Tobit 2

1 When I came back down to my house, and Anna my wife was given back to me, and Tobias my son, at the feast of Pentecost, which is the holy feast of the seven weeks, a fine meal was set out for me, and I lay down to eat. [a] 2 And I saw how many dishes there were, and I said to my son, “Go and bring back whoever you can find among our kinsmen who is in need, one who keeps the Lord in mind. See, I will wait for you.”

3 And he came back and said, “Father, one of our own people has been strangled and thrown out in the marketplace.” 4 And I, before I had tasted anything, jumped up and carried him into a room, until the sun went down.

5 Then I came back and washed myself, and I ate my bread in grief; [b] 6 and I remembered the prophecy of Amos, how he said, “Your feasts will be turned into mourning, and all your songs of gladness into a dirge.” And I wept. [c] 7 And when the sun had set, I went out and dug a grave and buried him. †

8 And my neighbors laughed at me and said, “He is not afraid any more of being put to death over this business. He ran away once — and look, here he is burying the dead again.”

9 And that same night I came back from the burial and lay down by the wall of my courtyard, unclean as I was, and my face was uncovered. 10 And I did not know that there were sparrows in the wall; and while my eyes were open the sparrows let their warm droppings fall into my eyes, and white films came over my eyes. And I went to doctors, and they were no help to me. Achiacharus provided for me until he went off to Elymais. [d]

11 And Anna my wife worked for hire at the women’s work, 12 and she would send it back to the owners, and they paid her the wage, and gave her a young goat besides.

13 But when it came to me it began to cry out, and I said to her, “Where is this young goat from? It is not stolen, is it? Give it back to its owners. It is not permitted to eat anything stolen.” [e] 14 But she said, “It was given to me as a gift on top of the wage.” And I did not believe her, and I kept telling her to give it back to its owners, and I went red in the face before her. But she answered and said to me, “Where are all your acts of mercy, and where are your righteous deeds? Look — everything about you is plain to see.” [f]