Tobit 1

1 The book of the words of Tobit, son of Tobiel, the son of Ananiel, the son of Aduel, the son of Gabael, of the seed of Asael, of the tribe of Naphtali,
2 who in the time of Shalmaneser, king of the Assyrians, was led captive out of Thisbe, which is at the right hand of that city which is called properly Naphtali in Galilee above Asher.
3 I, Tobit, have walked all the days of my life in the way of truth and justice; and I did many almsdeeds for my brethren and my nation who came with me to Nineveh into the land of the Assyrians.
4 And when I was in mine own country, in the land of Israel, being but young, all the tribe of Naphtali my father fell away from the house of Jerusalem, which was chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, that all the tribes should sacrifice there, where the temple of the habitation of the Most High was consecrated and built for all ages.
5 Now all the tribes which together revolted and the house of my father Naphtali sacrificed unto the heifer Baal.
6 But I alone went often to Jerusalem for the feasts, as it was ordained unto all the people of Israel by an everlasting decree, having the firstfruits and tenths of increase, with that which was first shorn; and I gave them at the altar to the priests, the children of Aaron.
7 The first tenth part of all increase I gave to the sons of Aaron, who ministered at Jerusalem; another tenth part I sold away, and went and spent it every year at Jerusalem;
8 and the third I gave unto them to whom it was meet, as Deborah my father's mother had commanded me, because I was left an orphan by my father.
9 Furthermore, when I had come to the age of a man, I married Anna of mine own kindred, and by her I begot Tobias.
10 And when we were carried away captive to Nineveh, all my brethren and those who were of my kindred ate of the bread of the Gentiles.
11 But I kept myself from eating,
12 because I remembered God with all my heart.
13 And the Most High gave me grace and favor before Shalmaneser, so that I was his purveyor.
14 And I went into Media, and left in trust with Gabael the brother of Gabrias, at Rages a city of Media, ten talents of silver.
15 Now when Shalmaneser was dead, Sennacherib his son reigned in his stead, whose estate was troubled, so that I could not go into Media.
16 And in the time of Shalmaneser I gave many alms to my brethren, and gave my bread to the hungry
17 and my clothes to the naked; and if I saw any of my nation dead or cast about the walls of Nineveh, I buried him.
18 And if Sennacherib the king had slain any who had come and fled from Judea, I buried them privily, for in his wrath he killed many; but the bodies were not found when they were sought for by the king.
19 And when one of the Ninevites went and complained of me to the king that I buried them and hid myself, understanding that I was sought for to be put to death, I withdrew myself for fear.
20 Then all my goods were forcibly taken away, neither was there any thing left me besides my wife Anna and my son Tobias.
21 And there passed not five and fifty days before two of his sons killed him, and they fled into the mountains of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead, who appointed over his father's accounts and over all his affairs Achiacharus, my brother Anael's son.
22 And Achiacharus entreated for me, and I returned to Nineveh. Now Achiacharus was cupbearer, and keeper of the signet, and steward, and overseer of the accounts; and Esarhaddon appointed him next unto him. And he was my brother's son.
Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.