Tobit 4
World English Bible
1On that day Tobit remembered the money which he had committed to Gabael in Rages of Media,

2and he said to himself, "I have wished for death; therefore should I not call for my son Tobias so that I may transfer the money to him before I die?"

3And when he had called him, he said, "My son, when I am dead, bury me; and do not despise your mother, but honor her all the days of your life, and do what pleases her, and do not grieve her.

4Remember, my son, that she endured many dangers for you, when you were in her womb; and when she is dead, bury her next to me in one grave.

5My son, be mindful of the Lord our God all your days, and do not let your will be set to sin, nor to transgress his commandments; act uprightly all your life long, and do not follow the ways of the unrighteousness.

6For if you deal truly, your actions shall bring prosperity to you and to all those who live justly.

7Give alms from your resources; and when you give alms, do not let your eye be envious, nor turn your face from any of the poor, and then the face of God shall not be turned away from you.

8If you have abundance, give alms accordingly; if you have only a little, do not be afraid to give according to that little;

9for you will store up a good treasure for yourself against the day of necessity,

10because alms deliver from death and preserve from falling into darkness.

11For alms is a good gift, for all those who give it, in the sight of the most High.

12Beware of all whoredom, my son, and prefer to take a wife from the posterity of your forefathers, and do not take a strange woman to wife, who is not of your father's tribe; for we are the children of the prophets, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Remember, my son, that our fathers from the beginning, all of them married wives of their own kindred, and were blessed in their children, and their posterity shall inherit the land.

13Now therefore, my son, love your brethren, and do not despise in your heart your brethren, the sons and daughters of your people, by not taking a wife from among them; for in pride is destruction and much trouble, and in lewdness is decay and great want; for lewdness is the mother of famine.

14Do not let the wages of any man, who has worked for you, be delayed by you, but give it to him promptly; for if you serve God, he will also repay you. Be prudent, my son, in all things you do, and be wise in all your conversation.

15Do not do to any man the things which you yourself hate. Do not drink wine to make you drunken; neither let drunkenness go with you on your journey.

16Give of your bread to the hungry, and of your garments to those who are naked; and according to your abundance give alms; and do not let your eye be envious, when you give alms.

17Pour out your bread on the burial of the just, but give nothing to the wicked.

18Ask counsel of all who are wise, and despise not any counsel which is beneficial.

19Bless the Lord your God always, and desire of him that your ways may be purposeful, and that all your paths and counsels may prosper; for not every nation has counsel; but the Lord himself gives all good things, and he humbles whom he will, as he will; now therefore, my son, remember my commandments, neither let them be put out of your mind.

20And now I signify this to those who I committed ten talents, to Gabael the son of Gabrias at Rages in Media.

21And do not be afraid, my son, that we might become poor; for you have much wealth, if you fear God and depart from all sin and do what is pleasing in his sight."

Tobit 3
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