"There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and lived sumptuously every day. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, who was laid at his gate, covered with sores, hoping to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And one day the beggar died, and was carried by the Angels to be beside Abraham. The rich man also died, and was buried in hell where he was in torment and he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side. And he cried out and said, Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am torment in this fire.

           But Abraham said, My Son, remember that in your lifetime you received good things, and Lazarus received only bad things, but now he is comforted and you are tormented.

           And beside all things, between you and us there is a great gulf that has been fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot; neither can anyone cross over to us.

           Then the rich man said, I bed you therefore, father Abraham, send him to my father's house for I have five brothers that he may warn them, so they will not also come into this place of torment. Whereupon he said ‘No, father Abraham; but if someone from the dead went to them, they would repent.’ And Abraham told him: ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets; neither will they be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead."