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35. Of the rich Man and the poor Lazarus.
What is owed on earth
is accounted for in heaven. There was a rich man who clothed himself in
purple and fine linen and lived in splendour and joy all his days. But
there was a poor man named Lazarus, who lay at his door full of flocks,
desiring to be filled with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's
table. But it came to pass that the poor man died and was carried by the
angels into Abraham's bosom, that is, to the place where the pious are
happy after their death and comforted for their suffering. But the rich
man also died and was buried. When he was in hell and in torment, he
lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham from afar and Lazarum in his bosom.
Then he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send
Lazarum to dip the end of his finger in the water and cool my tongue,
for I am suffering torment in this flame.’ And Abraham said, "Remember,
son, that you have received your good in your life, and Lazarus has
received evil; but now he is comforted, and you are tormented. And for
all this there is a great gulf fixed between us and you. You and we
cannot come together." Then he said, ‘I pray thee, father, that thou
send Lazarus to my father's house; for I have yet five brethren, that he
may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’
Abraham said to him, "They have Moses and the prophets. Let them hear
them!" But he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if one of the dead were to
go to them, they would repent.’ Abraham replied: ‘If they do not hear
Moses and the prophets, they will not believe even if someone rises from
the dead.’ Make yourself worthy on earth for the holy and blessed
kingdom of God, which is in heaven. Become rich in God!
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