XL.

Parable of Lazarus.

THERE was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared

sumptuously every day:

2 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

3 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

4 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

5 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

6 And 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 tormented in this flame.

7 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and like

wise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

8 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

9 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 10 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

11 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

12 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

13 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

XLI.

Precepts to be Always Ready.

THEN said he unto the disciples, it is impossible

but that offences will come: but woe unto

him, through whom they come!

2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee. saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

5 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?

6 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?

7 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.

8 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

9 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he

answered them and said, The Kingdom of God cometh not with observation.

10 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

11 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

12 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

13 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

14 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

15 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his staff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.

16

17

Remember Lot's wife.

Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

18 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.

19 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

20 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

XLII.

Parables of the Widow and Judge, the Pharisee and Publican.

AND he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to

faint;

2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man,

5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary

me.