At Raguel's House

1When Tobias and the angel Raphael had entered the city of Ecbatana, Tobias said, "Azarias, my friend, take me to see Raguel as quickly as you can." The angel brought him to Raguel's house, where they found him sitting at the entrance to his courtyard. Raphael and Tobias greeted him first; then he replied, "Come in, my friends. You are welcome in my home."

Raguel brought them into his house 2and said to his wife Edna, "Doesn't this young man look just like my cousin Tobit?"

3Edna asked them, "Where do you come from?"

"We are Israelites of the tribe of Naphtali," Tobias and Raphael answered, "but we are now living in exile in the city of Nineveh in Assyria."

4Edna said, "Do you know our cousin Tobit?"

"We certainly do know him," they answered.

"How is he?" she asked.

5"He is alive and well," they replied.

Then Tobias added, "Tobit is my father." 6 At that Raguel got up, and with tears of joy in his eyes he kissed Tobias. 7Then he said, "God bless you, my child. Your father is a good and noble man. What a terrible tragedy that such an honest and generous man should have lost his sight!" He threw his arms around Tobias' neck and wept on his shoulder. 8His wife Edna and his daughter Sarah also wept for Tobit.

Raguel gave Tobias and Raphael a warm welcome and had one of his rams slaughtered. After the guests had bathed and were about to sit down to eat, Tobias said to Raphael, "Azarias, my friend, when are you going to ask Raguel to let me marry Sarah?"

9But Raguel overheard the question and said to Tobias, 10"Eat and drink something first and enjoy yourself this evening. You have the right to marry Sarah, and I cannot let anyone else marry her, because you are my closest relative. But I must tell you the truth, my son. 11I have already given her to seven men, all of them relatives. Each one died on his wedding night, as soon as he entered the bedroom. But now, my son, have something to eat and drink. The Lord will take care of you both."

Tobias replied, "I won't eat or drink until you give me your word."

12Raguel agreed. "Certainly I will," he said. "I will give her to you just as the Law of Moses commands. God in heaven has arranged this marriage, so take her as your wife. From now on, you belong to each other. Sarah is yours today and forever. May the Lord of heaven keep both of you safe tonight. May he be merciful and kind to you."

The Marriage Ceremony

13Then Raguel called his daughter. When she came in, he took her by the hand and gave her to Tobias with his blessing, "Take her to be your wife according to the teachings in the Law of Moses. Take her safely with you to your father's house. May the God of heaven give you a happy life together."

14Raguel asked his wife to bring him a blank scroll so that he could write out the marriage contract. Edna brought him the scroll, and Raguel wrote out the agreement, saying that Sarah was given to Tobias according to the teachings in the Law of Moses. 15After the ceremony they began the meal.

16Raguel called his wife and said, "Get the spare room ready, my dear, and take Sarah there."

17Edna made up the bed as Raguel had told her. Then she took Sarah into the room with her, and Sarah began to cry. But Edna wiped away her tears and said, 18"Don't worry, Sarah. I'm sure the Lord of heaven will make you happy this time and not sad. So cheer up, my dear." Then Edna left the room.