Tob 4:23

“We lead. Greek, “if we grow poor. Thou hast much if thou fear,”&c. Bible Text & Cross-references: Tobias thinking he shall die, giveth his son godly admonitions: and telleth him of money he had lent to a friend. 1 Therefore, *when Tobias thought that his prayer was heard that he might die, he called to him Tobias, his son, 2 And said to him: Hear, my son, the words of my mouth, and lay them as a fountain in thy heart. 3 When God shall take my soul, thou shalt bury my body: *and thou shalt honour thy mother all the days of her life: 4 For thou must be mindful what and how great perils she suffered for thee in her womb. 5 And when she also shall have ended the time of her life, bury her by me. 6 And all the days of thy life have God in thy mind: and take heed thou never consent to sin, nor transgress the commandments of the Lord, our God. 7 *Give alms out of thy substance, and turn not away thy face from any poor person: for so it shall come to pass, that the face of the Lord shall not be turned from thee. 8 *According to thy ability be merciful. 9 If thou have much, give abundantly: if thou have little, take care even so to bestow willingly a little. 10 For thus thou storest up to thyself a good reward for the day of necessity. 11 *For alms deliver from all sin, and from death, and will not suffer the soul to go into darkness. 12 Alms shall be a great confidence before the most high God, to all them that give it. 13 *Take heed to keep thyself, my son, from all fornication, and beside thy wife never endure to know a crime. 14 Never suffer pride to reign in thy mind, or in thy words: *for from it all perdition took its beginning. 15 *If any man hath done any work for thee, immediately pay him his hire, and let not the wages of thy hired servant stay with thee at all. 16 *See thou never do to another what thou wouldst hate to have done to thee by another. 17 *Eat thy bread with the hungry and the needy, and with thy garments cover the naked. 18 Lay out thy bread, and thy wine, upon the burial of a just man, and do not eat and drink thereof with the wicked. 19 Seek counsel always of a wise man. 20 Bless God at all times: and desire of him to direct thy ways, and that all thy counsels may abide in him. 21 I tell thee also, my son, that I lent ten talents of silver, while thou wast yet a child, to Gabelus, in Rages, a city of the Medes, and I have a note of his hand with me: 22 Now, therefore, inquire how thou mayst go to him, and receive of him the aforesaid sum of money, and restore to him the note of his hand. 23 Fear not, my son: we lead indeed a poor life, *but we shall have many good things if we fear God, and depart from all sin, and do that which is good.”