Tobit 8

Exile

Tobias Routs the Demon and Prays with Sarah

1

When they had finished eating and drinking, they wanted to retire; so they took the young man and brought him into the bedroom.

2

As he went he remembered the words of Raphael, and he took the live ashes of incense and put the heart and liver of the fish upon them and made a smoke.

3

And when the demon smelled the odor he fled to the remotest parts of Egypt, and the angel bound him.

4

When the door was shut and the two were alone, Tobias got up from the bed and said, “Sister, get up, and let us pray and implore our Lord that he grant us mercy and safety.”

5

And they began to say, “Blessed are you, O God of our fathers, and blessed be your holy and glorious name for ever. Let the heavens and all your creatures bless you.

6

You made Adam and gave him Eve his wife as a helper and support. From them the race of mankind has sprung. You said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; let us make a helper for him like himself.’

7

And now, O Lord, I am not taking this sister of mine because of lust, but with sincerity. Grant that I may find mercy and may grow old together with her.”

8

And they both said, “Amen, amen.”

9

Then they both went to sleep for the night. But Raguel arose and went and dug a grave,

10

with the thought, “Perhaps he too will die.”

11

Then Raguel went into his house

12

and said to his wife Edna, “Send one of the maids to see whether he is alive; and if he is not, let us bury him without any one knowing about it.”

13

So the maid opened the door and went in, and found them both asleep.

14

And she came out and told them that he was alive.

15

Then Raguel blessed God and said,
“Blessed are you, O God, with every pure and holy blessing. Let your saints and all your creatures bless you; let all your angels and your chosen people bless you for ever.

16

Blessed are you, because you have made me glad. It has not happened to me as I expected; but you have treated us according to your great mercy.

17

Blessed are you, because you have had compassion on two only children. Show them mercy, O Lord; and bring their lives to fulfilment in health and happiness and mercy.”

18

Then he ordered his servants to fill in the grave.

The Wedding Feast

19

After this he gave a wedding feast for them which lasted fourteen days.

20

And before the days of the feast were over, Raguel declared by oath to Tobias that he should not leave until the fourteen days of the wedding feast were ended,

21

that then he should take half of Raguel’s property and return in safety to his father, and that the rest would be his “when my wife and I die.”