Tobit Chapter 2

From The Open Bible Project

2:1 Now when I arrived home again, and my wife Anna was restored to me with my son Tobias, at the feast of Pentecost, which is the holy feast of the seven weeks, a good dinner was prepared for me, which I sat down to eat.

2:2 And when I saw the abundance of meat, I said to my son, "Go and bring whatsoever poor man you find among our brethren, who is mindful of the Lord, and, see, I will wait for you."

2:3 But he returned and said, "Father, one of our nation was strangled and cast out in the marketplace."

2:4 Then, before I had tasted any of the meat, I went out, and took him up into a room until sundown.

2:5 Then I returned, and washed myself, and ate my meat in sadness,

2:6 remembering the prophecy of Amos, as he said, "Your feasts shall be turned into mourning and all your mirth into lamentation."

2:7 Therefore I wept, and after sundown I went and made a grave and buried him.

2:8 But my neighbors mocked me and said, "This man is still not afraid to be put to death for this matter; and, see, though he fled away before, he now buries the dead again."

2:9 That same night, I returned from the burial and slept by the wall of my courtyard, because I was polluted. And my face was uncovered,

2:10 and I did not know that there were sparrows in the wall. And, since my eyes were open, the sparrows emitted warm dung into my eyes, and a whiteness fell into my eyes. And I went to the physicians, but they did not help me. Moreover, Achiacharus had to nourish me, until I went into Elymais.

2:11 And my wife Anna took in women's work.

2:12 And when she had sent these home again to the owners, they paid her her wages and gave her in addition a young goat.

2:13 And when it was in my house, and began to call out, I said to her, "Where did this young goat come from? Is it not stolen? Return it to the owners, for it is not lawful to eat anything which is stolen."

2:14 But she replied to me, "It was given as a gift, over and above my wages." However, I did not believe her, but directed her to return it to the owners, and I was ashamed at her. But she replied to me, "Where are your alms and your righteous deeds? See now, you and all your works are known."