Open English Translation TOB Chapter 1

1 The book of the words of Tovi (Tobit), the son of Toviel, the son of Hananiel, the son of Adiel, the son of Gabael, of the seed of Asiyel, of the Naftali (Naphtali) tribe; 2 who in the days of the Assyrian King Shalmaneser[fn] was carried away captive out of Thisbe, which is on the right hand of Kedesh Naftali in Galil above Asher.

3 I, Tovi walked in the ways of truth and righteousness all the days of my life, and I gave to the poor many times to my kindred and my nation, who went with me into the land of the Assyrians, to Nineveh. 4 When I was in my own country, in Yisrael (Israel), while I was yet young, all the tribe of Naftali my father fell away from the house of Yerushalem (Jerusalem), which was chosen out of all the tribes of Yisrael, that all the tribes should sacrifice there, and the temple of the habitation of the Most High was hallowed and built there for all ages. 5 All the tribes which fell away together sacrificed to the heifer Ba’al, and so did the house of Naftali my father. 6 I alone went often to Yerushalem at the feasts, as it’s been ordained to all Yisrael by an eternal decree, having the first fruits and the tenths of my increase, and that which was first shorn; and I gave them at the altar to the priests the sons of Aharon (Aaron). 7 I gave a tenth part of all my increase to the sons of Levi, who ministered at Yerushalem. A second tenth part I sold away, and went, and spent it each year at Yerushalem. 8 A third tenth I gave to them to whom it was appropriate, as Deborah my father’s mother had commanded me, because I was left an orphan by my father. 9 When I became a man, I took as wife Hanah of the seed of our own family. With her, I became the father of Toviyah (Tobias). 10 When I was carried away captive to Nineveh, all my kindred and my relatives ate of the bread of the Gentiles; 11 but I kept myself from eating, 12 because I remembered God with all my soul. 13 So the Most High gave me grace and favour[fn] in the sight of Shalmaneser, and I was his purchasing agent. 14 And I went into Maday (Media), and left ten talents of silver in trust with Gabael, the brother of Gabrias, at Rages of Maday.

15 And when Shalmaneser was dead, his son Sanheriv (Sennacherib) reigned in his place. In his time, the highways were troubled,[fn] and I could no longer go into Maday. 16 In the days of Shalmaneser, I gave to the poor many times to my kindred: I gave my bread to the hungry, 17 and my clothes to the naked. If I saw any of my race dead, and thrown out on[fn] Nineveh’s wall, I buried him. 18 If Sanheriv the king killed any, when he came fleeing from Yehudah (Judea), I buried them privately; for in his anger he killed many; and the bodies were searched for by the king, and weren’t found. 19 But one of the Nineuitais went and showed to the king about me, how I buried them, and hid myself; and when I knew that I was being searched for to be put to death, I withdrew myself for fear. 20 And all my goods were forcibly taken away, and there was nothing left to me, save my wife Hanah and my son Toviyah. 21 No more than fifty five days passed before two of his sons killed him, and they fled into the Ararat mountains. And his son Esar-Hadon reigned in his place; and he appointed Ahikar my brother Hanael’s son over all the accounts of his kingdom, and over all his affairs. 22 Ahikar requested me, and I came to Nineveh. Now Ahikar was cupbearer, keeper of the signet, steward, and overseer of the accounts. Esar-Hadon appointed him next to himself, but he was my brother’s son.