Tobit - Chapter 5

Passage

Then Tobias answered his father, and said: I will do all things, father, which you have commanded me. But how I shall get this money, I cannot tell; he does not know me, and I do not know him: what token shall I give him? nor did I ever know the way which leads there. Then his father answered him, and said: I have a note of his hand with me, which when you shall show him, he will presently pay it. But go now, and seek you out some faithful man, to go with you for his hire: that you may receive it, while I yet live. Then Tobias going forth, found a beautiful young man, standing girded, and as it were ready to walk. And not knowing that he was an angel of God, he saluted him, and said: From where are you, good young man? But he answered: Of the children of Israel. And Tobias said to him: Do you know the way that leads to the country of the Medes? And he answered: I know it: and I have often walked through all the ways thereof, and I have abode with Gabelus our brother, who dwells at Rages a city of the Medes, which is situate in the mount of Ecbatana. And Tobias said to him: Stay for me, I beseech you, till I tell these same things to my father. Then Tobias going in told all these things to his father. Upon which his father being in admiration, desired that he would come in to him. So going in he saluted him, and said: Joy be to you always. And Tobias said: What manner of joy shall be to me, who sit in darkness and see not the light of heaven? And the young man said to him: Be of good courage, your cure from God is at hand. And Tobias said to him: Can you conduct my son to Gabelus at Rages, a city of the Medes? and when you shall return, I will pay you your hire. And the angel said to him: I will conduct him there, and bring him back to you. And Tobias said to him: I pray you, tell me, of what family, or what tribe are you? And Raphael the angel answered: Do you seek the family of him you hire, or the hired servant himself to go with your son? But lest I should make you uneasy, I am Azarias the son of the great Ananias. And Tobias answered: You are of a great family. But I pray you be not angry that I desired to know your family. And the angel said to him: I will lead your son safe, and bring him to you again safe. And Tobias answering, said: May you have a good journey, and God be with you in your way, and his angel accompany you. Then all things being ready, that were to be carried in their journey, Tobias bade his father and his mother farewell, and they set out both together. And when they were departed, his mother began to weep, and to say: You have taken the staff of our old age, and sent him away from us. I wish the money for which you have sent him, had never been. For our poverty was sufficient for us, that we might account it as riches, that we saw our son. And Tobias said to her: Weep not, our son will arrive there safe, and will return safe to us, and your eyes shall see him. For I believe that the good angel of God does accompany him, and does order all things well that are done about him, so that he shall return to us with joy. At these words his mother ceased weeping, and held her peace.