Tobit - Chapter 4

Passage

Therefore when Tobias thought that his prayer was heard that he might die, he called to him Tobias his son, And said to him: Hear, my son, the words of my mouth, and lay them as a foundation in your heart. When God shall take my soul, you shall bury my body: and you shall honor your mother all the days of her life: For you must be mindful what and how great perils she suffered for you in her womb. And when she also shall have ended the time of her life, bury her by me. And all the days of your life have God in your mind: and take heed you never consent to sin, nor transgress the commandments of the Lord our God. Give alms out of your substance, and turn not away your face from any poor person: for so it shall be that the face of the Lord shall not be turned from you. According to your ability be merciful. If you have much give abundantly: if you have little, take care even so to bestow willingly a little. For thus you store up to yourself a good reward for the day of necessity. For alms deliver from all sin, and from death, and will not suffer the soul to go into darkness. Alms shall be a great confidence before the most high God, to all them that give it. Take heed to keep yourself, my son, from all fornication, and beside your wife never endure to know a crime. Never suffer pride to reign in your mind, or in your words: for from it all perdition took its beginning. If any man has done any work for you, immediately pay him his hire, and let not the wages of your hired servant stay with you at all. See that you never do to another what you would hate to have done to you by another. Eat your bread with the hungry and the needy, and with your garments cover the naked, Lay out your bread, and your wine upon the burial of a just man, and do not eat and drink thereof with the wicked. Seek counsel always of a wise man. Bless God at all times: and desire of him to direct your ways, and that all your counsels may abide in him. I tell you also, my son, that I lent ten talents of silver, while you were yet a child, to Gabelus, in Rages a city of the Medes, and I have a note of his hand with me: Now therefore inquire how you may go to him, and receive of him the foresaid sum of money, and restore to him the note of his hand. Fear not, my son: we lead indeed a poor life, but we shall have many good things if we fear God, and depart from all sin, and do that which is good.