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19 “Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day. 20 A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was taken to his gate, full of sores, 21 and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The beggar died, and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried. 23 In Hades,[a] he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom. 24 He cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue! For I am in anguish in this flame.’

25 “But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in the same way, bad things. But here he is now comforted, and you are in anguish. 26 Besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that those who want to pass from here to you are not able, and that no one may cross over from there to us.’

27 “He said, ‘I ask you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house; 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, so they won’t also come into this place of torment.’

29 “But Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’

30 “He said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’

31 “He said to him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.’”

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Footnotes

  1. 16:23 or, Hell

The Rich Man and Lazarus

19 “Once there was a rich man who used to dress in purple and fine linen and live in great luxury every day. 20 A beggar named Lazarus, who was covered with sores, was brought to his gate. 21 He was always trying to satisfy his hunger with what fell[a] from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs used to come and lick his sores.

22 “One day, the beggar died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In the afterlife,[b] where he was in constant torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus by his side. 24 So he shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me! Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool off my tongue, because I am suffering in this fire.’

25 “But Abraham said, ‘My child, remember that during your lifetime you received blessings,[c] while Lazarus received hardships.[d] But now he is being comforted here, while you suffer. 26 Besides all this, a wide chasm has been fixed between us, so that those who want to cross from this side to you cannot do so, nor can they cross from your side to us.’

27 “The rich man[e] said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus[f] to my father’s house— 28 because I have five brothers—to warn them, so that they won’t end up in this place of torture, too.’

29 “Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets. They should listen to them!’

30 “But the rich man[g] replied, ‘No, father Abraham! But if someone from the dead went to them, they would repent.’

31 “Then Abraham[h] told him, ‘If your brothers[i] do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded, even if someone were to rise from the dead.’”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 16:21 Other mss. read the scraps that fell
  2. Luke 16:23 Lit. Hades, i.e. the realm of the dead
  3. Luke 16:25 Lit. good things
  4. Luke 16:25 Lit. and Lazarus in like manner evil things
  5. Luke 16:27 Lit. He
  6. Luke 16:27 Lit. him
  7. Luke 16:30 Lit. he
  8. Luke 16:31 Lit. he
  9. Luke 16:31 Lit. If they