Tobit 4

1 On that day Tobit remembered the silver that he had left with Gabael at Rages in Media, 2 and he said to himself, “I have asked for death. Why do I not call my son Tobias and tell him about it before I die?”

3 So he called him, and said, “My child, when I die, bury me. And do not overlook your mother. Honor her all the days of your life, and do what pleases her, and do not grieve her. [a] 4 Remember, my child, that she saw many dangers for your sake while you were in her womb. When she dies, bury her beside me in one grave.

5 “All your days, my child, keep the Lord our God in mind, and do not set your will on sinning or on stepping past his commands. Practice righteousness all the days of your life, and do not walk in the ways of unrighteousness; 6 for when you act in truth, your works will go well. [b]

7 “And to all who practice righteousness: out of what belongs to you, do acts of mercy, and do not let your eye be grudging when you do an act of mercy. Do not turn your face away from any poor person, and God’s face will not be turned away from you. [c] 8 In proportion to what you have, do acts of mercy out of it. If you have little, do not be afraid to do an act of mercy according to that little;

9 for you are storing up a good treasure for yourself against the day of need, † 10 because an act of mercy rescues from death and does not let a person go into the darkness. † 11 For an act of mercy is a good gift for all who do it before the Most High.

12 “Watch yourself, my child, and keep away from all whoring. And first of all, take a wife from the seed of your fathers. Do not take a foreign wife, one who is not from your father’s tribe, for we are the sons of prophets. Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were our fathers from of old. Remember, my child, that all of them took wives from among their own kinsmen, and they were blessed in their children, and their seed will inherit the land. [d]

13 “And now, my child, love your kinsmen. Do not let your heart be too proud toward your kinsmen, toward the sons and daughters of your people, to take a wife for yourself from among them. For in pride there is destruction and much unrest, and in idleness there is loss and great want; for idleness is the mother of famine. [e] 14 The wages of anyone who works for you must not stay the night with you. Pay him at once. And if you serve God, you will be paid in turn. Watch yourself, my child, in everything you do, and show yourself well taught in the whole way you live.

15 “And what you hate, do to no one. Do not drink wine until you are drunk, and do not let drunkenness travel with you on your road. 16 Give some of your bread to the hungry, and some of your clothes to those who are naked. Out of everything you have more than enough of, do acts of mercy, and do not let your eye be grudging when you do an act of mercy. 17 Pour out your loaves on the grave of the righteous, and give none to sinners.

18 “Ask advice of everyone who is wise, and do not think little of any advice that is useful. 19 And at all times bless the Lord God, and ask of him that your ways may be made straight and that all your paths and counsels may go well; for no nation has counsel of its own, but the Lord himself gives all good things, and he humbles whomever he wishes, as he wills. And now, my child, remember my commands, and do not let them be blotted out of your heart.

20 “And now I am telling you about the seven hundred and fifty pounds of silver that I left with Gabael son of Gabrias at Rages in Media. [f] 21 And do not be afraid, my child, that we have become poor. You have great wealth, if you fear God and turn away from every sin and do what pleases him.”