The Rich Man and Lazarus

19 “There was a rich man who would dress in purple and fine linen,(A) feasting lavishly every day. 20 But a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, was lying at his gate.(B) 21 He longed to be filled(C) with what fell from the rich man’s table,(D) but instead the dogs(E) would come and lick his sores. 22 One day the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s side.[a](F) The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torment(G) in Hades,(H) he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side. 24 ‘Father Abraham!’(I) he called out, ‘Have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony(J) in this flame!’

25 “‘Son,’[b] Abraham said, ‘remember that during your life you received your good things,(K) just as Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here,(L) while you are in agony. 26 Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who want to pass over from here to you cannot; neither can those from there cross over to us.’

27 “‘Father,’ he said, ‘then I beg you to send him to my father’s house— 28 because I have five brothers—to warn(M) them, so that they won’t also come to this place of torment.’

29 “But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets;(N) they should listen to them.’

30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said. ‘But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

31 “But he told him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’”(O)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 16:22 Or to Abraham’s bosom; lit to the fold of Abraham’s robe; Jn 13:23
  2. 16:25 Lit Child

19 “There was a certain rich man who clothed himself in purple and fine linen, and who feasted luxuriously every day. 20 At his gate lay a certain poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. 21 Lazarus longed to eat the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Instead, dogs would come and lick his sores.

22 “The poor man died and was carried by angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 While being tormented in the place of the dead, he looked up and saw Abraham at a distance with Lazarus at his side. 24 He shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I’m suffering in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received good things, whereas Lazarus received terrible things. Now Lazarus is being comforted and you are in great pain. 26 Moreover, a great crevasse has been fixed between us and you. Those who wish to cross over from here to you cannot. Neither can anyone cross from there to us.’

27 “The rich man said, ‘Then I beg you, Father, send Lazarus to my father’s house. 28 I have five brothers. He needs to warn them so that they don’t come to this place of agony.’ 29 Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets. They must listen to them.’ 30 The rich man said, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will change their hearts and lives.’ 31 Abraham said, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the Prophets, then neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’”

Read full chapter