againe to his house, and all his goodes were restored vnto him. |