Why is this not in the NAB?

[Safe_Eagle]

I’ve had a DR bible for some time. I recently purchased a NAB and I found that my favorite scripture is not in it. It comes from Tobit 3:21-23. It just doesn’t exist in the NAB. What gives? Any body have an answer for this? We’re not talking about translations here. It’s just been taken out I guess.

For thy counsel is not in man’s power.

21 But this every one is sure of that worshippeth thee, that his life, if it be under trial, shall be crowned: and if it be under tribulation, it shall be delivered: and if it be under correction, it shall be allowed to come to thy mercy. 22 For thou art not delighted in our being lost: because after a storm thou makest a calm, and after tears and weeping thou pourest in joyfulness. 23 Be thy name, O God of Israel, blessed for ever.

 

[LilyM]

I agree it’s a lovely verse, but there are some verses, like some books, whose history and authenticity is less than definite.

I guess the NAB-ers were playing it safe and leaving this one out because it wasn’t 100% certain.

 

[Karianne]

I’ve had a DR bible for some time. I recently purchased a NAB and I found that my favorite scripture is not in it. It comes from Tobit 3:21-23. It just doesn’t exist in the NAB. What gives? Any body have an answer for this? We’re not talking about translations here. It’s just been taken out I guess.

For thy counsel is not in man’s power.

21 But this every one is sure of that worshippeth thee, that his life, if it be under trial, shall be crowned: and if it be under tribulation, it shall be delivered: and if it be under correction, it shall be allowed to come to thy mercy. 22 For thou art not delighted in our being lost: because after a storm thou makest a calm, and after tears and weeping thou pourest in joyfulness. 23 Be thy name, O God of Israel, blessed for ever.

If they have a website write or call the publishers.
They may even have a FAQ.

 

[Fidelis]

The text of Tobit seems to have a rather varied history as far as the versions found in different ancient manuscripts. The DRV translation was taken from the Vulgate, but the NAB editors used what they might have thought were older or otherwise better manuscripts that have become available. These texts might have not included the verses in question.

To get a flavor for this, check out this article from the Catholic Encyclopedia:

newadvent.org/cathen/14749c.htm

I’m not saying one way is right and the other isn’t, just reporting what I found.

 

[Verbum]

Hi Safe,

Your old Bible is translated from the Vulgate. St. Jerome used a “Chaldean” text (aramaic), which has been lost and may itself have been a translation from the Hebrew, already lost at St.Jerome’s time.

Since we no longer have Semitics texts to go by, we must rely on the Greek of the Septuagint, which, as you know, was the first Christians’ Bible, and is the basis for the Church’s canon of the Old Testament. Your new version has been done from the Greek, with reference to a series of old manuscripts in various languages, including St. Jerome’s Vulgate as well as the Old Latin (pre-Jerome) version.

Most of the discrepancies are due to a different order of the verses. I have the French Bible de Jérusalem, and they put the Vulgate verses in small characters in the margin.

The passage you quote is the end of Sarra’s prayer. In my Bible, it is put in a footnote that says that this passage is only found in the Vulgate. If this passage is not canonical, remember that the Vulgate has been approved by the Chulrch as free of error. You may therefore continue to use it in good conscience.

Verbum