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He thought to himself, “Now that I have asked for death, why should I not call my son Tobiah and let him know about this money before I die?” So he called his son Tobiah; and when he came, he said to him:[a] “Son, when I die, give me a decent burial. Honor your mother, and do not abandon her as long as she lives. Do whatever pleases her, and do not grieve her spirit in any way.(A) Remember, son, how she went through many dangers for you while you were in her womb. When she dies, bury her in the same grave with me.

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Footnotes

  1. 4:3–19 A collection of maxims that parallel those in the wisdom literature, especially Proverbs and Sirach (see Introduction): duties toward parents (vv. 3–4; cf. also 14:13); perseverance in virtue and avoidance of evil (vv. 5–6, 14b); necessity and value of almsgiving and charity (vv. 7–11, 16–17); marriage within the clan (vv. 12–13a); industry (v. 13b); prompt payment of wages (v. 14a); the golden rule (v. 15a); temperance (v. 15b); docility (v. 18); prayer (v. 19).