4:1. On that day Tobit remembered
the
money he owed to Gabael
in
Rages of Media.
4:2. So he said to himself:
I
did wish for death
but
should I not call
for
my son Tobias
so
I can leave him
the
money before I die?
4:3.
Then he called him, saying:
My
son, when my body is dead
bury
it in the ground
and
don’t despise your mother
but
honor her
for
the rest of your life
and
do what pleases her
and
don’t give her sorrow.
4:4. Remember my son
that
she protected you
when
you were in her womb
so
when her body is dead
bury
her beside me in one grave.
4:5. Dear son
be
mindful of the Lord our God
for
all your days
and
don’t let your will become wicked
or
ignore His instructions.
Be
righteous throughout your life
and
don’t follow the ways of unrighteousness.
4:6.
For if thou deal with honesty
your
deeds will prosper
and
you will be met with success
just
as all who live justly will be.
4:7. Give charitably from your heart
and
when you give charitably
let
your heart not become envious
nor
turn your face from the poor
or
the face of God shall turn from you.
4:8. Give abundantly to charity
but
give accordingly.
If
you have just a little
don’t
be afraid of giving just a little.
4:9. For you will stow away a treasure
for
you, Tobit, for a time of necessity.
4:10. Because that charity will deliver
you
from your death
and
prevent you from darkness.
4:11. For charity is kindness
for
all that give it
in
the eyes of the most High.
4:12. Be wary of prostitutes my son
it
is best to take a wife
who
is a follower of your teachers.
It
is best not to take a strange woman
who
is not from your teacher’s congregation
for
we are the followers of the prophets
Noah,
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Remember,
my son
that
from the beginning our teachers
all
married wives of their congregations
and
were blessed by their followers
and
these followers
shall
inherit the land.
4:13. So my son
love
your brothers
and
don’t despise your brothers
the
sons and daughters
of
your people
by
not taking a wife of them.
For
pride is destruction
and
a great trouble
and
perversion is spoiled
when
desired
for
perversion is the mother of famine.
4:14. Don’t allow the works of any man
which
has affected you
take
hold of you.
But
give to him from your hand
for
if you serve God
you
will receive blessings.
Be
wise my son
in
all things you do
and
be wise with your words.
4:15. Don’t do to anyone
what
you don’t want done to you.
Don’t
drink wine to make you drunk.
And
don’t let drunkenness
travel
with you on your journey.
4:16.
Give of your bread to the hungry
and
of your garments to the unclothed
and
according to your abundance give charity
and
let not your heart become envious
when
you give your charity.
4:17. Give out your bread
at
the burial of the just
but
not of the wicked.
4:18. Ask counsel from those
who
are wise
and
despise not the counsel
that
is rewarding.
4:19. Praise the Lord
your
God always
and
ask Him to direct your ways
so
all your ways
and
your wisdom will prosper.
For
not every nation has counsel
because
the Lord himself gives
every
good thing
and
He humbles whom He will
and
when He will.
Therefore
my son,
remember
my instructions
and
don’t forget them.
4:20. So now I attest this
to
those I promised ten talents:
to
Gabael the son of Gabrias
at
Rages in Media.
4:21. So don’t be afraid my son
that
we will become poor.
For
you have much wealth
if
you revere God
and
depart from all wickedness
and
do what is pleasing to Him.
