Lucas 16

¹ He said, likewise, to his disciples, A certain rich man had a steward, who was accused to him of wasting his estate.

² Having, therefore, called him, he said, What is this that I hear of you? Render an account of your management, for you shall be steward no longer.

³ And the steward said within himself, What shall I do? My master takes from me the stewardship; I can not dig, and am ashamed to beg.

⁴ I am resolved what to do, that when I am discarded, there may be some who will receive me into their houses.

⁵ Having, therefore, sent severally for all his master's debtors, he asked one, How much do you owe my master?

⁶ He answered, A hundred baths of oil. Take back your bill, said the steward, sit down directly, and write fifty.

⁷ Then he asked another, How much do you owe? He answered, A hundred homers of wheat. Take back your bill, said he, and write eighty.

⁸ The master commended the prudence of the unjust steward; for the children of this world are more prudent in conducting their affairs, than the children of light.

⁹ Therefore, I say to you, with the deceitful riches procure to yourself friends, who, after your discharge, may receive you into the eternal mansion.

¹⁰ Whoso is faithful in little is faithful also in much: and whoso is unjust in little, is unjust also in much.

¹¹ If, therefore, you have not been honest in the deceitful, who will entrust you with the true riches?

¹² And if you have been unfaithful managers for another, who will give you anything to manage for yourselves?

¹³ A servant can not serve two masters: for either he will hate one, and love the other; or, at least, will attend one, and neglect the other. You can not serve God and mammon.

¹⁴ When the Pharisees, who loved money, heard all these things, they ridiculed him.

¹⁵ But he said to them, As for you, you make yourselves pass upon men for righteous, but God knows your hearts; for that which is admired of men is abhorred of God.

¹⁶ You had the law and the prophets till the coming of John, since whose time, the kingdom of God is announced, and every occupant enters it by force.

¹⁷ But sooner shall heaven and earth perish, than one tittle of the law shall fail.

¹⁸ Whoever divorces his wife, and takes another, commits adultery; and whoever marries the divorced woman, commits adultery.

¹⁹ There was a certain rich man, that wore purple and fine linen, and feasted splendidly every day.

²⁰ There was also a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, that was laid at his gate,

²¹ and who was desirous to feed on the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores.

²² It happened that the poor man died, and was conveyed by angels to Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried.

²³ And in hades, being in torments, he looked up, and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom,

²⁴ and cried, saying, Have pity on me, father Abraham, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tortured in this flame.

²⁵ Abraham answered, Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received good things, and Lazarus received evil things; but now he is in joy, and you are in torments.

²⁶ Besides, there lies a huge gulf between us and you, so that they who would pass hence to you, can not: neither can they pass to us, who would come thence.

²⁷ The other replied, I entreat you, then, father, to send him to my father's house;

²⁸ for I have five brothers, that he may admonish them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

²⁹ Abraham answered, They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them.

³⁰ Nay, said he, father Abraham, but if one went to them from the dead, they would reform.

³¹ Abraham replied, if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one should arise from the dead.