Translation commentary on Tobit 12:5

Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version wisely avoid pronouns here, making it clear that Tobias is talking to Raphael (although it could be argued that Tobit is doing the talking).

Take for your wages half of all that you brought back: Good News Translation renders half of all that you brought back as “half of what you helped me bring back.” The noun wages then becomes “You have earned it.” Contemporary English Version has “You have earned half of everything you brought back.”

Farewell: In New Revised Standard Version this sounds curt, like “Be on your way now.” It is of course a grateful word of farewell; the Hebrew original no doubt was “Go in peace.” Good News Translation words this in an appropriately polite way: “have a safe journey home.” Contemporary English Version has “And now it’s time for us to say good-by.”

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.

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