Tobit Chapter 3

Other Translations

vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)

1 Tunc Tobias ingemuit, et cœpit orare cum lacrymis,

2 dicens: Iustus es Domine, et omnia iudicia tua iusta sunt, et omnes viæ tuæ, misericordia, et veritas, et iudicium.

3 Et nunc Domine memor esto mei, et ne vindictam sumas de peccatis meis, neque reminiscaris delicta mea, vel parentum meorum.

4 Quoniam non obedivimus præceptis tuis, ideo traditi sumus in direptionem, et captivitatem, et mortem, et in fabulam, et in improperium omnibus nationibus, in quibus dispersisti nos.

5 Et nunc Domine magna iudicia tua, quia non egimus secundum præcepta tua, et non ambulavimus synceriter coram te.

6 Et nunc Domine secundum voluntatem tuam fac mecum, et præcipe in pace recipi spiritum meum: expedit enim mihi mori magis quam vivere.

7 Eadem itaque die contigit ut Sara filia Raguelis in Rages civitate Medorum, et ipsa audiret improperium ab una ex ancillis patris sui,

8 quoniam tradita fuerat septem viris, et dæmonium nomine Asmodæus occiderat eos, mox ut ingressi fuissent ad eam.

9 Ergo cum pro culpa sua increparet puellam, respondit ei, dicens: Amplius ex te non videamus filium, aut filiam super terram, interfectrix virorum tuorum.

10 Numquid et occidere me vis, sicut iam occidisti septem viros? Ad hanc vocem perrexit in superius cubiculum domus suæ: et tribus diebus, et tribus noctibus non manducavit, neque bibit:

11 sed in oratione persistens cum lacrymis deprecabatur Deum, ut ab isto improperio liberaret eam.

12 Factum est autem die tertia, dum compleret orationem, benedicens Dominum,

13 dixit: Benedictum est nomen tuum Deus patrum nostrorum: qui cum iratus fueris, misericordiam facies, et in tempore tribulationis peccata dimittis his, qui invocant te.

14 Ad te Domine faciem meam converto, ad te oculos meos dirigo.

15 Peto Domine ut de vinculo improperii huius absolvas me, aut certe desuper terram eripias me.

16 Tu scis Domine, quia numquam concupivi virum, et mundam servavi animam meam ab omni concupiscentia.

17 Numquam cum ludentibus miscui me: neque cum his, qui in levitate ambulant, participem me præbui.

18 Virum autem cum timore tuo, non cum libidine mea consensi suscipere.

19 Et, aut ego indigna fui illis, aut illi forsitan me non fuerunt digni: quia forsitan viro alii conservasti me.

20 Non est enim in hominis potestate consilium tuum.

21 Hoc autem pro certo habet omnis, qui te colit, quod vita eius, si in probatione fuerit, coronabitur: si autem in tribulatione fuerit, liberabitur: et si in correptione fuerit, ad misericordiam tuam venire licebit.

22 Non enim delectaris in perditionibus nostris: quia post tempestatem, tranquillum facis: et post lacrymationem et fletum, exultationem infundis.

23 Sit nomen tuum Deus Israel benedictum in sæcula.

24 In illo tempore exauditæ sunt preces amborum in conspectu gloriæ summi Dei:

25 et missus est Angelus Domini sanctus Raphael, ut curaret eos ambos, quorum uno tempore sunt orationes in conspectu Domini recitatæ.

Explanations by Age Level

Explain Like I'm 5

A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!

Explain Like I'm 10

Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.

Explain Like I'm 15

Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).