1And she fell silent, weeping.
2So the boy went out, and the angel with him. The dog also went out with him and went along with them. They both journeyed on, and when the first night fell, they lodged beside the Tigris river.
3The boy went down to wash his feet in the Tigris river, and a large fish leaped up from the water and tried to swallow the boy’s foot, and he cried out.
4And the angel said to the boy, “Seize the fish and get a firm hold of it!” So the boy caught hold of the fish and hauled it onto the land.
5And the angel said to him, “Cut open the fish and take out its gall, heart, and liver, and set them aside for yourself; but throw away the entrails. For its gall, heart, and liver are useful for medicine.”
6So the boy cut open the fish and collected the gall, heart, and liver. Then he roasted some of the fish and ate it, and the rest he salted and set aside. And they both journeyed on together until they drew near to Media.
7Then the boy asked the angel, “Azariah, brother, what is the medicinal value of the fish’s heart, liver, and gall?”
8He said to him, “The heart and the liver of the fish—make smoke with them before a man or a woman who is afflicted by a demon or an evil spirit, and every affliction will flee from that person, and will never remain with them again.
9As for the gall, use it to anoint the eyes of a person on which white films have appeared. Blow on them, on the white films, and they will be healed.”
10And when he entered Media and was already approaching Ecbatana,
11Raphael said to the boy, “Tobias, brother.” And he replied, “Here I am.” And he said to him, “Tonight we must lodge at the house of Raguel. The man is your kinsman, and he has a daughter whose name is Sarah.
12He has no other son or daughter except Sarah alone, and you are her nearest relative, with more right than any other man to marry her. It is also your right to inherit her father’s property. The girl is sensible, brave, and very beautiful, and her father is a good man.”
13And he said, “It is your right to take her. So listen to me, brother. Tonight I will speak to her father about the girl, so that we may take her for you as a bride. And when we return from Rages, we will celebrate her wedding. I know that Raguel will not be able to refuse her to you or betroth her to another, for he would be liable to the death penalty according to the judgment in the book of Moses, since he knows that it is your right to inherit his daughter before any other man. So now listen to me, brother, and tonight let us speak about the girl and arrange her betrothal to you. And when we return from Rages, we will take her and bring her back with us to your house.”
14Then Tobias answered Raphael, “Azariah, brother, I have heard that she has already been given to seven husbands, and they died in their bridal chambers. On the very night they went in to her, they would die. I have also heard it said that a demon kills them.
15And now I am afraid, because the demon does not harm her, but it kills anyone who tries to approach her. I am my father’s only son. If I die, I will bring the lives of my father and mother down to their grave in sorrow over me. And they have no other son to bury them.”
16And he said to him, “Do you not remember your father’s commands, how he instructed you to take a wife from your father’s household? So now listen to me, brother. Pay no attention to this demon, and take her. I know that tonight she will be given to you as your wife.
17And when you enter the bridal chamber, take the fish’s liver and heart and place them on the incense embers. The odor will spread,
18and the demon will smell it and flee, and will never again appear near her. And when you are about to be with her, first get up, both of you, and pray. Plead with the Lord of heaven that mercy and salvation may be upon you. And do not be afraid, for she was allotted to you from eternity, and you will save her, and she will go with you. And I suppose that you will have children by her, and they will be like brothers to you. Do not worry.” And when Tobias heard Raphael’s words, and that Sarah was his kinswoman from the lineage of his father’s house, he loved her very much, and his heart was bound to her.
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