This kinswoman of mine: “Sarah” (Good News Translation) is not named in the Greek text, but referred to literally as “this sister of mine.” Here the expression appears to mean “this relative of mine” (Contemporary English Version).

Not because of lust, but with sincerity: The emphasis in Greek is a bit different from either New Revised Standard Version or Good News Translation. It may be expressed this way for the first three lines: “Now it is not because of lust that I am taking this my sister, but with truth.” New Revised Standard Version interprets “truth” as sincerity. New Jerusalem Bible is similar with “singleness of heart.” Good News Translation associates it with right behavior: “because it is right.” New American Bible “for a noble purpose” has an element of both, but it makes the phrase look toward the future. Contemporary English Version “but because of love” seems to miss the point, which seems to be that Tobias is marrying Sarah for right and proper reasons. Translators are urged to follow either Good News Translation or New American Bible.

Grant that she and I may find mercy: Here Tobias is pleading with God to be merciful and kind to them. So we may say something like “Please be merciful [or, kind] to us.”

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.