Tobit 2

How to read these pages: the text itself comes first, verse by verse, in the volume's own translation. Beneath each verse stands its Meaning — a rendering of what the passage's terms name in the inner life, drawn from the correspondences the text itself uses. The text is never altered; the meaning is offered, not imposed.

King James Version

1Now when I was come home again, and my wife Anna was restored unto me, with my son Tobias, in the feast of Pentecost, which is the holy feast of the seven weeks, there was a good dinner prepared me, in the which I sat down to eat.

Now when I was come home again, and my wife Anna was restored unto me, with my son Tobias, in the feast of Pentecost — the holy feast of the seven weeks, seven being completeness of a cycle — there was a good dinner prepared me, in which I sat down to eat: the restored house at its feast of completeness.

2And when I saw abundance of meat, I said to my son, Go and bring what poor man soever thou shalt find out of our brethren, who is mindful of the Lord; and, lo, I tarry for thee.

And when I saw abundance of meat — of nourishment — I said to my son: Go and bring whatever poor man you shall find of our brethren, who is mindful of the indwelling LORD; and lo, I tarry for you — the feast refusing to begin until the mindful poor state is brought in.

3But he came again, and said, Father, one of our nation is strangled, and is cast out in the marketplace.

But he came again, and said: Father, one of our nation is strangled, and is cast out in the marketplace — a brother-state cut off and exposed in the place of public traffic.

4Then before I had tasted of any meat, I started up, and took him up into a room until the going down of the sun.

Then before I had tasted of any meat, I started up, and took him up into a room until the going down of the sun — the fading of the state: mercy interrupting the feast, the dead carried in before the living eat.

5Then I returned, and washed myself, and ate my meat in heaviness,

Then I returned, and washed myself, and ate my meat in heaviness — nourishment taken under the weight of the brother's death.

6Remembering that prophecy of Amos, as he said, Your feasts shall be turned into mourning, and all your mirth into lamentation.

Remembering that prophecy of Amos, as he said: Your feasts shall be turned into mourning, and all your mirth into lamentation — the prophet's word remembered as the inner meaning of the hour.

7Therefore I wept: and after the going down of the sun I went and made a grave, and buried him.

Therefore I wept; and after the going down of the sun I went and made a grave, and buried him — the dead state laid in the earth of consciousness in tears.

8But my neighbours mocked me, and said, This man is not yet afraid to be put to death for this matter: who fled away; and yet, lo, he burieth the dead again.

But my neighbours mocked me, and said: This man is not yet afraid to be put to death for this matter; who fled away, and yet, lo, he buries the dead again — the surrounding sense-states mocking the mercy they cannot understand.

9The same night also I returned from the burial, and slept by the wall of my courtyard, being polluted and my face was uncovered:

The same night also I returned from the burial, and slept by the wall of my courtyard, being polluted, and my face — the surface of awareness — was uncovered: the hidden state, consciousness at rest with truth held in obscurity.

10And I knew not that there were sparrows in the wall, and mine eyes being open, the sparrows muted warm dung into mine eyes, and a whiteness came in mine eyes: and I went to the physicians, but they helped me not: moreover Achiacharus did nourish me, until I went into Elymais.

And I knew not that there were sparrows in the wall, and my eyes being open, the sparrows muted warm dung into my eyes, and a whiteness came in my eyes; and I went to the physicians, but they helped me not; moreover Achiacharus did nourish me, until I went into Elymais — sight clouded by the droppings of the low, unnoticed sense-thoughts roosting in the wall; outer remedies failing, while a kindred faculty sustains the blinded state.

11And my wife Anna did take women’s works to do.

And my wife Anna did take women's works to do — the affectional nature taking up its labour to sustain the house.

12And when she had sent them home to the owners, they paid her wages, and gave her also besides a kid.

And when she had sent them home to the owners, they paid her wages, and gave her also besides a kid — honest labour answered with wages, and a gift beyond them.

13And when it was in my house, and began to cry, I said unto her, From whence is this kid? is it not stolen? render it to the owners; for it is not lawful to eat any thing that is stolen.

And when it was in my house, and began to cry, I said to her: From whence is this kid? Is it not stolen? Render it to the owners; for it is not lawful to eat anything that is stolen — the blinded state's suspicion speaking where its sight cannot verify.

14But she replied upon me, It was given for a gift more than the wages. Howbeit I did not believe her, but bade her render it to the owners: and I was abashed at her. But she replied upon me, Where are thine alms and thy righteous deeds? behold, thou and all thy works are known.

But she replied to me: It was given as a gift beyond the wages. Yet I did not believe her, but bade her render it to the owners, and I was abashed at her. But she replied to me: Where are your alms and your righteous deeds? Behold, you and all your works are known — the sharp word of the affection exposing the sorrow beneath the suspicion: the right-ordered life questioned in its own house.

Companion volume to The Why Bible — the King James Apocrypha, rendered in its spiritual meanings. First final edition, October 2026.