多俾亚传 5

1Then Tobias answered his father, and said: I will do all things, father, which thou hast commanded me.

2But how I shall get this money, I cannot tell; he knoweth me not, and I know not him: what token shall I give him? nor did I ever know the way which leadeth thither.

3Then his father answered him, and said: I have a note of his hand with me, which when thou shalt shew him, he will presently pay it.

4But go now, and seek thee out some faithful man, to go with thee for his hire: that thou mayst receive it, while I yet live.

5Then Tobias going forth, found a beautiful young man, standing girded, and as it were ready to walk.

6And not knowing that he was an angel of God, he saluted him, and said: From whence art thou, good young man?

7But he answered: Of the children of Israel. And Tobias said to him: Knowest thou the way that leadeth to the country of the Medes?

8And he answered: I know it: and I have often walked through all the ways thereof, and I have abode with Gabelus our brother, who dwelleth at Rages a city of the Medes, which is situate in the mount of Ecbatana.

9And Tobias said to him: Stay for me, I beseech thee, till I tell these same things to my father.

10Then Tobias going in told all these things to his father. Upon which his father being in admiration, desired that he would come in unto him.

11So going in he saluted him, and said: Joy be to thee always.

12And Tobias said: What manner of joy shall be to me, who sit in darkness, and see not the light of heaven?

13And the young man said to him: Be of good courage, thy cure from God is at hand.

14And Tobias said to him: Canst thou conduct my son to Gabelus at Rages, a city of the Medes? and when thou shalt return, I will pay thee thy hire.

15And the angel said to him: I will conduct him thither, and bring him back to thee.

16And Tobias said to him: I pray thee, tell me, of what family, or what tribe art thou?

17And Raphael the angel answered: Dost thou seek the family of him thou hirest, or the hired servant himself to go with thy son?

18But lest I should make thee uneasy, I am Azarias the son of the great Ananias.

19And Tobias answered: Thou art of a great family. But I pray thee be not angry that I desired to know thy family.

20And the angel said to him: I will lead thy son safe, and bring him to thee again safe.

21And Tobias answering, said: May you have a good journey, and God be with you in your way, and his angel accompany you.

22Then all things being ready, that were to be carried in their journey, Tobias bade his father and his mother farewell, and they set out both together.

23And when they were departed, his mother began to weep, and to say: Thou hast taken the staff of our old age, and sent him away from us.

24I wish the money for which thou hast sent him, had never been.

25For poverty was sufficient for us, that we might account it as riches, that we saw our son.

26And Tobias said to her: Weep not, our son will arrive thither safe, and will return safe to us, and thy eyes shall see him.

27For I believe that the good angel of God doth accompany him, and doth order all things well that are done about him, so that he shall return to us with joy.

28At these words his mother ceased weeping, and held her peace.

1Tunc respondit Tobias patri suo, et dixit: Omnia quæcumque præcepisti mihi faciam, pater.

2Quomodo autem pecuniam hanc requiram, ignoro: ille me nescit, et ego eum ignoro: quod signum dabo ei? sed neque viam per quam pergatur illuc aliquando cognovi.

3Tunc pater suus respondit illi, et dixit: Chirographum quidem illius penes me habeo: quod dum illi ostenderis, statim restituet.

4Sed perge nunc, et inquire tibi aliquem fidelem virum, qui eat tecum salva mercede sua, ut dum adhuc vivo, recipias eam.

5Tunc egressus Tobias, invenit juvenem splendidum stantem præcinctum, et quasi paratum ad ambulandum.

6Et ignorans quod angelus Dei esset, salutavit eum, et dixit: Unde te habemus, bone juvenis?

7At ille respondit: Ex filiis Israël. Et Tobias dixit ei: Nosti viam quæ ducit in regionem Medorum?

8Cui respondit: Novi: et omnia itinera ejus frequenter ambulavi, et mansi apud Gabelum fratrem nostrum, qui moratur in Rages civitate Medorum, quæ posita est in monte Ecbatanis.

9Cui Tobias ait: Sustine me obsecro, donec hæc ipsa nuntiem patri meo.

10Tunc ingressus Tobias, indicavit universa hæc patri suo. Super quæ admiratus pater, rogavit ut introiret ad eum.

11Ingressus itaque salutavit eum, et dixit: Gaudium tibi sit semper.

12Et ait Tobias: Quale gaudium mihi erit, qui in tenebris sedeo, et lumen cæli non video?

13Cui ait juvenis: Forti animo esto: in proximo est ut a Deo cureris.

14Dixit itaque illi Tobias: Numquid poteris perducere filium meum ad Gabelum in Rages civitatem Medorum? et cum redieris, restituam tibi mercedem tuam.

15Et dixit ei angelus: Ego ducam, et reducam eum ad te.

16Cui Tobias respondit: Rogo te, indica mihi de qua domo aut de qua tribu es tu.

17Cui Raphaël angelus dixit: Genus quæris mercenarii, an ipsum mercenarium qui cum filio tuo eat?

18sed ne forte sollicitum te reddam, ego sum Azarias Ananiæ magni filius.

19Et Tobias respondit: Ex magno genere es tu. Sed peto ne irascaris quod voluerim cognoscere genus tuum.

20Dixit autem illi angelus: Ego sanum ducam, et sanum tibi reducam filium tuum.

21Respondens autem Tobias, ait: Bene ambuletis, et sit Deus in itinere vestro, et angelus ejus comitetur vobiscum.

22Tunc paratis omnibus quæ erant in via portanda, fecit Tobias vale patri suo et matri suæ, et ambulaverunt ambo simul.

23Cumque profecti essent, cœpit mater ejus flere, et dicere: Baculum senectutis nostræ tulisti, et transmisisti a nobis.

24Numquam fuisset ipsa pecunia, pro qua misisti eum:

25sufficiebat enim nobis paupertas nostra, ut divitias computaremus hoc, quod videbamus filium nostrum.

26Dixitque ei Tobias: Noli flere: salvus perveniet filius noster, et salvus revertetur ad nos, et oculi tui videbunt illum.

27Credo enim quod angelus Dei bonus comitetur ei, et bene disponat omnia quæ circa eum geruntur, ita ut cum gaudio revertatur ad nos.

28Ad hanc vocem cessavit mater ejus flere, et tacuit.

1Then Tobias responded to his father, and he said: “I will do everything just as you have instructed me, father.

2But I do not know how to obtain this money. He does not know me, and I do not know him. What proof shall I give to him? And I do not know any part of the way, which leads to that place.”

3Then his father answered him, and he said: “Indeed, I have a written agreement about that in my possession, which, when you show it to him, he will immediately repay it.

4But go out now, and inquire after some faithful man, who would go with you to keep you safe in return for his wages, so that you may receive it while I am still alive.”

5Then Tobias, departing, found a splendid young man, standing girded and seemingly ready for travel.

6And not knowing that he was an Angel of God, he greeted him, and he said, “Where are you from, good young man?”

7And so he answered, “From the sons of Israel.” And Tobias said to him, “Do you know the way that leads to the region of the Medes?”

8And he answered: “I know it. And I have frequently walked through all its paths, and I stayed with Gabael, our brother, who lives in Rages, a city of the Medes, which is situated at the mount of Ecbatana.”

9Tobias said to him, “I implore you, wait here for me, until I tell these same things to my father.”

10Then Tobias, entering, revealed all these things to his father. Upon which, his father, in admiration, asked that he would enter to him.

11And so, entering, he greeted him, and he said, “May gladness be always with you.”

12And Tobit said, “What kind of gladness will be for me, since I sit in darkness and do not see the light of heaven?”

13And the young man said to him, “Be steadfast in soul. Your cure from God is near.”

14And so Tobit said to him, “Are you able to lead my son to Gabael in Rages, a city of the Medes? And when you return, I will pay you your wages.”

15And the Angel said to him, “I will lead him, and I will bring him back to you.”

16And Tobit responded to him, “I ask you to tell me: which family or which tribe are you from?”

17And Raphael the Angel said, “Do you seek the family of the one you hire, or else the hired hand himself, to go with your son?

18But, lest perhaps I cause you to worry: I am Azariah, the son of Hananiah the great.”

19And Tobit responded, “You are from a great family. But I ask you, do not be angry that I wanted to know your family.”

20But the Angel said to him, “I will lead your son safely, and I will bring him back safely to you.”

21And so Tobit, answering, said, “May you walk well, and may God be with you on your journey, and may his Angel accompany you.”

22Then, when all things were ready which were to be carried on their journey, Tobias said farewell to his father, and to his mother, and the two of them walked together.

23And when they had set out, his mother began to weep, and to say: “You have taken the staff of our old age, and you have sent him away from us.

24I wish that the money, for which you sent him, had never been.

25For our poverty has been sufficient for us, so that we might count it as riches that we saw our son.”

26And Tobit said to her: “Do not weep. Our son will arrive safely, and he will return safely to us, and your eyes shall see him.

27For I believe that the good Angel of God accompanies him and that he orders all things well which occur around him, such that he will be returned to us with gladness.”

28At these words, his mother ceased weeping, and she was silent.