Tobit 7
Tobias and the angel arrived at Raguel's house, where they were warmly received. Raguel, recognizing the resemblance between Tobias and his cousin Tobit, inquired about their origins and learned that Tobias was Tobit's son. Raguel, overjoyed, welcomed Tobias as his nephew and, after some hesitation due to the fate of Sarah's previous seven suitors, agreed to give her to Tobias in marriage, as the angel reassured him that Tobias was a suitable match. The marriage was then formalized with a written record and a blessing from God.
1And so they went to Raguel, and Raguel received them with gladness2And Raguel, gazing upon Tobias, said to Anna his wife, "How much like my cousin is this young man!3And when he had spoken this, he said, "Which of our brethren are you from, young men?4But they said, "We are from the tribe of Naphtali, from the captivity of Nineveh.5And Raguel said to them, "Do you know my brother Tobit?" They said to him, "We know him.6And since he was saying many good things about him, the Angel said to Raguel, "The Tobit about whom you inquire is the father of this young man.7And Raguel threw himself towards him and kissed him with tears and weeping upon his neck, saying, "May a blessing be upon you, my son, because you are the son of a good and most noble man.8And his wife Anna, and their daughter Sarah, were weeping9And so, after they had spoken, Raguel instructed a sheep to be killed, and a feast to be prepared. And when he exhorted them to recline for dinner10Tobias said, "Here, today, I will not eat or drink, unless you first confirm my petition, and promise to give Sarah your daughter to me.11When Raguel heard this word, he became afraid, knowing what had befallen those seven men, who had approached her. And he began to fear, lest it might happen to him also in the same way. And, since he wavered and gave no further response to the petition12the Angel said to him: "Do not be afraid to give her to this one, because this one fears God. He is obliged to be joined to your daughter. Because of this, no other one could have her.13Then Raguel said: "I do not doubt that God has admitted my prayers and tears before his sight14And I believe, therefore, that he has caused you to come to me, so that this one might be joined in marriage to one of her own kindred, according to the law of Moses. And now, do not continue to doubt that I will give her to you.15And taking the right hand of his daughter, he gave it into the right hand of Tobias, saying, "May the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob be with you. And may he join you together in marriage and fulfill his blessing in you.16And taking paper, they made a written record of the marriage17And after this, they feasted, blessing God18And Raguel called his wife Anna to him, and he instructed her to prepare another bedroom19And she brought her daughter Sarah into it, and she was weeping20And she said to her, "Be steadfast in spirit, my daughter. May the Lord of heaven give you gladness in place of the grief that you have had to endure.
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