s a great sikerness [surety] tofore the high
God unto all them that do it. Beware, my son, keep thee from all
uncleanness, and suffer not thyself to know that sin; and suffer never
pride to have domination in thy wit, ne in thy word, that sin was the
beginning of all perdition. Whosomever work to thee any thing, anon
yield to him his meed and hire, let never the hire of thy servant ne
meed of thy mercenary remain in no wise with thee. That thou hatest to
be done to thee of other, see that thou never do to an other. Eat thy
bread with the hungry and needy, and cover the naked with thy clothes.
Ordain thy bread and wine upon the sepulture of a righteous man, but eat
it not ne drink it with sinners. Ask and demand counsel of a wise man.
Always and in every time bless God and desire of him that he address thy
ways, and let all thy counsels abide in him. I tell to thee, my son,
that when thou wert a little child I lent to Gabael ten besants of
silver, dwelling in Rages the city of Medes, upon an obligation, which I
have by me. And therefore spere [search] and ask how thou mayst go to
him, and thou shalt receive of him the said weight of silver and restore
to him his obligation. Dread thou not, my son; though we lead a poor
life, we shall have much good if we dread God and go from sin and do
well. Then young Tobias answered to his father: All that thou hast
commanded me I shall do, father; but how I shall get this money I wot
never; he knoweth not me, ne I know not him; what token shall I give
him? And also I know not the way thither. Then his father answered to
him and said: I have his obligation by me, which when thou shewest him,
anon he shall pay thee. But go now first and seek for thee some true
man, that for his hire shall go with thee whiles I live, that thou mayst
receive it.

Then Tobias went forth and found a fair young man girt up and ready for
to walk, and not knowing that it was the angel of God, saluted him and
said: From whence have we thee, good young man? And he answered: Of the
children of Israel. And Tobias said to him: Knowest thou the way that
leadeth one into the region of Medes? To whom he answered: I know it
well, and all the journeys I have oft walked and have dwelled with
Gabael our brother which dwelled in Rages the city of Medes, which
standeth in the hill of Ecbathanis. To whom Tobias said: I pray thee
tary here a while till I have told this to my father. Then Tobias went
in to his father and told