Tobit 3

Tobit 3

Tobit Prays for Death

1I was struck with grief over my actions. I groaned and wept, and in my sadness I began to pray.

2“You are just, O Lord,

and all your deeds are right.

Your ways are merciful and true.

You judge the world.

3Remember me, Lord,

and look upon me with kindness.

Do not punish me for my sins,

both known and unknown,

or for the sins of my ancestors.

They sinned against you

4and disobeyed your commandments.

So you gave us up to be plundered, captured, and killed.

We became a laughingstock and an object of scorn and derision

when you scattered us among the nations.

5I admit the justice of your many judgments;

you are completely right to punish my sins

and the sins of my ancestors.

For we have not kept your commandments,

and we have not walked in your way of truth.

6Now deal with me as you please.

Command that my spirit be taken from me

so that I may die and become dust.

It is better that I should die than live,

because I have had to endure undeserved insults and lies,

and I am overwhelmed with grief.

O Lord, command that I be freed of this misery

so that I can go to my everlasting home.

O Lord, do not turn your face from me.

It is better for me to die

than to experience so much anguish in my life

and to hear insults.”

Sarah Falsely Accused

7On the very same day, at Ecbatana in Media, Sarah, the daughter of Raguel, was insulted by one of her father’s servant girls.

8Sarah had been married to seven husbands, each of whom had been killed by the evil demon Asmodeus before any of the marriages had been consummated. The servant said to her, “You are the one who kills your husbands. You have already had seven husbands and no children from any of them.[#3:8 Asmodeus means “the Destroyer.”]

9Why do you punish us? Because your husbands died? Go with them! We never want to see a son or daughter of yours!”

Sarah Asks for Death

10Sarah was in deep anguish because of these insults. She went upstairs in tears, intending to hang herself. But she thought about it again and said, “People would reproach my father and say, ‘Your only beloved daughter killed herself because of her troubles.’ And I would bring my father in his old age down to his grave in sorrow. It is better for me not to hang myself but to pray to the Lord to let me die. Then I won’t have to hear these insults anymore.”[#3:10 Greek to Hades.]

11So she spread out her hands at the window and prayed:

“I praise you, God of mercy.

I praise your name forever.

May all your creation praise you forever.

12To you, O Lord, I turn my face

and lift my eyes.

13Command that I be allowed to die,

never more to hear insults.

14You know, O Master, that I am innocent

of any impurity with a man.

15I have disgraced neither my name

nor the name of my father in this land of captivity.

I am my father’s only child;

there is no one else to be his heir.

My father has no relatives

I can marry.

Seven husbands of mine have already died—

so why should I live?

But if you do not want to take my life, O Lord,

at least hear me concerning these insults.”

Answers to Prayer

16At that very moment, the prayers of both Sarah and Tobit were heard in the glorious presence of God.

17Raphael was sent to answer their prayers for healing. He was going to heal Tobit’s eyes so that he might once again see God’s light. He also would arrange the marriage of Sarah, the daughter of Raguel, to Tobiah son of Tobit and would free Sarah from the demon Asmodeus. For Tobiah, more than anyone else who wanted her, was entitled to marry her. Tobit returned from the courtyard into his house at the same moment that Sarah came down from the upper room.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation Catholic Edition, copyright © 2016 by Tyndale House Foundation. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Published by: Tyndale House Publishers Inc.