Warning to Rich Oppressors

5 Now listen,^(A) you rich people,^(B) weep and wail^(C) because of the misery that is coming on you.

³⁴ “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life,^(A) and that day will close on you suddenly^(B) like a trap. ³⁵ For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Be always on the watch, and pray^(C) that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

The Day Is Near

¹¹ And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come^(A) for you to wake up from your slumber,^(B) because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. ¹² The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.^(C) So let us put aside the deeds of darkness^(D) and put on the armor^(E) of light. ¹³ Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness,^(F) not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.^{(G) 14} Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ,^(H) and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.^[a](I)

²³ In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. ²⁴ So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham,^(A) have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’^(B)

²⁵ “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things,^(C) but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.^(D)

The Rich Man and Lazarus

¹⁹ “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.^(A)