Tobit 14:9-11

Common English Bible

^8-9 “So now, my children, I’m giving you this instruction: Serve God with sincerity, and do what pleases him. Teach your children to do what is just and to give to the poor so that they will keep God ever in mind and praise his name at all times in sincerity and with all their strength.

Now, my child, get out of Nineveh and don’t stay here. ¹⁰ On the very day when you bury your mother beside me, don’t stay within its borders another night. I see that a lot of iniquity and deception are practiced here, and its people have no sense of shame. My child, take note of what Nadab did to Ahikar, who brought him up. Was he not, even while alive, brought down into the earth? God paid back the dishonorable thing that he did in his presence: Ahikar came back into the light, while Nadab entered into eternal darkness, because he sought to kill Ahikar. By giving to the poor, he escaped the death trap that Nadab laid down for him. Nadab fell into that death trap instead, and it destroyed him.

¹¹ “Now then, my children, see what giving to the poor does and what injustice does. It kills! Now—my life is departing.” And they laid him down on the bed. He died and was buried honorably.