Tobit
Ethiopian Bible (EBV)
Tobit
Chapter 1 of 14
1The book of the story of Tobias son of Tobit, son of Gabael, of the family of Asahel, of the tribe of Naphtali, 2who was taken captive in the days of Enemessar king of Persia from Thisbe, which is to the right of Kedesh of Naphtali in Galilee, above Asher. 3I, Tobit, walked in the way of truth and lived uprightly all the days of my life. I gave many gifts to the poor among my relatives and my people who went with me into the land of Persia, to Nineveh. 4When I was still young and living in my own country among the people of Israel, the whole tribe of Naphtali and my father's house turned away from Jerusalem, the city chosen out of all Israel as the place where all Israel should offer sacrifice. There the temple of the Most High had been consecrated and built for them for all generations forever. 5All the people who turned away sacrificed to Baal and to the heifer, and the house of Naphtali and my father's house joined them. 6I alone went to Jerusalem often for the feasts, as it is written for all Israel in the everlasting commandment. I took the firstfruits of what I harvested, all the produce, to the priests, the sons of Aaron, at the altar. 7I gave the first tenth of everything to the sons of Aaron who served in Jerusalem. The second tenth I set aside, turned into money, and went and spent it in Jerusalem every year. 8The third tenth I gave to the poor, as Deborah my father's mother had commanded, because my father and mother had left me an orphan. 9When I became a man, I married a wife from my own relatives, and by her I became the father of Tobias. 10When we were taken captive to Nineveh, all my brothers and relatives ate the food of the Gentiles. 11But I kept myself from eating it, 12because I remembered the LORD with all my heart. 13The LORD gave me grace and favor before Enemessar, and he appointed me his purchasing agent. 14I went to Media and left ten talents of silver in trust with Gabael in the city of Rages in Media. 15When Enemessar died, his son Sennacherib, whose deeds were evil, became king in his place. He dismissed me, and I could no longer travel to Media. 16In the days of Enemessar I gave many gifts to the poor among my people. 17I gave my bread to the hungry and my clothes to the naked. If I saw one of my people dead and thrown out behind the wall of Nineveh, I buried him. 18If King Sennacherib killed anyone when he came back fleeing from Judah, I buried them secretly, for in his rage he killed many. The king searched for their bodies and could not find them. 19Then one of the people of Nineveh went to the king and informed against me, that I had buried them. When I learned that they wanted to kill me, I hid, and in fear I fled. 20When they could not find me, they seized all my property, and nothing was left to me except Anna my wife and Tobias my son. 21Not fifty-five days had passed before his two sons killed him and fled to Ararat. His son Esarhaddon became king in his place, and he put Ahikar son of Asahel, my brother's son, over all his father's household and all its affairs. 22Ahikar spoke up for me, and I returned to Nineveh. Ahikar was keeper of the signet ring and steward of the household, and Esarhaddon appointed him second in the kingdom. [unclear in the Ge'ez] ‹
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Tobit · Chapter 1 of 14