19. "There was a rich
man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every
day.
20. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores
21. and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs
came and licked his sores.
22. "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him
to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried.
23. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far
away, with Lazarus by his side.
24. So he called to him, `Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus
to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am
in agony in this fire.'
25. "But Abraham replied, `Son, remember that in your lifetime you
received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now
he is comforted here and you are in agony.
26. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed,
so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross
over from there to us.'
27. "He answered, `Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's
house,
28. for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not
also come to this place of torment.'
29. "Abraham replied, `They have Moses and the Prophets; let them
listen to them.'
30. "`No, father Abraham,' he said, `but if someone from the dead
goes to them, they will repent.'
31. "He said to him, `If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets,
they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"
1. Now there was a man of
the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council.
2. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a
teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous
signs you are doing if God were not with him."
3. In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see
the kingdom of God unless he is born again. "
36. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects
the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."
12. Restore to me the joy
of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back
to you.