1When the wedding feast was finished, Tobit called his son Tobias and said to him, ‘My boy, see to it that you pay the wage to the man who traveled with you, and give him a bonus as well.’
2Tobias replied, ‘Father, how much of a wage should I give him? It would be no loss to me to give him half of the possessions that he brought back with me.’
3‘He brought me back in good health, he healed my wife, he brought the silver with me, and he healed you. What wage is fitting for him?’
4And Tobit said to him, ‘My boy, he is entitled to receive half of everything he brought back with him.’
5So he called him and said, ‘Take half of all that you have brought back as your wage, and go in good health.’
6Then he called the two of them privately and said to them, ‘Bless God and give him thanks in the presence of all the living for the good things he has done for you, so that you may bless and sing praise to his name. Reveal the words of God to all people with honor, and do not hesitate to give him thanks.’
7It is good to conceal a king’s secret, but the works of God are to be revealed and thankfully acknowledged. So give thanks honorably. Do what is good, and evil will not find you.
8Prayer with truthfulness and almsgiving with righteousness are better than wealth with injustice. It is better to give alms than to store up gold.
9Almsgiving delivers from death, and it cleanses away every sin. Those who practice almsgiving will be filled with life.
10But those who commit sin and injustice are enemies to their own souls.
11I will reveal the whole truth to you and will hide nothing from you. I have already revealed it when I said, ‘It is good to conceal a king’s secret, but it is glorious to reveal the works of God.’
12And so, when you and Sarah prayed, I am the one who brought the memorial of your prayer before the glory of the Lord. And likewise, when you would bury the dead.
13And when you did not hesitate to get up and leave your meal, but went and laid out the dead,
14it was then that I was sent to test you. And at the same time, God sent me to heal you and your daughter-in-law Sarah.
15I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand in attendance and enter before the glory of the Lord.
16And the two of them were terrified; they fell on their faces and were filled with fear.
17But he said to them, “Do not be afraid. Peace be with you. Bless God forever and ever.
18When I was with you, it was not by my own favor that I was with you, but by the will of God. Bless him every day; sing his praises.
19And though you saw me, I ate nothing; what you saw was but a vision.
20And now, bless the Lord on earth and give thanks to God. Behold, I am ascending to the one who sent me. Write down everything that has happened to you.” And he ascended.
21And they stood up, but they could no longer see him.
22And they kept blessing and singing praise to God, and they gave him thanks for these great works of his: that an angel of God had appeared to them.
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