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Verse 13
Theosis · English Bible
Tobit

Tobit 4

Old TestamentTheosis · English Bible

1In that day Tobit remembered the money which he had committed to Gabael in Rages of Media, 2and said with himself, I have wished for death; wherefore do I not call for my son Tobias, that I may signify to him of the money before I die? 3And when he had called him, he said, My son, when I am dead, bury me; and despise not thy mother, but honour her all the days of thy life, and do that which shall please her, and grieve her not. 4Remember, my son, that she saw many dangers for thee, when thou wast in her womb; and when she is dead, bury her by me in one grave. 5My son, be mindful of the Lord our God all thy days, and let not thy will be set to sin, or to transgress his commandments: do uprightly all thy life long, and follow not the ways of unrighteousness. 6For if thou deal truly, thy doings shall prosperously succeed to thee, and to all them that live justly. 7Give alms of thy substance; and when thou givest alms, let not thine eye be envious, neither turn thy face from any poor, and the face of God shall not be turned away from thee. 8If thou hast abundance, give alms accordingly: if thou have but a little, be not afraid to give according to that little: 9for thou layest up a good treasure for thyself against the day of necessity. 10Because that alms do deliver from death, and suffereth not to come into darkness. 11For alms is a good gift unto all that give it in the sight of the most High. 12Beware of all whoredom, my son, and chiefly take a wife of the seed of thy fathers, and take not a strange woman to wife, which is not of thy father's tribe: for we are the children of the prophets, Noe, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Remember, my son, that our fathers from the beginning, even that they all married wives of their own kindred, and were blessed in their children, and their seed shall inherit the land. 13Now therefore, my son, love thy brethren, and despise not in thy heart thy brethren, the sons and daughters of thy people, in not taking a wife of them: for in pride is destruction and much trouble, and in lewdness is decay and great want: for lewdness is the mother of famine. 14Let not the wages of any man, which hath wrought for thee, tarry with thee, but give him it out of hand: for if thou serve God, he will also repay thee: be circumspect, my son, in all things thou doest, and be wise in all thy conversation. 15Do that to no man which thou hatest: drink not wine to make thee drunken: neither let drunkenness go with thee in thy journey. 16Give of thy bread to the hungry, and of thy garments to them that are naked; and according to thine abundance give alms; and let not thine eye be envious, when thou givest alms. 17Pour out thy bread on the burial of the just, but give nothing to the wicked. 18Ask counsel of all that are wise, and despise not any counsel that is profitable. 19Bless the Lord thy God alway, and desire of him that thy ways may be directed, and that all thy paths and counsels may prosper: for every nation hath not counsel; but the Lord himself giveth all good things, and he humbleth whom he will, as he will; now therefore, my son, remember my commandments, neither let them be put out of thy mind. 20And now I signify this to thee, that I committed ten talents to Gabael the son of Gabrias at Rages in Media. 21And fear not, my son, that we are made poor: for thou hast much wealth, if thou fear God, and depart from all sin, and do that which is pleasing in his sight.

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Tobit 4:13

Nicodemos the Haghiorite

Nicodemos the Haghiorite18th century

When a man, who previously held great virtues in God's sight, permits pride to infiltrate his heart, he instantly becomes destitute, akin to the Pharisee portrayed in the Gospel account of the Publican and the Pharisee. A proud individual resembles a dove basking in the sunlight, delighting in its purity and vibrant plumage, until suddenly a hawk descends and seizes it. In a similar manner, one who boasts of his own virtues finds himself captured by a mental predator—the devil. This is why the divine Fathers have wisely observed: ‘It is both easy and difficult for a man to attain salvation, for through humility he ascends to Paradise, yet in an instant he can descend into the torments of hell due to arrogance and pride. Be wise, my brother, and willingly accept the counsel bestowed by the Holy Spirit: ‘Do not elevate your heart. Allow no pride to take root within you, neither inwardly in your thoughts nor outwardly in your actions, for it spawns all manner of evil in the world; in pride lies destruction and great chaos. Therefore, humble yourself, and you need not fear falling, for God will always be present by your side. Revelation. Pride is a significant barrier to our salvation.