He saw them safely off: The element of meaning expressed by safely in New Revised Standard Version seems to be missing in Good News Translation, which appears to include the Greek term in the statement “sent them on their way with his blessing.” This “blessing” asks that they “Have a safe journey.”

Farewell and have a safe journey are variants of the same word as safely in the first sentence. It is the same word used several times in Tobit’s farewell to Tobias in 5.17 (see the note), where it is rendered “good health” and “have a safe journey” in New Revised Standard Version. Translators who wish to keep all three variants of safely may use the following alternative model:

• Raguel hugged Tobias and asked God to keep him and Sarah safe on their journey. He said, “Good-bye, my son. I hope you have a safe journey.”

In languages that prefer indirect speech we may translate:

• Raguel hugged Tobias, and as he sent him and Sarah off on their journey he asked God to keep them safe.

The Lord of heaven prosper you: For The Lord of heaven, see 6.18. For the word translated prosper, see the notes on 7.12.

May I see children of yours before I die: Here Raguel wishes the young couple the blessing of children, and the hope that he may see them before he dies (as he will, 14.12-13). Good News Translation has a more natural way of expressing it in English: “may I live to see your children.”

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Tobit. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.