Tobit 4

1On that day Tobit remembered the silver that he had deposited with Gabael in Rages of Media.

2And he said within himself, “I have asked for death; why should I not call Tobiah my son, so that I may instruct him before I die?”

3And calling him, he said, “Child, if I die, bury me, and do not neglect your mother; honor her all the days of your life,”

4And do what is pleasing to her, and do not grieve her. Remember, child, that she faced many dangers because of you while you were in the womb; when she dies, bury her beside me in one grave.

5All the days, child, remember the Lord our God. Do not desire to transgress his commandments. Practice righteousness all the days of your life, and do not walk in the ways of unrighteousness.

6For if you practice the truth, your works will prosper, and so will all who practice righteousness.

7From what you have, give alms, and do not let your eye be grudging when you give alms. Do not turn your face away from any poor person, and the face of God will not be turned away from you.

8As much as you have, according to your abundance, give alms from it; and if you have little, do not be afraid to give alms according to that little.

9For you are storing up a good treasure for yourself for a day of need.

10For almsgiving rescues from death and will not allow one to enter into the darkness.

11For almsgiving is a good gift for all who do it before the Most High.

12Guard yourself, child, from all sexual immorality, and first take a wife from the offspring of your fathers. Do not take a foreign woman who is not from the tribe of your father, because we are sons of the prophets. Remember, child, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, our fathers from of old, that they all took wives from among their brothers, and they were blessed in their children, and their offspring will inherit the land.

13And now, child, love your brothers, and do not become proud in your heart over your brothers and the sons and daughters of your people, so as to take a wife for yourself from among them. For in pride there is ruin and much disorder, and in uselessness there is decline and great want; for uselessness is the mother of famine.

14Do not let the wages of any man who works for you stay overnight with you, but pay him at once. If you serve God, it will be repaid to you. Watch yourself, child, in all your works, and be disciplined in all your conduct.

15And what you hate, do to no one. Do not drink wine to drunkenness, and do not let drunkenness go with you on your way.

16Give from your bread to the hungry, and from your clothing to the naked. Whatever may abound to you, do as almsgiving, and do not let your eye be envious when you do almsgiving.

17Pour out your bread on the grave of the righteous, and give none to sinners.

18Seek counsel from every wise man, and do not despise any useful advice.

19And at all times bless the Lord God, and ask from him that your ways may be made straight and that all your paths and plans may prosper. For no nation has counsel, but the Lord himself gives all good things, and whomever he wills he humbles, just as he pleases. And now, child, remember my commandments, and do not let them be blotted out from your heart.

20And now I am showing you the ten talents of silver that I deposited with Gabael son of Gabrias in Rages of Media.

21And do not be afraid, child, because we have become poor; you have much, if you fear God and turn away from every sin and do what is pleasing before him.