But Anna sat beside the way daily, on the top of a hill, from whence she might see afar off.6 And while she watched his coming from that place, she saw him afar off, and presently perceived it was her son coming: and returning she told her husband, saying: Behold thy son cometh.7 And Raphael said to Tobias: As soon as thou shalt come into thy house, forthwith adore the Lord thy God: and giving thanks to him, go to thy father, and kiss him.8 And immediately anoint his eyes with this gall of the fish, which thou carriest with thee. For be assured that his eyes shall be presently opened, and thy father shall see the light of heaven, and shall rejoice in the sight of thee.9 Then the dog, which had been with them in the way, ran before, and coming as if he had brought the news, shewed his joy by his fawning and wagging his tail.10 And his father that was blind, rising up, began to run stumbling with his feet: and giving a servant his hand, went to meet his son.11 And receiving him kissed him, as did also his wife, and they began to weep for joy.12 And when they had adored God, and given him thanks, they sat down together.13 Then Tobias taking of the gall of the fish, anointed his father’s eyes.14 And he stayed about half an hour: and a white skin began to come out of his eyes, like the skin of an egg.15 And Tobias took hold of it, and drew it from his eyes, and immediately he recovered his sight.16 And they glorified God, both he and his wife and all that knew them.17 And Tobias said: I bless thee, O Lord God of Israel, because thou hast chastised me, and thou hast saved me: and behold I see Tobias my son.
To. Greek, “I know, Tobias, that thy father will open his eyes. Anoint, therefore, the gall upon his eyes, and feeling the smart, he will rub and remove the white specks, and shall see thee.” (Haydock) — God. This laudable custom was observed by the ancient solitaries, and prescribed by the rule of St. Benedict, chap. 53.
The dog, &c. This may seem a very minute circumstance to be recorded in sacred history; but, as we learn from our Saviour, (St. Matthew v. 18) there are iotas and tittles in the word of God, that is to say, things that appear minute, but which have indeed a deep mysterious meaning in them. (Challoner) — (Ven. Bede; St. Jerome in Isaias lvi. 8.; St. Augustine, contra Faust. xxii. 56.; Worthington) — The other versions relate this event, ver. 4.
And. After ver. 7., Greek adds, “and Anna running before, fell upon the neck of her son, and said to him, I have beheld thee, son; henceforth I may die. And they both wept. And Tobit went out towards the door, and he stumbled. But his son ran up to him, and took hold of his father, and spread the gall upon his father’s eyes, saying, Have confidence, father. But as soon as they began to smart, he rubbed his eyes, and the white specks came off like skins from the corners: and beholding his son, he fell upon his neck, and wept. Then he said,” ver. 17. (Haydock)
Hour. This is not in the other versions. (Calmet) — It would intimate that the operation was natural. (Menochius) — Yet some think that the cure was too instantaneous; (Drusius) or that the miracle consisted in the revelation of a remedy, till then unknown. (Serarius) — The effect seems to have been of the same nature as that produced by the heart, &c., chap. vi. 8. (Worthington; Calmet) — Estius believes that the optic nerve was entirely burnt. If the external coat of the eyes was only covered with a sort of skin, it might be removed by the gall of several fishes. (Calmet) — Callionymi fel cicatrices sanat & carnes oculorum supervacuas consumit. (Pliny, [Natural History?] xxxii 4. (Menochius)
Lord. Greek, “Blessed be God, and blessed be thy name for ever, and blessed be all thy holy angels; because thou hast scourged, and hast shewn mercy, and,” &c.
Alleluia, of Aggeus and Zacharias.2 Praise the Lord, O my soul, in my life I will praise the Lord: I will sing to my God as long as I shall be. Put not your trust in princes:6 Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all things that are in them.7 Who keepeth truth for ever: who executeth judgment for them that suffer wrong: who giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth them that are fettered:8 The Lord enlighteneth the blind. The Lord lifteth up them that are cast down: the Lord loveth the just.9 The Lord keepeth the strangers, he will support the fatherless and the widow: and the ways of sinners he will destroy.9 The Lord keepeth the strangers, he will support the fatherless and the widow: and the ways of sinners he will destroy.10 The Lord shall reign for ever: thy God, O Sion, unto generation and generation.
To these were added the sons of Maximin, with whom he had already shared imperial honors and whose features he had displayed publicly in portraits. Those who previously had boasted that they were related to the tyrant and tried to lord it over others endured the same sufferings and disgrace, for they did not accept correction or understand the precept in the sacred books:Put not your trust in princes,
In the sons of men who cannot save.
His breath shall depart and he shall return to his earth.
In that day all his thoughts shall perish.
When the impious were thus removed, the rule that belonged to them was preserved secure and undisputed for Constantine and Licinius alone. They had made it their priority to purge the world of hostility to God, and, acknowledging the blessings he had conferred on them, they showed their love of virtue and of God, their devotion and gratitude to the Deity, through their edict in behalf of the Christians.
And Jesus answering, said, teaching in the temple: How do the scribes say, that Christ is the son of David?36 For David himself saith by the Holy Ghost: The Lord said to my Lord, Sit on my right hand, until I make thy enemies thy footstool.37 David therefore himself calleth him Lord, and whence is he then his son? And a great multitude heard him gladly.
(ubi sup.) But the putting own of His enemies by the Father, does not shew the weakness of the Son, but the unity of nature, by which One works in the Other; for the Son also subjects the Father’s enemies, because He glorifies His Father upon earth.
(ubi sup.) The question of Jesus is useful for us even now against the Jews; for they, acknowledging that Christ is to come, assert that He is a mere man, a holy Person descended from David. Let us then ask them, as our Lord has taught us, if He be a mere man, and only the son of David, how David in the Holy Spirit calls Him Lord. They are not however reproved for calling Him David’s son, but for not believing Him to be the Son of God. It goes on, And the common people heard him gladly.
About CSB. A personal translation of the New Testament, rendered directly from the public-domain Greek in a literary style — not a scholarly critical edition, and not for liturgical or doctrinal authority. It is one reader's work, offered for enjoyment; where it matters, weigh it against an established translation. (Placeholder text — final wording to come.)