TOḆIYAH 14

1 Thus Toḇiyah ended praising Elohim.

2 And he was fifty-eight years old when he lost his sight, which was restored to him after eight years. And he gave in kindness, and he increased in the reverence of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 Elohim, and praised Him.

3 And when he was very old, he called his son, and the sons of his son, and said to him, “My son, take your children; for see, I am old and am ready to leave this life.

4 “Go to Maḏai my son, for I surely believe that which Yonah the naḇi spoke about Ninewĕh, that it shall be overthrown, and that peace shall be in Maḏai only for a time, and that our brothers shall lie scattered on the earth from that good land. And Yerushalayim shall be laid waste, and the House of Elohim in it shall be burned, and shall be laid waste for a time.

5 “But again, Elohim shall show favour on them, and again bring them into the land, where they shall build a Hĕyḵal, but not like the first, until the time of that age is filled. And afterward they shall return from all the places of their captivity, and build up Yerushalayim with esteem. And the House of Elohim shall be built in it forever with an esteemed building, as the neḇi’im have spoken of.

6 And all nations shall turn, and revere 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 Elohim in truth, and shall bury their idols.

7 So all nations shall praise 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, and His people praise Elohim, and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 shall exalt His people. And all those who love 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 Elohim in truth and righteousness shall rejoice, showing kindness to our brothers.

8 “And now, my son, depart out of Ninewĕh, because that which the naḇi Yonah spoke of shall surely come to pass.

9 “But you, guard the Law and the Commands, and show yourself kind and righteous, that it may be well with you.

10 “And bury me fittingly, and your mother with me; but no longer stay at Ninewĕh. Remember, my son, how Naḏaḇ treated Aḥiqar who raised him, how out of light he brought him into darkness, and how he was rewarded again. Yet Aḥiqar was saved, but the other had his reward, for he went down into darkness. Menashsheh gave in kindness, and escaped the snares of death which they had laid for him, but Naḏaḇ fell into the snare, and perished.

11 “Now therefore my son, consider what kindness does, and how righteousness delivers.” When he had said these words, he breathed his last on the bed, being a hundred and fifty-eight years old; and he buried him with esteem.

12 And when Ḥannah his mother was dead, he buried her with his father. But Toḇi departed with his wife and children to Aḥmetha to Raḡu’ĕl his father-in-law,

13 where he became old with esteem, and he buried his father and mother-in-law in esteem, and he inherited their possessions, and that of his father Toḇiyah.

14 And he died at Aḥmetha in Maḏai, being a hundred and twenty-seven years old.

15 But before he died he heard of the destruction of Ninewĕh, which was taken by Neḇuḵaḏnetstsar and Aḥashwĕrosh. And before his death he rejoiced over Ninewĕh.