Tobit 9

1 Then Tobias called the Angel to him, whom he indeed considered to be a man, and he said to him: “Brother Azariah, I implore you to listen to my words:

2 If I should give myself to be your servant, I would not be equally worthy of your providence.

3 Even so, I beg you to take with you beasts or even servants, and to go to Gabael in Rages, the city of the Medes, and restore to him his handwritten note, and receive from him the money, and petition him to come to my wedding celebration.

4 For you know that my father numbers the days. And if I delay one day more, his soul will be afflicted.

5 And surely you see how Raguel has obtained my oath, an oath that I am not able to spurn.”

6 Then Raphael borrowed four of the servants of Raguel, and two camels, and he traveled to Rages, the city of the Medes. And upon finding Gabael, he gave him his handwritten note, and he received from him all the money.

7 And he revealed to him, concerning Tobias the son of Tobit, all that had been done. And he made him come with him to the wedding celebration.

8 And when he had entered into the house of Raguel, he discovered Tobias reclining at table. And leaping up, they kissed each other. And Gabael wept, and he blessed God.

9 And he said: “May the God of Israel bless you, for you are the son of a man most noble and just, fearing God and performing almsgiving.

10 And may a blessing be spoken over your wife and over your parents.

11 And may you see your sons, and the sons of your sons, even to the third and fourth generation. And may your offspring be blessed by the God of Israel, who reigns forever and ever.”

12 And when all had said, “Amen,” they approached the feast. But they also celebrated the marriage feast with the fear of the Lord.

Tobit 10

1 In truth, when Tobias was delayed because of the marriage celebration, his father Tobit was worried, saying: “Why do you think my son is delayed, or why has he been detained there?

2 Do you think that Gabael has died, and that no one will repay him the money?”

3 And so he began to be exceedingly sad, both he and his wife Anna with him. And they both began to weep together, because their son did not at least return to them on the appointed day.

4 But his mother wept inconsolable tears, and also said: “Woe, woe to me, O my son. Why did we send you to journey far away, you: the light of our eyes, the staff of our old age, the solace of our life, the hope of our posterity?

5 Having all things together as one in you, we ought not to have dismissed you from us.”

6 And Tobit was saying to her: “Be calm, and do not be troubled. Our son is safe. That man, with whom we sent him, is faithful enough.”

7 Yet she was by no means able to be consoled. But, leaping up every day, she looked all round, and traveled around all the ways, by which there seemed any hope that he might return, so that she might possibly see him coming from afar.

8 In truth, Raguel said to his son-in-law, “Remain here, and I will send a message of your health to your father Tobit.”

9 And Tobias said to him, “I know that my father and my mother have now counted the days, and their spirit must be tortured within them.”

10 And when Raguel had repeatedly petitioned Tobias, and he was by no means willing to listen to him, he delivered Sarah to him, and half of all his substance: with men and women servants, with sheep, camels, and cows, and with much money. And he dismissed him away, in safety and gladness, from him,

11 saying: “May the holy Angel of the Lord be with your journey, and may he lead you through unharmed, and may you discover that all is right concerning your parents, and may my eyes see your sons before I die.”

12 And the parents, taking hold of their daughter, kissed her and let her go:

13 admonishing her to honor her father-in-law, to love her husband, to guide the family, to govern the household, and to behave irreproachably herself.

Tobit 11

1 And as they were returning, they came through to Haran, which is in the middle of the journey, opposite Nineveh, on the eleventh day.

2 And the Angel said: “Brother Tobias, you know how you left behind your father.

3 And so, if it pleases you, let us go on ahead, and let the family follow after us with a slower step, together with your bride, and with the animals.”

4 And since it pleased him to go on in this way, Raphael said to Tobias, “Take with you from the gall of the fish, for it will be necessary.” And so, Tobias took from its gall, and he went ahead.

5 But Anna sat beside the way every day, on the top of a hill, from where she would be able to see for a long distance.

6 And while she was watching for his arrival from that place, she looked far off, and soon she realized that her son was approaching. And running, she reported it to her husband, saying: “Behold, your son arrives.”

7 And Raphael said to Tobias: “As soon as you enter into your house, immediately adore the Lord your God. And, giving thanks to him, approach your father, and kiss him.

8 And immediately anoint his eyes from this gall of the fish, which you carry with you. For you should know that his eyes will soon be opened, and your father will see the light of heaven, and he will rejoice at the sight of you.”

9 Then the dog, which had been with them in the way, ran ahead, and, arriving like a messenger, he showed his joy by fawning and wagging his tail.

10 And rising up, his blind father began to run, stumbling with his feet. And giving his hand to a servant, he ran on to meet his son.

11 And receiving him, he kissed him, as did his wife, and they both began to weep for joy.

12 And when they had adored God and had given thanks, they sat down together.

13 Then Tobias, taking from the gall of the fish, anointed his father’s eyes.

14 And about half an hour passed, and then a white film began to come out of his eyes, like the membrane of an egg.

15 So, taking hold of it, Tobias pulled it away from his eyes, and immediately he received his sight.

16 And they glorified God: Tobit especially, and his wife, and all those who knew him.

17 And Tobit said, “I bless you, O Lord God of Israel, because you have chastised me, and you have saved me, and behold, I see my son Tobias.”

18 And then, after seven days, Sarah, the wife of his son, and all the family arrived safely, along with the sheep, and the camels, and much money from his wife, but also with that money which he had received from Gabael.

19 And he explained to his parents all the benefits from God, which he had produced all around him, by means of the man who had led him.

20 And then Ahikar and Nadab arrived, the maternal first cousins of Tobias, rejoicing for Tobias, and congratulating with him for all the good things that God had revealed all around him.

21 And for seven days they feasted, and all were rejoicing with great joy.

Tobit 12

1 Then Tobit called his son to him, and he said to him, “What are we able to give to this holy man, who accompanied you?”

2 Tobias, answering, said to his father: “Father, what wages shall we give him? And what could be worthy of his benefits?

3 He led me and he brought me back safely. He received the money from Gabael. He caused me to have my wife. And he confined the demon away from her. He caused joy to her parents. Myself, he rescued from being devoured by the fish. As for you, he also caused you to see the light of heaven. And so, we have been filled with all good things through him. What could we possibly give to him that would be worthy of these things?

4 But I implore you, my father, to ask him if he would perhaps deign to take for himself half of all the things that have been brought.”

5 And calling him, the father especially, and the son, they took him aside. And they began to petition him, so that he would deign to accept ownership of one half part of all things that they had brought.

6 Then he said to them privately: “Bless the God of heaven, and confess to him in the sight of all who live, for he has acted in his mercy toward you.

7 For it is good to conceal the secret of a king, just as it is also honorable to reveal and to confess the works of God.

8 Prayer with fasting is good, and almsgiving is better than hiding away gold in storage.

9 For almsgiving delivers from death, and the same is what purges sins and makes one able to find mercy and everlasting life.

10 But those who commit sin and iniquity are enemies to their own soul.

11 Therefore, I reveal the truth to you, and I will not hide the explanation from you.

12 When you prayed with tears, and buried the dead, and left behind your dinner, and hid the dead by day in your house, and buried them by night: I offered your prayer to the Lord.

13 And because you were acceptable to God, it was necessary for you to be tested by trials.

14 And now, the Lord has sent me to cure you, and to free Sarah, your son’s wife, from the demon.

15 For I am the Angel Raphael, one of seven, who stand before the Lord.”

16 And when they had heard these things, they were troubled, and being seized with fear, they fell upon the ground on their face.

17 And the Angel said to them: “Peace be to you. Fear not.

18 For when I was with you, I was there by the will of God. Bless him, and sing to him.

19 Indeed, I seemed to eat and drink with you, but I make use of an invisible food and drink, which cannot be seen by men.

20 Therefore, it is time that I return to him who sent me. But as for you, bless God, and describe all his wonders.”

21 And when he had said these things, he was taken from their sight, and they were not able to see him any longer.

22 Then, lying prostrate for three hours upon their face, they blessed God. And rising up, they described all his wonders.

Tobit 13

1 And so, the elder Tobit, opening his mouth, blessed the Lord, and he said: “O Lord, you are great in eternity and your kingdom is with all ages.

2 For you scourge, and you save. You lead down to the grave, and you bring up again. And there is no one who can escape from your hand.

3 Confess to the Lord, O sons of Israel, and praise him in the sight of the nations.

4 For, indeed, he has dispersed you among the Gentiles, who are ignorant of him, that you may proclaim his wonders, and that you may cause them to know that there is no other almighty God, except him.

5 He has chastised us because of our iniquities, and he will save us because of his mercy.

6 Therefore, look upon what he has done for us, and, with fear and trembling, confess to him. And extol the King of all ages with your works.

7 But as for me, I will confess him in the land of my captivity. For he has revealed his majesty within a sinful nation.

8 And so, be converted, you sinners, and do justice in the presence of God, believing that he will act in his mercy toward you.

9 But I and my soul will rejoice in him.

10 Bless the Lord, all you his elect. Keep days of rejoicing, and confess to him.

11 O Jerusalem, the city of God, the Lord has chastised you for the works of your hands.

12 Confess to the Lord with your good things, and bless the God of all ages, so that he may rebuild his tabernacle in you, and he may recall all the captives to you, and you may be glad in all ages and forever.

13 You will shine with a splendid light, and all the ends of the earth will adore by you.

14 Nations from far away will come to you, bringing gifts. And in you, they shall adore the Lord, and they will hold your land in sanctification.

15 For they will invoke the Great Name in you.

16 Those who despise you will be cursed, and all those who blaspheme by you will be condemned, and those who build you up will be blessed.

17 But you will rejoice in your sons, because they will all be blessed, and they will be gathered together for the Lord.

18 Blessed are all those who love you and who rejoice in your peace.

19 Bless the Lord, O my soul, for the Lord our God has freed Jerusalem, his city, from every one of her tribulations.

20 Happy will I be, if any of my offspring will be left to see the brightness of Jerusalem.

21 The gates of Jerusalem will be built from sapphire and emerald, and all its walls will be surrounded with precious stones.

22 All its streets will be paved with stones, white and clean. And ‘Alleluia’ will be sung throughout its neighborhoods.

23 Blessed be the Lord, who has exalted it, and may he reign over it, forever and ever. Amen.”

Tobit 14

1 And the sermon of Tobit was completed. And after Tobit received his sight, he lived forty-two years, and he saw the sons of his grandchildren.

2 And so, having completed one hundred and two years, he was buried honorably at Nineveh.

3 For he was fifty-six years old, when he lost the light of his eyes, and he was sixty years old, when he truly received it again.

4 And, in truth, the remainder of his life was in gladness. And so, with the good accomplishment of the fear of God, he departed in peace.

5 But, in the hour of his death, he called to himself his son Tobias, along with his sons, the seven youths who were his grandsons, and he said to them:

6 “Nineveh will pass away soon. For the word of the Lord goes forward, and our brothers, who have been dispersed away from the land of Israel, shall return to it.

7 Thus its deserted land will be entirely filled again. And the house of God, which was burned like incense within it, will be rebuilt again. And all those who fear God will return there.

8 And the Gentiles will relinquish their idols, and they will enter into Jerusalem, and they will dwell in it.

9 And all the kings of the earth will rejoice in it, adoring the King of Israel.

10 Therefore, my sons, listen to your father. Serve the Lord in truth, and seek to do the things that please him.

11 And command your sons, so that they may accomplish justice and almsgiving, and so that they may be mindful of God and may bless him at all times, in truth and with all their strength.

12 And now, sons, listen to me, and do not remain here. But, on whatever day you will bury your mother near me in one sepulcher, from that time, direct your steps to leave this place.

13 For I see that its iniquity will bring about its end.”

14 And it happened that, after the death of his mother, Tobias withdrew from Nineveh, with his wife, and sons, and sons of sons, and he was returned to his father-in-law.

15 And he found them unharmed in a good old age. And he took care of them, and he closed their eyes. And all the inheritance of the house of Raguel passed to him. And he saw the sons of his sons to the fifth generation.

16 And, having completed ninety-nine years in the fear of the Lord, with joy, they buried him.

17 But all his family and all his lineage continued with a good life and in holy conversation, so that they were acceptable both to God and to men, as well as to everyone who dwelt in the land.

Nehemiah 1

1 The words of Nehemiah, the son of Hacaliah. And it happened that, in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, I was in the capital city of Susa.

2 And Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived, he and some men of Judah. And I questioned them about the Jews who had remained and were left behind from the captivity, and about Jerusalem.

3 And they said to me: “Those who have remained and have been left behind from the captivity, there in the province, are in great affliction and in disgrace. And the wall of Jerusalem has been broken apart, and its gates have been burned with fire.”

4 And when I had heard this manner of words, I sat down, and I wept and mourned for many days. I fasted and prayed before the face of the God of heaven.

5 And I said: “I beg you, O Lord, God of heaven, strong, great, and terrible, who keeps covenant and mercy with those who love you and who keep your commandments:

6 may your ears be attentive, and may your eyes be open, so that you may hear the prayer of your servant, which I am praying before you today, night and day, for the sons of Israel, your servants. And I am confessing the sins of the sons of Israel, which they have sinned against you. We have sinned, I and my father’s house.

7 We have been seduced by vanity. And we have not kept your commandments and ceremonies and judgments, which you have instructed to your servant Moses.

8 Remember the word which you commanded to your servant Moses, saying: ‘When you will have transgressed, I will disperse you among the nations.

9 But if you will return to me, and keep my precepts, and do them, even if you will have been led away to the furthest reaches of the heavens, I will gather you from there, and I will lead you back to the place that I have chosen so that my name would dwell there.’

10 And these same are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great strength and by your powerful hand.

11 I beg you, O Lord, may your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who are willing to fear your name. And so, guide your servant today, and grant to him mercy before this man.” For I was the cupbearer of the king.

Nehemiah 2

1 Now it happened that, in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of king Artaxerxes, wine was before him; and I lifted up the wine, and I gave it to the king. And I was like someone languishing before his face.

2 And the king said to me: “Why is your expression sad, though you do not appear to be sick? This is not without cause, but some evil, I know not what, is in your heart.” And I was struck with an exceedingly great fear.

3 And I said to the king: “O king, live forever. Why should my expression not be mournful, since the city of the house of the sepulchers of my father is desolate, and its gates have been burned with fire?”

4 And the king said to me: “What would you request?” And I prayed to the God of heaven.

5 And I said to the king: “If it seems good to the king, and if your servant is pleasing before your face: that you would send me into Judea, to the city of the sepulcher of my father. And I will rebuild it.”

6 And the king said to me, with the queen who was sitting beside him: “Until what time will your journey be, and when will you return?” And it was pleasing before the countenance of the king, and so he sent me. And I established a time for him.

7 And I said to the king: “If it seems good to the king, may he give me letters to the governors of the region beyond the river, so that they may lead me through, until I arrive in Judea,

8 and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, so that he may give me timber, in order that I may be able to cover the gates of the tower of the house, and the walls of the city, and the house that I will enter.” And the king granted to me in accord with the good hand of my God, who is with me.

9 And I went to the governors of the region beyond the river, and I gave them the letters of the king. Now the king had sent with me military leaders and horsemen.

10 And Sanballat, a Horonite, and the servant Tobiah, an Ammonite, heard this. And they were saddened, with a great affliction, that a man had arrived who was seeking the prosperity of the sons of Israel.

11 And I arrived at Jerusalem, and I was there for three days.

12 And I got up in the night, I and a few men with me. And I did not reveal to anyone what God had placed in my heart to do in Jerusalem. And there was no animal with me, except the animal on which I was sitting.

13 And I departed in the night through the gate of the valley, and before the fountain of the dragon, and toward the dung gate. And I considered the wall of Jerusalem, which was broken apart, and its gates, which had been consumed by fire.

14 And I continued on to the gate of the fountain, and to the aqueduct of the king. And there was no room for the beast on which I was sitting to pass through.

15 And so I climbed up in the night along the torrent, and I considered the wall. And turning back, I went by the gate of the valley, and I returned.

16 Now the magistrates did not know where I had gone, or what I had done. For I had revealed nothing, even to that point in time, to the Jews, or to the priests, or to the nobles, or to the magistrates, or to the others who were doing the work.

17 And so I said to them: “You know the affliction in which we are, because Jerusalem is desolate, and its gates have been consumed by fire. Come, and let us rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, and let us no longer be in disgrace.”

18 And I revealed to them how the hand of my God was with me for good, and the words of the king, which he had spoken to me. And I said: “Let us rise up, and build.” And their hands were strengthened for good.

19 But Sanballat, a Horonite, and the servant Tobiah, an Ammonite, and Geshem, an Arab, heard of it. And they ridiculed and disparaged us, and they said: “What is this thing that you are doing? Could you be rebelling against the king?”

20 And I replied to them a word, and I said to them: “The God of heaven himself is helping us, and we are his servants. Let us rise up and build. But there is no portion, or justice, or remembrance in Jerusalem for you.”

Nehemiah 3

1 And Eliashib, the great priest, rose up, with his brothers, the priests, and they built the gate of the flock. They sanctified it, and they set up its double doors, and as far as the tower of one hundred cubits, they sanctified it, even to the tower of Hananel.

2 And beside him, the men of Jericho built. And beside them, Zaccur, the son of Imri, built.

3 But the sons of Hassenaah built the fish gate. They covered it, and they set up its double doors and locks and bars. And beside them, Meremoth, the son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, built.

4 And beside him, Meshullam, the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel, built. And beside them, Zadok, the son of Baana, built.

5 And beside them, the Tekoites built. But the nobles among them did not put their necks to the work of their Lord.

6 And Joiada, the son of Paseah, and Meshullam, the son of Besodeiah, built the old gate. They covered it, and they set up its double doors and locks and bars.

7 And beside them, Melatiah, a Gibeonite, and Jadon, a Meronothite, men from Gibeon and Mizpah, built, on behalf of the governor who was in the region across the river.

8 And beside him, Uzziel, the son of Harhaiah the goldsmith, built. And beside him, Hananiah, the son of the perfumer, built. And they left aside Jerusalem as far as the wall of the broad street.

9 And beside him, Rephaiah, the son of Hur, leader of a street of Jerusalem, built.

10 And beside him, Jedaiah, the son of Harumaph, built, opposite his own house. And beside him, Hattush, the son of Hashabneiah, built.

11 Malchijah, the son of Harim, and Hasshub, the son of Pahath-moab, built one half part of the street and the tower of the furnaces.

12 And beside him, Shallum, the son of Hallohesh, the leader of one half part of a street of Jerusalem, built, he and his daughters.

13 And Hanun built the gate of the valley, with the inhabitants of Zanoah. They built it, and they set up its double doors and locks and bars, with one thousand cubits of the wall, as far as the gate of the dunghill.

14 And Malchijah, the son of Rechab, the leader of the street of Beth-haccherem, built the gate of the dunghill. He built it, and he set up its double doors and locks and bars.

15 And Shallum, the son of Colhozeh, the leader of the district of Mizpah, built the gate of the fountain. He built it, and he covered it, and he set up its double doors and locks and bars, and the walls of the pool of Shelah at the garden of the king, and as far as the steps that descend from the City of David.

16 After him, Nehemiah, the son of Azbuk, the leader of one half part of the street of Bethzur, built, as far as opposite the sepulcher of David, and even to the pool, which was constructed with great labor, and even to the house of the strong.

17 After him, the Levites, Rehum, the son of Bani, built. After him, Hashabiah, the leader of one half part of the street of Keilah, built, in his own neighborhood.

18 After him, their brothers, Binnui, the son of Henadad, the leader of one half part of Keilah, built.

19 And beside him, Ezer, the son of Jeshua, the leader of Mizpah, built another measure, opposite the ascent to the strongest corner.

20 After him, at the mount, Baruch, the son of Zabbai, built another measure, from the corner even to the door of the house of Eliashib, the great priest.

21 After him, Meremoth, the son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, built another measure, from the door of the house of Eliashib, along the length of the house of Eliashib.

22 And after him, the priests, men from the plains of the Jordan, built.

23 After him, Benjamin and Hasshub built, opposite their own house. And after him, Azariah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, built, opposite his own house.

24 After him, Binnui, the son of Henadad, built another measure, from the house of Azariah, even to the bend and to the corner.

25 Palal, the son of Uzai, built, opposite the bend and the tower that projects from the high house of the king, that is, into the court of the prison. After him, Pedaiah, the son of Parosh, built.

26 And the temple servants, who were living in Ophel, built to a point opposite the water gate, toward the east, and the tower that is prominent.

27 After him, the Tekoites built another measure in the opposite area, from the great and prominent tower to the wall of the temple.

28 Then, upward from the horse gate, the priests built, each one opposite his own house.

29 After them, Zadok, the son of Immer, built, opposite his own house. And after him, Shemaiah, the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the east gate, built.

30 After him, Hananiah, the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, built another measure. After him, Meshullam, the son of Berechiah, built, opposite his own storehouse. After him, Malchijah, the son of the goldsmith, built, even up to the house of the temple servants and of the sellers of small items, opposite the judgment gate, and even to the upper room of the corner.

31 And within the upper room of the corner, at the gate of the flock, the goldsmiths and the merchants built.

Nehemiah 4

1 Now it happened that, when Sanballat had heard that we were building the wall, he was very angry. And having been moved exceedingly, he ridiculed the Jews.

2 And he said, before his brothers and a crowd of the Samaritans: “What are the foolish Jews doing? Can it be that the Gentiles will allow them? Will they sacrifice and finish in one day? Do they have the ability to make stones out of piles of dust that have been burned up?”

3 Then too, Tobiah, an Ammonite, his assistant, said: “Let them build. When the fox climbs, he will leap over their stone wall.”

4 Listen, O our God, for we have become an object of contempt. Turn their reproach upon their own head, and grant that they may be despised in a land of captivity.

5 May you not conceal their iniquity, and may their sin not be wiped away, before your face, for they have ridiculed those who are building.

6 And so we built the wall, and we joined it together, even to the unfinished portion. And the heart of the people was stirred up for the work.

7 Now it happened that, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabs, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites had heard that the walls of Jerusalem had been closed, and that the breaches had begun to be repaired, they were exceedingly angry.

8 And they all gathered together, so that they might go forth and fight against Jerusalem, and so that they might prepare ambushes.

9 And we prayed to our God, and we stationed guards upon the wall, day and night, against them.

10 Then Judah said: “The strength of those who carry has diminished, and the amount of material is very great, and so we will not be able to build the wall.”

11 And our enemies said: “Let them neither know, nor realize, until we arrive in their midst, and kill them, and cause the work to cease.”

12 Now it happened that, on ten occasions, some Jews arrived who were living near them, from all the places from which they came to us, and they told us this.

13 So I stationed the people in order, in places behind the wall, all around it, with their swords, and lances, and bows.

14 And I gazed around, and I rose up. And I said to the nobles, and to the magistrates, and to the rest of the common people: “Do not be afraid before their face. Remember the great and terrible Lord, and fight on behalf of your brothers, your sons and your daughters, and your wives and your households.”

15 Then it happened that, when our enemies had heard that it had been reported to us, God defeated their counsel. And we all returned to the walls, each one to his own work.

16 And it happened that, from that day, half of their young men were doing the work, and half were prepared for war with lances, and shields, and bows, and armor. And the leaders were behind them in all the house of Judah.

17 As for those building the wall, and carrying the burdens, and setting things in place: one of his hands was doing the work, and the other was holding a sword.

18 For each one of the builders was girded with a sword at the waist. And they were building, and they were sounding a trumpet beside me.

19 And I said to the nobles, and to the magistrates, and to the rest of the common people: “The work is great and wide, and we are separated on the wall far from one another.

20 At whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rush to that place for us. Our God will fight on our behalf.

21 And so let us accomplish the work. And let one half part of us hold spears, from the ascent of dawn until the stars come out.”

22 Also at that time, I said to the people: “Let each one with his servant remain in the midst of Jerusalem. And let us take turns, throughout the night and day, in doing the work.”

23 But I and my brothers, and my servants, and the guards who were behind me, we did not take off our clothes; each one only removed his clothes to wash.