Tobit

Then Tobias answered his father Tobit, and said, "I will do all the things which you have commanded me, my father.

But how can I receive the money, since I do not know him?"

Then Tobit gave him the handwriting, and said to him, "Seek a man who may go with you, and I will give him wages until I die; and receive the money."

So he went to seek a man; and he found Raphael, who was an angel,

but he did not know it. Tobias said to him, "Can you go with me to Rages of Media? Do you know those places well?"

The angel said to him, "I will go with you, and I know the way well, for I have often stayed with our brother Gabael."

Then Tobias said to him, "Wait for me, and I will tell my father."

And he said to him, "Go, and do not delay." So he went in and said to his father, "Behold, I have found one who will go with me." Then his father said, "Call him to me, so that I may find out what tribe he is from, and whether he is a trustworthy man to go with you."

So he called him, and he came in, and they greeted each other.

Then Tobit said to him, "Brother, tell me from what tribe and from what family you are."

But Raphael said, "Do you seek for the tribe and family of a hired man, or do you seek for a hired man to go with your son?" But Tobit said to him, "I wish to know, brother, your kindred and name."

Then he said, "I am Azarias, the son of Ananias the great, of your brethren."

Then Tobit said, "You are welcome, brother; do not be angry with me because I asked to know the truth of your family. You are my brother, of a good and noble family. For I know Ananias and Jonathan, the sons of the great Shemaiah, as we went together to Jerusalem to worship, offering the firstborn and the tenth of the produce, and they did not lead us astray. So, brother, you are of a good stock.

But tell me, what wages shall I give you? A drachma a day, and provisions for yourself and for my son,

and I will add to your wages. But, Raphael, I want you to go with my son, and I will add to your wages."

So Raphael said to him, "I will go with him; do not be afraid. We will leave in good health, and I will return him to you in good health."

Then Tobit said, "May you have a good journey." But his father called him, and said to him, "Take with you some of the aged men, and if you go, may an angel of God accompany you in safety." Then his son went out, and he followed after the dog.

But Anna, his mother, wept and said to Tobit, "Why have you sent our son away? Is he not the staff of our hand, as he goes in and out before us?

Do not set money against money, but let it be refuse for our son.

For the life which the Lord has given us, it is enough for us."

Then Tobit said to her, "Do not worry, my sister; he will return in good health, and your eyes will see him.

For a good angel will go with him, and his journey will be prosperous, and he will return in good health. Do not worry about him, my sister." So she stopped weeping.