Tobit 14
Commentary from 3 fathers
So Tobit made an end of praising God.
ΚΑΙ ἐπαύσατο ἐξομολογούμενος Τωβίτ.
И҆ преста̀ и҆сповѣ́даѧсѧ тѡві́тъ.
And he was eight and fifty years old when he lost his sight, which was restored to him after eight years: and he gave alms, and he increased in the fear of the Lord God, and praised him.
καὶ ἦν ἐτῶν πεντηκονταοκτώ, ὅτε ἀπώλεσε τὰς ὄψεις, καὶ μετὰ ἔτη ὀκτὼ ἀνέβλεψε. καὶ ἐποίει ἐλεημοσύνας καὶ προσέθετο φοβεῖσθαι Κύριον τὸν Θεὸν καὶ ἐξωμολογεῖτο αὐτῷ.
И҆ бѣ̀ лѣ́тъ ѻ҆сми́десѧти ѻ҆смѝ, є҆гда̀ погꙋбѝ зра́ки, и҆ по лѣ́тѣхъ ѻ҆смѝ прозрѣ̀: и҆ творѧ́ше ми́лѡстыни, и҆ приложѝ боѧ́тисѧ гдⷭ҇а бг҃а и҆ и҆сповѣ́датисѧ є҆мꙋ̀:
Go into Media my son, for I surely believe those things which Jonas the prophet spake of Nineve, that it shall be overthrown; and that for a time peace shall rather be in Media; and that our brethren shall lie scattered in the earth from that good land: and Jerusalem shall be desolate, and the house of God in it shall be burned, and shall be desolate for a time;
ἄπελθε εἰς τὴν Μηδίαν, τέκνον, ὅτι πέπεισμαι ὅσα ἐλάλησεν ᾿Ιωνᾶς ὁ προφήτης περὶ Νινευῆ, ὅτι καταστραφήσεται, ἐν δὲ τῇ Μηδίᾳ ἔσται εἰρήνη μᾶλλον ἕως καιροῦ, καὶ ὅτι οἱ ἀδελφοὶ ἡμῶν ἐν τῇ γῇ σκορπισθήσονται ἀπὸ τῆς ἀγαθῆς γῆς, καὶ ῾Ιεροσόλυμα ἔσται ἔρημος, καὶ ὁ οἶκος τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν αὐτῇ κατακαήσεται καὶ ἔρημος ἔσται μέχρι χρόνου.
пойдѝ въ миді́ю, ча́до, ᲂу҆вѣ́рихсѧ бо, є҆ли̑ка глаго́ла і҆ѡ́на прⷪ҇ро́къ ѡ҆ нїнеѵі́и, ꙗ҆́кѡ разори́тсѧ, въ миді́и же бꙋ́детъ ми́ръ па́че да́же до вре́мене, и҆ ꙗ҆́кѡ бра́тїѧ на̑ша на землѝ расточа́тсѧ ѿ благі́ѧ землѝ, и҆ і҆ерⷭ҇ли́мъ бꙋ́детъ пꙋ́стъ, и҆ до́мъ бж҃їй въ не́мъ сожже́нъ бꙋ́детъ и҆ пꙋ́стъ бꙋ́детъ до вре́мене:
And that again God will have mercy on them, and bring them again into the land, where they shall build a temple, but not like to the first, until the time of that age be fulfilled; and afterward they shall return from all places of their captivity, and build up Jerusalem gloriously, and the house of God shall be built in it for ever with a glorious building, as the prophets have spoken thereof.
καὶ πάλιν ἐλεήσει αὐτοὺς ὁ Θεὸς καὶ ἐπιστρέψει αὐτοὺς εἰς τὴν γῆν, καὶ οἰκοδομήσουσι τὸν οἶκον, οὐχ οἷος ὁ πρότερος, ἕως πληρωθῶσι καιροὶ τοῦ αἰῶνος. καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα ἐπιστρέψουσιν ἐκ τῶν αἰχμαλωσιῶν καί οἰκοδομήσουσιν ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ ἐντίμως, καὶ ὁ οἶκος τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν αὐτῇ οἰκοδομηθήσεται εἰς πάσας τὰς γενεὰς τοῦ αἰῶνος οἰκοδομῇ ἐνδόξῳ, καθὼς ἐλάλησαν περὶ αὐτῆς οἱ προφῆται.
и҆ па́ки поми́лꙋетъ и҆̀хъ бг҃ъ и҆ возврати́тъ и҆̀хъ въ зе́млю, и҆ сози́ждꙋтъ до́мъ, не ꙗ҆ко́въ пе́рвый, до́ндеже и҆спо́лнѧтсѧ времена̀ вѣ́ка: и҆ по си́хъ возвратѧ́тсѧ ѿ плѣне́нїй и҆ сози́ждꙋтъ і҆ерⷭли́мъ че́стнѡ, и҆ до́мъ бж҃їй въ не́мъ сози́ждетсѧ во всѧ̑ ро́ды вѣ́ка зда́нїемъ сла́внымъ, ꙗ҆́коже глаго́лаша ѡ҆ не́мъ прⷪ҇ро́цы:
And all nations shall turn, and fear the Lord God truly, and shall bury their idols.
καὶ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ἐπιστρέψουσιν ἀληθινῶς φοβεῖσθαι Κύριον τὸν Θεὸν καὶ κατορύξουσι τὰ εἴδωλα αὐτῶν, καὶ εὐλογήσουσι πάντα τὰ ἔθνη Κύριον.
и҆ всѝ ꙗ҆зы́цы ѡ҆братѧ́тсѧ и҆́стиннѡ боѧ́тисѧ гдⷭ҇а бг҃а и҆ ѡ҆прове́ргнꙋтъ і҆́дѡлы своѧ̑,
See then what human beings considered the foolishness of God because of the cross, how this has become above anything else the most honored. For our resurrection is stored up in it. No longer Israel alone, but from this time forward all the nations, as the prophet has foretold, abandon their idols and acknowledge the true God, the Father of Christ. The illusion of demons has come to nothing, and he alone who is truly God is worshiped in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Discourses Against the Arians 1.43.1
So shall all nations praise the Lord, and his people shall confess God, and the Lord shall exalt his people; and all those which love the Lord God in truth and justice shall rejoice, shewing mercy to our brethren.
καὶ ὁ λαὸς αὐτοῦ ἐξομολογήσεται τῷ Θεῷ, καὶ ὑψώσει Κύριος τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ χαρήσονται πάντες οἱ ἀγαπῶντες Κύριον τὸν Θεὸν ἐν ἀληθείᾳ καὶ δικαιοσύνῃ, ποιοῦντες ἔλεος τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς ἡμῶν.
и҆ возблгⷭ҇вѧ́тъ всѝ ꙗ҆зы́цы гдⷭ҇а, и҆ лю́дїе є҆гѡ̀ и҆сповѣ́дѧтсѧ бг҃ꙋ, и҆ вознесе́тъ гдⷭ҇ь лю́ди своѧ̑, и҆ возра́дꙋютсѧ всѝ лю́бѧщїи гдⷭ҇а бг҃а во и҆́стинѣ и҆ пра́вдѣ, творѧ́ще ми́лость бра́тїи на́шей:
And now, my son, depart out of Nineve, because that those things which the prophet Jonas spake shall surely come to pass.
καὶ νῦν, τέκνον, ἄπελθε ἀπὸ Νινευῆ, ὅτι πάντως ἔσται ἃ ἐλάλησεν ὁ προφήτης ᾿Ιωνᾶς.
и҆ нн҃ѣ, ча́до, ѿидѝ ѿ нїнеѵі́и, ꙗ҆́кѡ всѧ́чески бꙋ́дꙋтъ, ꙗ҆̀же глаго́ла прⷪ҇ро́къ і҆ѡ́на:
8–10"Direct your steps, so that you may leave Nineveh. For I see that its iniquity will bring about its end." And this is to say to the faithful to their hearers: "Direct the intention of your heart, so that you may leave behind the desires of this world and earthly life, and seek heavenly things with your whole mind. For it is evident that the multitude of the wicked and the transgression of God's commandments throughout the world are such that they can only be ended by the destruction of the world itself, just as it was once terminated in the flood and the abolition of the entire human race."
Commentary on Tobit
But keep thou the law and the commandments, and shew thyself merciful and just, that it may go well with thee.
σὺ δὲ τήρησον τὸν νόμον καὶ τὰ προστάγματα καὶ γενοῦ φιλελεήμων καὶ δίκαιος, ἵνα σοι καλῶς ᾖ. καὶ θάψον με καλῶς καὶ τὴν μητέρα σου μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ, καὶ μηκέτι αὐλισθῆτε εἰς Νινευῆ.
ты́ же сохранѝ зако́нъ и҆ повелѣ̑нїѧ и҆ бꙋ́ди любоми́лостивъ и҆ пра́веденъ, да тебѣ̀ бла́го бꙋ́детъ:
Be to your children such a father as was Tobias. Give useful and salutary precepts to your pledges such as he gave to his son; command your children as he too commanded saying, “And now, sons, I command you, serve God in truth, and do before God what pleases him; and command your children that they do justice and almsdeeds and that they be mindful of God and bless God’s name on every occasion.”
Treatise VIII. On Works and Alms 20
And bury me decently, and thy mother with me; but tarry no longer at Nineve. Remember, my son, how Aman handled Achiacharus that brought him up, how out of light he brought him into darkness, and how he rewarded him again: yet Achiacharus was saved, but the other had his reward: for he went down into darkness. Manasses gave alms, and escaped the snares of death which they had set for him: but Aman fell into the snare, and perished.
τέκνον, ἰδὲ τί ἐποίησεν ᾿Αμὰν ᾿Αχιαχάρῳ τῷ θρέψαντι αὐτόν, ὡς ἐκ τοῦ φωτὸς ἤγαγεν αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ σκότος, καὶ ὅσα ἀνταπέδωκεν αὐτῷ· καὶ ᾿Αχιάχαρος μὲν ἐσώθη, ἐκείνῳ δὲ τὸ ἀνταπόδομα ἐπεδόθη, καὶ αὐτὸς κατέβη εἰς τὸ σκότος. Μανασσῆς ἐποίησεν ἐλεημοσύνην καὶ ἐσώθη ἐκ παγίδος θανάτου, ἧς ἔπηξεν αὐτῷ, ᾿Αμὰν δὲ ἐνέπεσεν εἰς τὴν παγίδα καὶ ἀπώλετο.
и҆ погребѝ мѧ̀ до́брѣ, и҆ ма́терь твою̀ со мно́ю, и҆ да не ктомꙋ̀ пребꙋ́дете въ нїнеѵі́и: ча́до, ви́ждь, что̀ сотворѝ а҆ма́нъ а҆хїа́харꙋ корми́вшемꙋ є҆го̀, ꙗ҆́кѡ ѿ свѣ́та ѿведѐ є҆го̀ во тьмꙋ̀, и҆ є҆ли̑ка воздадѐ є҆мꙋ̀: и҆ а҆хїа́харъ ᲂу҆́бѡ спасе́сѧ, томꙋ́ же воздаѧ́нїе воздаде́сѧ, и҆ то́й сни́де во тьмꙋ̀: манассі́а сотворѝ милосе́рдїе и҆ спасе́сѧ ѿ сѣ́ти сме́ртныѧ, ю҆́же потчѐ є҆мꙋ̀: а҆ма́нъ же падѐ въ сѣ́ть и҆ поги́бе:
Wherefore now, my son, consider what alms doeth, and how righteousness doth deliver. When he had said these things, he gave up the ghost in the bed, being an hundred and eight and fifty years old; and he buried him honourably.
καὶ νῦν, παιδία, ἴδετε τί ἐλεημοσύνη ποιεῖ, καὶ τί δικαιοσύνη ῥύεται. καὶ ταῦτα αὐτοῦ λέγοντος, ἐξέλιπεν ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τῆς κλίνης· ἦν δὲ ἐτῶν ἑκατὸν πεντηκονταοκτώ, καὶ ἔθαψαν αὐτὸν ἐνδόξως.
и҆ нн҃ѣ, ча̑да, вѣ́ждьте, что̀ ми́лостынѧ твори́тъ и҆ пра́вда и҆збавлѧ́етъ. И҆ сїѧ̑ глаго́лѧ, и҆спꙋстѝ дꙋ́шꙋ свою̀ на ѻ҆дрѣ̀: бѣ́ же лѣ́тъ ста̀ пѧти́десѧти ѻ҆смѝ. И҆ погребѐ є҆го̀ сла́внѡ.
And when Anna his mother was dead, he buried her with his father. But Tobias departed with his wife and children to Ecbatane to Raguel his father in law,
καὶ ὅτε ἀπέθανεν ῎Αννα, ἔθαψεν αὐτὴν μετὰ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ, ἀπῆλθε δὲ Τωβίας μετὰ τῆς γυναικὸς αὐτοῦ καὶ τῶν υἱῶν αὐτοῦ εἰς ᾿Εκβάτανα πρὸς Ῥαγουὴλ τὸν πενθερὸν αὐτοῦ,
И҆ є҆гда̀ ᲂу҆́мре а҆́нна, погребѐ ю҆̀ со ѻ҆тце́мъ свои́мъ. Ѿи́де же тѡві́а съ жено́ю свое́ю и҆ съ сынмѝ свои́ми во є҆квата́ны ко рагꙋи́лꙋ те́стю своемꙋ̀,
12–13So Tobias left Nineveh with his wife, sons, and grandsons, and returned to his in-laws, finding them in good old age. This is what the Lord does daily, and will do until the end of the world: He turns away from those whom He recognizes are not His own, to visit and enlighten the hearts of those whom He has predestined to eternal life. He finds these in good old age, rejoicing that they have long been devoted to good works by His grace. Otherwise, He sees them in bad old age and passes them by, as those who, living far from the divine, are not mature in counsel, not venerable with the whiteness of good action like gray hair, but are bent under the burden of vices. Of such, Isaiah says: "The child shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner being a hundred years old shall be accursed" (Isa. LXV). Rightly, they will be subject to a curse for their sins, who, although living many years, never cared to abandon the levity of a childish mind.
Commentary on Tobit
Where he became old with honour, and he buried his father and mother in law honourably, and he inherited their substance, and his father Tobit’s.
καὶ ἐγήρασεν ἐντίμως καὶ ἔθαψε τοὺς πενθεροὺς αὐτοῦ ἐνδόξως καὶ ἐκληρονόμησε τὴν οὐσίαν αὐτῶν καὶ Τωβὶτ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ.
и҆ состарѣ́сѧ че́стнѡ, и҆ погребѐ те́стєвъ свои́хъ сла́внѡ, и҆ наслѣ́ди и҆мѣ́нїе и҆́хъ и҆ тѡві́та ѻ҆тца̀ своегѡ̀:
He finds them in good old age and unharmed, etc. And our Lord and Savior takes care of those whom He knows to persevere in the safety of good works. He Himself, closing their heart's gaze to the delight of this present life, lifts them to the contemplation of eternal light. He Himself leads them to heavenly places after the end of this life. His is the inheritance, of which the prophet sings to Him: "Arise, O God, judge the earth, for you shall inherit all nations" (Psalm LXXXII).
Commentary on Tobit
And he died at Ecbatane in Media, being an hundred and seven and twenty years old.
καὶ ἀπέθανεν ἐτῶν ἑκατὸν εἰκοσιεπτὰ ἐν ᾿Εκβατάνοις τῆς Μηδίας.
и҆ ᲂу҆́мре (сы́й) лѣ́тъ ста̀ два́десѧти седмѝ во є҆квата́нѣхъ миді́йскихъ:
And having completed many years in the fear of the Lord with joy, all his relatives buried him. The burial of Tobias signifies the faith of the whole world when our Lord, with His whole body, which is the Church that He has redeemed, enters into eternal rest, with angels rejoicing in the fellowship of redeemed men and placing each member of their Creator in various mansions of the heavenly homeland according to the diversity of merits.
Commentary on Tobit
But before he died he heard of the destruction of Nineve, which was taken by Nabuchodonosor and Assuerus: and before his death he rejoiced over Nineve.
καὶ ἤκουσε πρὶν ἢ ἀποθανεῖν αὐτὸν τὴν ἀπώλειαν Νινευῆ, ἣν ᾐχμαλώτισε Ναβουχοδονόσορ καὶ ᾿Ασύηρος, καὶ ἐχάρη πρὸ τοῦ ἀποθανεῖν ἐπὶ Νινευῆ.
и҆ слы́ша, пре́жде не́же ᲂу҆мре́ти є҆мꙋ̀, погꙋбле́нїе нїнеѵі́и, ю҆́же плѣнѝ навꙋходоно́соръ и҆ а҆сꙋи́ръ: и҆ возра́довасѧ, пре́жде не́же ᲂу҆́мре, ѡ҆ нїнеѵі́и.
And all his generation remained in good life and holy conversation. This is one generation throughout the whole world and throughout the whole time of the world, seeking the Lord, seeking the face of the God of Jacob (Psalm XXIII). Of which it also says: "The generation of the upright will be blessed" (Psalm CXII). What better life, what holier conversation is there than to remain forever in the glory of their Creator?
Commentary on Tobit
So that they were accepted by both God and all the inhabitants of the earth. Men brought to the heavenly homeland will be accepted by God, by whose grace they have been redeemed; they will also be accepted by the angels, whose number they will complete, to whom they will be joined in perpetual fraternal society. These are indeed the inhabitants of that earth, of which the Lord says: "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" (Matt. V); which the Psalmist, desiring to see, said: "I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living" (Psalm XXVI).
Commentary on Tobit
And when he was very aged he called his son, and the sons of his son, and said to him, My son, take thy children; for, behold, I am aged, and am ready to depart out of this life.
μεγάλως δὲ ἐγήρασε· καὶ ἐκάλεσε τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· τέκνον, λάβε τοὺς υἱούς σου· ἰδοὺ γεγήρακα καὶ πρὸς τὸ ἀποτρέχειν ἐκ τοῦ ζῆν εἰμι.
ѕѣлѡ́ же состарѣ́сѧ, и҆ призва̀ сы́на своего̀ и҆ ше́сть сынѡ́въ є҆гѡ̀ и҆ речѐ є҆мꙋ̀: ча́до, возмѝ сы́ны твоѧ̑, сѐ, состарѣ́хсѧ и҆ при и҆схожде́нїи ѿ житїѧ̀ є҆́смь: