She wept for her daughter: It is not absolutely clear who the author intended to be crying, Edna or Sarah. In the other Greek text it is clear that Sarah is weeping. Good News Translation chooses to have Sarah cry, and have Edna wipe away the tears, and therefore has a textual footnote. But the text we are following is reasonably clear that it is Edna who weeps for her daughter, and translators are urged to follow New Revised Standard Version.

Take courage … Take courage (Good News Translation “Don’t worry … cheer up”) translates the same word used by Raphael in 5.10 (compare the note at that point). Edna’s words to her daughter are a blessing, a wish for God’s favor, not just assuring words, as in Good News Translation. The danger is still present. Edna knows that Sarah has a lot to worry about; she urges courage, and offers a protective blessing.

The Lord of heaven grant you joy in place of your sorrow: The other Greek text (see the New Revised Standard Version footnote) has “favor” instead of joy. The two Greek nouns closely resemble each other; either could have been mistaken for the other, but joy does fit the context here. For the Lord of heaven, see 6.18.

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.