Tobit 1

1The book of the words of Tobit son of Tobiel, son of Ananiel, son of Aduel, son of Gabael, from the seed of Asiel, from the tribe of Naphtali,

2who was taken captive in the days of Enemessaros king of the Assyrians, from Thisbe, which is to the south of Kedesh of Naphtali in Galilee, above Asher.

3I, Tobit, walked in the ways of truth and righteousness all the days of my life, and I did many acts of mercy for my brothers and for my people who went with me into the land of the Assyrians, to Nineveh.

4And when I was in my own country, in the land of Israel, while I was still young, the whole tribe of my father Naphtali fell away from the house of Jerusalem, which had been chosen from all the tribes of Israel for all the tribes to sacrifice there; and the temple, the dwelling place of the Most High, was consecrated and built for all generations.

5and all the tribes that had apostatized were sacrificing to Baal the heifer, including the house of my father, Naphtali.

6But I alone would often go to Jerusalem for the feasts, as it is written for all Israel in an everlasting ordinance, bringing the firstfruits and the tithes of the produce and the first shearings.

7And I would give them to the priests, the sons of Aaron, for the altar, from the produce; I would give the tenth to the sons of Levi who minister in Jerusalem, and I would sell the second tenth and go and spend it in Jerusalem each year.

8And the third I would give to those to whom it was due, just as Deborah, my father's mother, commanded, because I was left an orphan by my father.

9And when I became a man, I took Anna as my wife from the seed of our ancestral family, and by her I fathered Tobiah.

10And when we were taken captive to Nineveh, all my brothers and those of my kindred ate from the bread of the Gentiles;

11But I kept watch over myself so as not to eat,

12because I remembered God with my whole soul.

13And the Most High gave me favor and good standing before Enemessar, and I was his buyer.

14I used to go to Media, and I deposited ten talents of silver with Gabael, the brother of Gabri, in Rages of Media.

15And when Enemessar died, Achreil his son became king in his place, and his roads became unsafe, and I was no longer able to go into Media.

16And in the days of Enemessar I did many acts of mercy for my brothers;

17I gave my bread to the hungry and clothing to the naked, and if I saw any of my kin dead and thrown behind the wall of Nineveh, I buried him.

18And if Sennacherib the king killed any when he came fleeing from Judea, I buried them secretly; for in his anger he killed many, and the bodies were sought by the king, but they were not found.

19But one of the men in Nineveh went and informed the king about me, that I was burying them; and I hid myself. Then, realizing that I was being sought to be put to death, I withdrew in fear.

20And all my possessions were plundered, and nothing was left to me except Anna my wife and Tobit my son.

21And before fifty days had passed, his two sons killed him and fled to the mountains of Ararat. And Sacherdonos his son reigned in his place, and he appointed Achiacharos, the son of Anael, my brother's son, over all the accounts of his kingdom and over the whole administration.

22And Ahiacharus interceded for me, and I came to Nineveh. Now Ahiacharus was the cupbearer, keeper of the signet ring, administrator, and accountant, and Sacherdonos appointed him second in rank. He was my cousin.