Tobit 4:4-14

4 Remember her, my son, because she faced many dangers for you while you were in her womb. And when she dies, bury her beside me in the same grave.
5 "Revere the Lord all your days, my son, and refuse to sin or to transgress his commandments. Live uprightly all the days of your life, and do not walk in the ways of wrongdoing;
6 for those who act in accordance with truth will prosper in all their activities. To all those who practice righteousness
7 give alms from your possessions, and do not let your eye begrudge the gift when you make it. Do not turn your face away from anyone who is poor, and the face of God will not be turned away from you.
8 If you have many possessions, make your gift from them in proportion; if few, do not be afraid to give according to the little you have.
9 So you will be laying up a good treasure for yourself against the day of necessity.
10 For almsgiving delivers from death and keeps you from going into the Darkness.
11 Indeed, almsgiving, for all who practice it, is an excellent offering in the presence of the Most High.
12 "Beware, my son, of every kind of fornication. First of all, marry a woman from among the descendants of your ancestors; do not marry a foreign woman, who is not of your father's tribe; for we are the descendants of the prophets. Remember, my son, that Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, our ancestors of old, all took wives from among their kindred. They were blessed in their children, and their posterity will inherit the land.
13 So now, my son, love your kindred, and in your heart do not disdain your kindred, the sons and daughters of your people, by refusing to take a wife for yourself from among them. For in pride there is ruin and great confusion. And in idleness there is loss and dire poverty, because idleness is the mother of famine.
14 "Do not keep over until the next day the wages of those who work for you, but pay them at once. If you serve God you will receive payment. Watch yourself, my son, in everything you do, and discipline yourself in all your conduct.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. The text of codex Sinaiticus goes directly from verse 6 to verse 19, reading [To those who practice righteousness] +V19+W[the Lord will give good counsel]. In order to fill the lacuna verses 7 to 18 are derived from other ancient authorities
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.