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Homeward Journey

11 When they came near to Kaserin, which is opposite Nineveh, Raphael said,(A) “You are aware of how we left your father. Let us run ahead of your wife and prepare the house while they are still on the way.” As they went on together, Raphael[a] said to him, “Have the gall ready in your hand.” And the dog[b] went along behind them.(B)

Meanwhile Anna sat looking intently down the road by which her son would come.(C) When she caught sight of him coming, she said to his father, “Look, your son is coming, and the man who went with him!”

Tobit’s Sight Restored

Raphael said to Tobias before he had approached his father, “I know that his eyes will be opened.(D) Smear the gall of the fish on his eyes; the medicine will make the white films shrink and peel off from his eyes, and your father will regain his sight and see the light.”(E)

Then Anna ran up to her son and threw her arms around her son, saying, “Now that I have seen you, my son, I am ready to die.” And she wept.(F) 10 Then Tobit got up and came stumbling out through the courtyard door. Tobias went up to him, 11 with the gall of the fish in his hand, and blew it into his eyes, then took hold of him, saying, “Take courage, father.” With this he applied the medicine on his eyes,(G) 12 and it stung.[c] 13 Next, with both his hands he peeled off the white films from the corners of his eyes. Then Tobit[d] threw his arms around him,(H) 14 and he wept and said to him, “I see you, my son, the light of my eyes!” Then he said,

“Blessed be God.
    May his great name be upon us,
    and blessed be all the angels[e]
    throughout all the ages.(I)
15 Though he afflicted me,[f]
    now I see my son Tobias!”

So Tobit went in rejoicing and praising God at the top of his voice. Tobias reported to his father that his journey had been successful, that he had brought the money, that he had married Raguel’s daughter Sarah, and that she was, indeed, on her way there, very near to the gate of Nineveh.(J)

16 Then Tobit,[g] rejoicing and praising God, went out to meet his daughter-in-law at the gate of Nineveh. When the people of Nineveh saw him coming, walking along in full vigor and with no one leading him, they were amazed. 17 Before them all, Tobit acknowledged that God had been merciful to him and had restored his sight. When Tobit met Sarah the wife of his son Tobias, he blessed her, saying, “Come in, my daughter, and be welcome. Blessed be your God who has brought you to us, my daughter. Blessed be your father and your mother, blessed be my son Tobias, and blessed be you, my daughter. Come in now to your home, and be welcome, with blessing and joy. Come in, my daughter.” So on that day there was rejoicing among all the Jews who were in Nineveh.(K) 18 Ahikar and his nephew Nadab were also present to share Tobit’s joy.[h](L)

Footnotes

  1. 11.4 Gk he
  2. 11.4 OL: S reads And the Lord
  3. 11.12 Cn: S and he applied
  4. 11.13 Gk he
  5. 11.14 Other ancient authorities lack May his great . . . angels
  6. 11.15 OL adds he has had mercy upon me
  7. 11.16 Gk he
  8. 11.18 Other ancient authorities add With merriment they celebrated Tobias’s wedding feast for seven days, and many gifts were given to him