Then Tobias sighed and began to pray with tears; for I had never mingled myself with those who delight in vanities, neither kept company with them that walk in lightness.

And he said: Thou art just, O Lord, and all thy judgments are righteous, and all thy ways are mercy, and truth, and judgment.

Now therefore, O Lord, think on me, and take not vengeance for my sins, neither remember my offences nor the offences of my forefathers.

For we have not obeyed thy commandments; therefore hast thou delivered us to spoil, and unto captivity, and unto death, and for a proverb of reproach to all the nations among whom thou hast scattered us.

And now, O Lord, great are thy judgments, for we have not walked according to thy precepts, nor trodden sincerely before thee.

And now deal with me according to thy will, and command my spirit to be received in peace, for it is better for me to die than to live.

On the selfsame day it came to pass also, that Sara the daughter of Raguel in Ecbatana, a city of Media, suffered reproach from one of her father’s maids.

Because she had been married to seven husbands, whom Asmodæus the evil spirit had killed before they had lain with her. As they went in unto her, in a moment did he slay them.

And when she rebuked the maid for her fault, she answered her, saying, May we never see in thee either son or daughter upon earth, thou killer of thy husbands.

Wilt thou kill me also, as thou hast killed seven men? When she heard these words, she went up into an upper chamber of her house, and for three days and three nights neither did eat nor drink.

But continued praying and beseeching God with tears, that he would deliver her from this reproach.

And on the third day, when she had ended her prayer, she blessed the Lord.

And said, Blessed be thy name, O God of our fathers, who, after thou art angry, showest mercy: and in the time of tribulation forgivest sins to those who call upon thee.

To thee, O Lord, I turn my face; and to thee, O Lord, I direct my sight.

I beseech thee, O Lord, to loose me from the bond of this reproach, or else to take me from the earth.

Thou knowest, O Lord, that I never coveted man, and that I have kept my soul clean from all lust.

But I was contented to take a husband with thy fear, not with my lust.

Haply I was not worthy of them, or they were not worthy of me: for perhaps thou hast reserved me for another husband.

For thy counsel is not comprehended by man.

But he that serveth thee, is sure that his life, if it be tried with afflictions, shall be crowned, and if it be in tribulation, it shall be delivered into thy mercy, and if it be chastised, it shall turn to thee for a short space of time.

For thou delightest not in our destruction: for thou sendest quiet after the storm, and after weeping and mourning, thou pourest in joy.

Let thy name, O God of Israel, be blessed for ever.

At that time the prayers of them both were heard before the majesty of the most high God.

And the holy angel of the Lord, Raphael, was sent to heal them both, whose prayers were heard at one time in the presence of the Lord.