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3:1 Tunc Tobias ingemuit, et coepit orare cum lacrimis,
*H Then Tobias sighed, and began to pray with tears,


Ver. 1. Then, retiring, v. 25. — Tears. He manifests no degree of impatience. C.

Καὶ λυπηθεὶς ἔκλαυσα, καὶ προσευξάμην μετʼ ὀδύνης, λέγων, Δίκαιος εἶ Κύριε,
3:2 dicens : [Justus es, Domine, et omnia judicia tua justa sunt, et omnes viae tuae, misericordia, et veritas, et judicium.
*H Saying, Thou art just, O Lord, and all thy judgments are just, and all thy ways mercy, and truth, and judgment:


Ver. 2. Judgment. Even in punishing, God remembers mercy, (H.) and never fails to perform what he has promised.

καὶ πάντα τὰ ἔργα σου, καὶ πᾶσαι αἱ ὁδοί σου ἐλεημοσύναι καὶ ἀλήθεια, καὶ κρίσιν ἀληθινὴν καὶ δικαίαν σὺ κρίνεις εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.
3:3 Et nunc Domine, memor esto mei, et ne vindictam sumas de peccatis meis, neque reminiscaris delicta mea, vel parentum meorum.
*H And now, O Lord, think of me, and take not revenge of my sins, neither remember my offences, nor those of my parents.


Ver. 3. Parents, so as to punish me on their account. M. — The Scripture frequently seems to indicate that this is the case; (Ex. xx. 5.) and the Church still prays, Remember not, O Lord, our offences, nor those of our parents. C. — But children are only punished when they imitate the wicked conduct of their ancestors: they may be afflicted, though innocent, as their virtue will thus be tried, and shine more gloriously. H. — The pagans, being convinced that God can be guilty of no injustice, and perceiving that people who appeared to be free from sin were yet unhappy, concluded that they were explaining the sins committed in another world. Plotin. ii. 13. Origen, prin. iii. C. — This might arise from a confused notion of original sin. Pascal's Thoughts. H.

Μνήσθητί μου, καὶ ἐπίβλεψον ἐπʼ ἐμέ· μή με ἐκδικῇς ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις μου καὶ τοῖς ἀγνοήμασί μου, καί τῶν πατέρων μου, ἃ ἥμαρτον ἐνώπιόν σου.
3:4 Quoniam non obedivimus praeceptis tuis, ideo traditi sumus in direptionem, et captivitatem, et mortem, et in fabulam, et in improperium omnibus nationibus in quibus dispersisti nos.
* Footnotes
  • * Deuteronomy 28:15
    But if thou wilt not hear the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep and to do all his commandments and ceremonies, which I command thee this day, all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee.
For we have not obeyed thy commandments, therefore are we delivered to spoil and to captivity, and death, and are made a fable, and a reproach to all nations, amongst which thou hast scattered us.
Παρήκουσαν γὰρ τῶν ἐντολῶν σου, καὶ ἔδωκας ἡμᾶς εἰς διαρπαγὴν καὶ αἰχμαλωσίαν καὶ θάνατον καὶ παραβολὴν ὀνειδισμοῦ πᾶσι τοῖς ἔθνεσιν ἐν οἷς ἐσκορπίσμεθα.
3:5 Et nunc Domine, magna judicia tua, quia non egimus secundum praecepta tua, et non ambulavimus sinceriter coram te.
And now, O Lord, great are thy judgments, because we have not done according to thy precepts, and have not walked sincerely before thee.
Καὶ νῦν πολλαὶ αἱ κρίσεις σου εἰσιὶ καὶ ἀληθιναὶ, ἐξ ἐμοῦ ποιῆσαι περὶ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν μου καὶ τῶν πατέρων μου, ὃτι οὐκ ἐποιήσαμεν τὰς ἐντολάς σου, οὐ γὰρ ἐπορεύθημεν ἐν ἀληθείᾳ ἐνώπιόν σου.
3:6 Et nunc Domine, secundum voluntatem tuam fac mecum, et praecipe in pace recipi spiritum meum : expedit enim mihi mori magis quam vivere.]
*H And now, O Lord, do with me according to thy will, and command my spirit to be received in peace: for it is better for me to die, than to live.


Ver. 6. Peace. Gr. "that I may be dissolved, and return to the earth; (lit. become earth) because it is more advantageous for me to die than to live, since I have heard false reproaches, and am much grieved. Command that I may be freed from this necessity, to go to my eternal place." H.

Καὶ νῦν κατὰ τὸ ἀρεστὸν ἐνώπιόν σου ποίησον μετʼ ἐμοῦ· ἐπίταξον ἀναλαβεῖν τὸ πνεῦμά μου, ὅπως ἀπολυθῶ, καὶ γένωμαι γῆ, διότι λυσιτελεῖ μοι ἀποθανεῖν, ἢ ζῇν· ὅτι ὀνειδισμοὺς ψευδεῖς ἤκουσα, καὶ λύπη ἐστὶ πολλὴ ἐν ἐμοί· ἐπίταξον ἀπολυθῆναί με τῆς ἀνάγκης ἤδη εἰς τὸν αἰώνιον τόπον, μὴ ἀποστρέψῃς τὸ πρόσωπόν σου ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ.
3:7 Eadem itaque die, contigit ut Sara filia Raguelis in Rages civitate Medorum et ipsa audiret improperium ab una ex ancillis patris sui,
*H Now it happened on the same day, that Sara daughter of Raguel, in Rages a city of the Medes, received a reproach from one of her father's servant maids,


Ver. 7. Rages. In the Greek it is Ecbatana which was also called Rages. For there were two cities in Media of the name of Rages: Raguel dwelt in one of them and Gabelus in the other. Ch. M. — Profane authors mention a Rages in the vicinity of Ecbatana. Diod. Bib. 19. — It may here denote the province. W.

Ἐν τῇ αὐτῇ ἡμέρᾳ συνέβη τῇ θυγατρὶ Ῥαγουὴλ Σάῤῥᾳ ἐν Ἐκβατάνοις τῆς Μηδίας, καὶ ταύτην ὀνειδισθῆναι ὑπὸ παιδισκῶν πατρὸς αὐτῆς,
3:8 quoniam tradita fuerat septem viris, et daemonium nomine Asmodaeus occiderat eos, mox ut ingressi fuissent ad eam.
*H Because she had been given to seven husbands and a devil named Asmodeus had killed them, at their first going in unto her.


Ver. 8. Asmodeus, "the fire of Media." Heb. "king of the devils," of that country, exciting people to lust, (M. Serar. q. 8.) and destroying them. W. — Unto her. Gr. and Heb. intimate, when they first entered the nuptial chamber. C. vi. 14.

ὅτι ἦν δεδομένη ἀνδράσιν ἑπτὰ, καὶ Ἀσμοδαῖος τὸ πονηρὸν δαιμόνιον ἀπέκτεινεν αὐτοὺς, πρινὴ γενέσθαι αὐτοὺς μετʼ αὐτῆς ὡς ἐν γυναιξί· καὶ εἶπαν αὐτῇ, οὐ συνιεῖς ἀποπνίγουσά σου τοὺς ἄνδρας; ἤδη ἑπτὰ ἔσχες, καὶ ἑνὸς αὐτῶν οὐκ ὠνομάσθης.
3:9 Ergo cum pro culpa sua increparet puellam, respondit ei, dicens : Amplius ex te non videamus filium aut filiam super terram, interfectrix virorum tuorum.
*H So when she reproved the maid for her fault, she answered her, saying: May we never see son, or daughter of thee upon the earth, thou murderer of thy husbands.


Ver. 9. Murder. Gr. "Dost thou not understand that thou hast suffocated thy husbands. Thou hast already had seven husbands, and hast not received the name of any of them. Why dost thou strike us on their account? If they be dead, go along with them. May we," &c. H.

Τί ἡμᾶς μαστιγοῖς; εἰ ἀπέθαναν, βάδιζε μετʼ αὐτῶν, μὴ ἴδοιμέν σου υἱὸν ἢ θυγατέρα εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.
3:10 Numquid et occidere me vis, sicut jam occidisti septem viros ? Ad hanc vocem perrexit in superius cubiculum domus suae : et tribus diebus, et tribus noctibus non manducavit, neque bibit :
*H Wilt thou kill me also, as thou hast already killed seven husbands? At these words, she went into an upper chamber of her house: and for three days and three nights did neither eat nor drink:


Ver. 10. At. Gr. and Heb. "Hearing these things she was much grieved, so as to be unable to breath; (H. ωστε απαγξασθαι ) or, on the point of strangling herself." Grot. C. — But this interpretation is groundless, (Houbigant) and very injurious to Sara. H. — She could not entertain the thought without sin. Yet the Jews had very relaxed notions on this head. Judg. xvi. 30. 1K. xxxi. 4. God approved of the conduct of Sara. C. — Gr. continues, "and she said, I am the only daughter of my father. If I do this thing, (as the servants suggested) it will be a disgrace for him...and she prayed before the window; and said, Blessed," v. 13. H. — There is no mention of the three days. Heb. and Syr. also omit v. 16 to 24. C.

Ταῦτα ἀκούσασα ἐλυπήθη σφόδρα, ὥστε ἀπάγξασθαι· καὶ εἶπε, μία μέν εἰμι τῷ πατρί μου· ἐὰν ποιήσω τοῦτο, ὄνειδος αὐτῷ ἔσται, καὶ τὸ γῆρας αὐτοῦ κατάξω μετʼ ὀδύνης εἰς ᾅδου.
3:11 sed in oratione persistens cum lacrimis deprecabatur Deum, ut ab isto improperio liberaret eam.
But continuing in prayer with tears besought God, that he would deliver her from this reproach.
Καὶ ἐδεήθη πρὸς τῇ θυρίδι, καὶ εἶπεν, εὐλογητὸς εἶ Κύριε ὁ Θεός μου, καὶ εὐλογητὸν τὸ ὄνομά σου τὸ ἅγιον καὶ ἔντιμον εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας· εὐλογήσαισάν σε πάντα τὰ ἔργα σου εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.
3:12 Factum est autem die tertia, dum compleret orationem, benedicens Dominum
And it came to pass on the third day when she was making an end of her prayer, blessing the Lord,
Καὶ νῦν, Κύριε, τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς μου καὶ τὸ πρόσωπόν μου εἰς σὲ δέδωκα.
3:13 dixit : Benedictum est nomen tuum, Deus patrum nostrorum : qui cum iratus fueris, misericordiam facies, et in tempore tribulationis peccata dimittis his qui invocant te.
*H She said: Blessed is thy name, O God of our fathers, who when thou hast been angry, wilt shew mercy, and in the time of tribulation forgivest the sins of them that call upon thee.


Ver. 13. Name. Gr. "Blessed art thou O Lord, my God, and blessed the name of thy glory, holy and glorious for ever. May all thy works praise thee for ever." H. — As she prayed for a long time, the Vulg. gives some sentences; and the Gr. and Heb. others. Serar. Salien. M.

Εἶπον, ἀπολῦσαί με ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς, καὶ μὴ ἀκοῦσαί με μηκέτι ὀνειδισμόν.
3:14 Ad te, Domine, faciem meam converto ; ad te oculos meos dirigo.
To thee, O Lord, I turn my face, to thee I direct my eyes.
Σὺ γινώσκεις, Κύριε, ὅτι καθαρά εἰμι ἀπὸ πάσης ἁμαρτίας ἀνδρός,
3:15 Peto, Domine, ut de vinculo improperii hujus absolvas me, aut certe desuper terram eripias me.
*H I beg, O Lord, that thou loose me from the bond of this reproach, or else take me away from the earth.


Ver. 15. Earth. Holy men have thus desired to die, as was the case with Moses, Elias, Job, and S. Paul provided God was willing. M.

καὶ οὐκ ἐμόλυνα τὸ ὄνομά μου οὐδὲ τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ πατρός μου ἐν τῇ γῇ τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας μου· μονογενής εἰμι τῷ πατρί μου, καὶ οὐχ ὑπάρχει αὐτῷ παιδίον ὃ κληρονομήσει αὐτόν, οὐδὲ ἀδελφὸς ἐγγὺς, οὐδὲ ὑπάρχων αὐτῷ υἱὸς, ἵνα συντηρήσω ἐμαυτὴν αὐτῷ γυναῖκα, ἤδη ἀπώλοντό μοι ἑπτά· ἱνατί μοι ζῇν; καὶ εἰ μὴ δοκεῖ σοι ἀποκτεῖναί με, ἐπίταξον ἐπιβλέψαι ἐπʼ ἐμὲ, καὶ μηκέτι ἐλεῆσαί με, καὶ ἀκοῦσαί με ὀνειδισμόν.
3:16 Tu scis, Domine, quia numquam concupivi virum, et mundam servavi animam meam ab omni concupiscentia.
*H Thou knowest, O Lord, that I never coveted a husband, and have kept my soul clean from all lust.


Ver. 16. Coveted, through impure love. Gr. "I am pure from all the sin of a man, and I have not defiled my name, nor the name of my father, in the land of our captivity. I am an only child, " &c. H. — Lust: a very high encomium; which Sara mentions without vanity, placing her confidence in God. M. Prov. xx. 9.

Καὶ εἰσηκούσθη προσευχὴ ἀμφοτέρων ἐνώπιον τῆς δόξης τοῦ μεγάλου,
3:17 Numquam cum ludentibus miscui me, neque cum his qui in levitate ambulant, participem me praebui.
*H Never have I joined myself with them that play: neither have I made myself partaker with them that walk in lightness.


Ver. 17. Play, lasciviously, (M.) or dance. Hugo. Ex. xxxii. 1.

Ῥαφαήλ καὶ ἀπεστάλη ἰάσασθαι τοὺς δύο, τοῦ Τωβὶτ λεπίσαι τὰ λευκώματα, καὶ Σάῤῥαν τὴν τοῦ Ῥαγουὴλ δοῦναι Τωβίᾳ τῷ υἱῷ Τωβὶτ γυναῖκα, καὶ δῆσαι Ἀσμοδαῖον τὸ πονηρὸν δαιμόνιον, διότι Τωβίᾳ ἐπιβάλλει κληρονομῆσαι αὐτήν. Ἐν αὐτῷ τῷ καιρῷ ἐπιστρέψας Τωβὶτ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ, καὶ Σάῤῥα ἡ τοῦ Ῥαγουὴλ κατέβη ἐκ τοῦ ὑπερῴου αὐτῆς.
3:18 Virum autem cum timore tuo, non cum libidine mea, consensi suscipere.
But a husband I consented to take, with thy fear, not with my lust.
3:19 Et, aut ego indigna fui illis, aut illi forsitan me non fuerunt digni, quia forsitan viro alii conservasti me.
And either I was unworthy of them, or they perhaps were not worthy of me: because perhaps thou hast kept me for another man,
3:20 Non est enim in hominis potestate consilium tuum.
For thy counsel is not in man's power.
3:21 Hoc autem pro certo habet omnis qui te colit : quod vita ejus, si in probatione fuerit, coronabitur ; si autem in tribulatione fuerit, liberabitur ; et si in correptione fuerit, ad misericordiam tuam venire licebit.
*H But this every one is sure of that worshippeth thee, that his life, if it be under trial, shall be crowned and if it be under tribulation, it shall be delivered: and if it be under correction, it shall be allowed to come to thy mercy.


Ver. 21. Crowned. Jam. i. 12. — Delivered from falling, (M.) and in due time from affliction. H.

3:22 Non enim delectaris in perditionibus nostris : quia post tempestatem tranquillum facis, et post lacrimationem et fletum, exultationem infundis.
For thou art not delighted in our being lost, because after a storm thou makest a calm, and after tears and weeping thou pourest in joyfulness.
3:23 Sit nomen tuum, Deus Israel, benedictum in saecula.
Be thy name, O God of Israel, blessed for ever,
3:24 In illo tempore exauditae sunt preces amborum in conspectu gloriae summi Dei :
At that time the prayers of them both were heard in the sight of the glory of the most high God:
3:25 et missus est angelus Domini sanctus Raphael ut curaret eos ambos, quorum uno tempore sunt orationes in conspectu Domini recitatae.
*H And the holy angel of the Lord, Raphael was sent to heal them both, whose prayers at one time were rehearsed in the sight of the Lord.


Ver. 25. Raphael, "the medicine of God." He is invoked not only for health, but also in journeys. C. — Both. Gr. and Heb. of Fagius add, "Tobit, by taking away the white film, and to give Sara...for a wife to Tobias...and to bind Asmodeus, the wicked devil; because Tobias was to have her. At the same hour, Tobit returning entered his own house, and Sara...descended from her upper room." H. — Lord, by the angel. Acts x. Apoc. v. W.

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