Luke 16:19-31

New Catholic Bible

The Rich Man and Lazarus: A Warning

¹⁹ The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus.^[a]“There was a rich man who used to dress in purple garments and the finest linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. ²⁰ And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, ²¹ who would have been grateful to be fed with the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs would come and lick his sores.

²² “Now the poor man died, and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. ²³ In the netherworld,^[b] where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham, far off, and Lazarus by his side. ²⁴ And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames.’

²⁵ “But Abraham replied, ‘My child, remember that during your lifetime you received many good things, while Lazarus suffered greatly. Now he is being comforted while you are in agony. ²⁶ Moreover, between us and you a great chasm has been established, so that no one who wishes to do so can pass from our side to yours, nor can anyone pass from your side to ours.’

²⁷ “ ‘Then I beg you, father,’ he said, ‘to send him to my father’s house, ²⁸ to warn my five brothers, lest they too end up in this place of torment.’ ²⁹ But Abraham responded, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets. Let them listen to them.’

³⁰ “He said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ ³¹ Abraham answered, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone should rise from the dead.’ ”