The Rich Man and Lazarus

(John 5:39–47)

19 Now there was a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, who lived each day in joyous splendor. 20 And a beggar named Lazarus lay at his gate, covered with sores 21 and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came [and] licked his sores.

22 One day the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side.[fn] And the rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up [and] saw Abraham from afar, with Lazarus by his side.

24 So he cried out ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.’

25 But Abraham answered, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good [things], [while] Lazarus [received] bad [things]. But now he is comforted here, while you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that [even] those who wish cannot cross from here to you, nor can [anyone] cross from there to us.’

27 ‘Then I beg you, father,’ he said, ‘send [Lazarus] to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also end up in this place of torment.’

29 But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let [your brothers] listen to them.’

30 ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone is sent to them from [the] dead, they will repent.’

31 Then [Abraham] said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from [the] dead.’ ”