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[1] Tobias was of the tribe & citie of Nepthali, which lyeth in the hye countreys of Galilee aboue Naasson, beside ye way that leadeth to the west, hauyng the citie of Sephet vpon the left side.
[2] Though he was taken prisoner in the dayes of Salmanasar king of the Assyrians, neuerthelesse beyng in captiuitie, he forsoke not the way of trueth:
[3] In so much that whatsoeuer he might get, he parted it dayly with his felowe prisoners and brethren that were of his kinred.
[4] And though he were younger then al in the tribe of Nephthali, yet did not he behaue him selfe childyshly in his workes.
[5] And when all the other went to the golden calues whiche Ieroboam the king of Israel had made, he alone fled al their companies,
[6] And gat him to Hierusalem vnto the temple of the Lorde, and there worshipped the Lord God of Israel, faythfully offering of al his first fruites and tithes:
[7] So that in the thirde yere, he ministred all the tithes vnto the straungers and conuertes.
[8] These and such like thinges dyd he obserue according to the law of God when he was yet but young.
[9] But when he was a man, he toke out of his owne tribe a wyfe called Anna: and of her he begat a sonne, whom he called after his owne name,
[10] And taught him from his youth vp to feare God, and to refrayne from al sinne,
[11] Now when he with his wife, his sonne, and with all his kinred, was come in captiuitie vnto the citie of Niniue,
[12] What time as they all dyd eate of the meates of the heathen: he kept his soule, and was neuer defiled in their meates.
[13] And for so much as he was mindeful of the Lorde in all his heart, God gaue him fauour in the sight of Salmanasar the king,
[14] Which gaue him power to go where he woulde, and so had he libertie to do whatsoeuer he woulde.
[15] So went Tobias vnto all them that were in captiuitie [and comforted them] and gaue them wholsome exhortations.
[16] And when he came to Rages a citie of the Medes, hauing ten talentes of siluer (of the thinges wherewith the king had honoured him)
[17] And sawe among a great companie of people of his kinred, one Gabelus which was of his owne tribe, beyng in necessite, he gaue him the sayde wayght of siluer vnder an hande writyng.
[18] After a long season, when Salmanasar the kyng was dead, and Sennacherib his sonne raigned in his steade, which hated the children of Israel:
[19] Tobias went dayly throughout all his kinrede, and comforted them, and gaue of his goods to euery one of them as much as he might.
[20] He fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and buried the dead and slayne, and that diligently.
[21] And when Sennacherib the king came agayne and fled out of Iurie (what time as god punished him for his blasphemie) & in his wrath slue many of the children of Israel: Tobias buried their bodies.
[22] But when it was told the king, he commaunded to slay him, and toke away all his goodes.
[23] Neuerthelesse, Tobias with his sonne and with his wyfe, fled his way naked, and was hyd: for there were many that loued hym.
[24] But after fourtie and fiue dayes the king was slayne of his owne sonnes:
[25] Then came Tobias againe to his house, and all his goodes were restored vnto him.
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