It is good to conceal the secret of a king: Raphael is here quoting almost word for word his own saying in verse 7. Good News Translation moves Raphael’s quotation of himself to the beginning of the verse, so as to bring his new revelation in verse 12 directly after his declaration that he is now going to reveal the whole truth. Up to now, Raphael has been keeping the King’s secret, but now he is going to proclaim God’s deeds.

To reveal with due honor the works of God means “we should honor God by letting others know what he has done!”

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.