Tobit 11

The Homecoming, and Tobit’s Eyes

1And he traveled on until they were close to Nineveh. And Raphael said to Tobias: 2“Do you not know, brother, in what state you left your father? 3Let us run on ahead of your wife and get the house ready. 4And take the gall of the fish in your hand.” So they went, and the dog came along behind them. 5And Anna was sitting there, scanning the road for her boy. 6She made him out as he came, and she said to his father: “Look, your son is coming, and the man who went with him.” 7And Raphael said: “I know that your father will open his eyes. 8So rub the gall into his eyes. The sting will set him rubbing, and he will shed the white films, and he will see you.” 9Anna ran up and threw her arms around her son’s neck, and she said to him: “I have seen you, my boy. Now I can die.” And the two of them wept. 10Tobit was on his way out toward the door, and he kept stumbling; but his son ran to him 11and caught hold of his father. He sprinkled the gall on his father’s eyes, saying: “Take heart, father.” 12When it stung, he rubbed his eyes, and the white films peeled away from their corners. 13And seeing his son, he fell on his neck and wept, and he said: 14“Blessed are you, God, and blessed is your name through all the ages, and blessed are all your holy angels; for you scourged me and you had mercy on me. Look — I can see Tobias my son.” 15And his son came in rejoicing, and he recounted to his father everything great that had come to him in Media. 16And Tobit went out as far as the gate of Nineveh to meet his son’s wife, rejoicing and blessing God. Those who watched him walking were astonished that he could see, and Tobit acknowledged in front of them that God had shown him mercy. 17And when Tobit reached Sarah, his son’s wife, he gave her his blessing and said: “Good health to you, daughter, and welcome. Blessed be God, who has brought you to us — and blessed be your father and your mother.” 18And there was joy for all his relatives in Nineveh. 19And Ahikar came, and Nasbas his nephew, and Tobias’s wedding was kept with gladness for seven days.