12 Beware, my son, of every kind of debauchery. Thou shalt take for thyself a wife of the tribe of thy fathers, but thou shalt not take a foreign wife, who is not of thy father's tribe, for we are the sons of the prophets. From ancient times our fathers are Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Remember, my son, that they all took wives from among their brethren, and were blessed in their children, and their descendants shall inherit the earth.

13 Therefore, my son, thou shalt love thy brethren, and exalt thy heart not before thy brethren, and before the sons and daughters of thy people, lest thou take a wife from them: for from pride perdition and great disorder, and from lewdness poverty and ruin: lewdness is the mother of hunger.

14 The wages of the hired man who will work for you, let him not spend the night with you, but give it immediately: and you will be rewarded if you serve God. Be careful, my son, in all your actions, and be prudent in all your conduct.

15 What you yourself hate, do not do to anyone. Thou shalt not drink wine to the point of drunkenness, and let not drunkenness walk with thee in thy way.

16 Give to him that hungereth of thy bread, and to the naked of thy garments; From everything in which you have an abundance, do alms, and let not your eyes be spared when you give alms.

17 Thou shalt distribute thy loaves at the sepulchre of the righteous, but thou shalt not give them to sinners.

18 Ask every prudent man for advice, and do not despise profitable advice.

19 Bless the Lord God at all times, and ask him that thy ways may be right, and that all thy works and intentions may prosper, for no nation has power over the success of undertakings, but the Lord himself bestoweth down all good things, and despise whom he willeth according to his will. Remember, my son, my commandments, and let them not be blotted out of your heart!

20 Now I will reveal to you that I have given ten talents of silver for the preservation of Gibael the son of Gabriel in the Ragae of the Medes.

21 Do not be afraid, my son, that we have become poor: you have much, if you fear the Lord, and shunning all sin, do what is right in his sight.

Chapter 5

1 And Tobias answered and said unto him, My father, I will do all that thou hast commanded me;

2 But how can I get the money without knowing that man?

3 Then his father gave him a receipt, and said, 'Find for yourself a man to accompany you; I will give him wages while he is still alive, and go and get the money.