Bible Verses About The Happiness of the Wicked: Illustrated

And he gave them this illustration: “There was a man whose land was very productive.

He debated with himself, ‘What should I do? I haven’t enough room for all my crops.’

Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and I’ll store all my wheat and other goods there.

Then I’ll say to myself, “You’re a lucky man! You have a big supply of goods laid up that will last many years. Start taking it easy! Eat! Drink! Enjoy yourself!”’

But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night you will die! And the things you prepared — whose will they be?’

“Once there was a rich man who used to dress in the most expensive clothing and spent his days in magnificent luxury.

At his gate had been laid a beggar named El‘azar who was covered with sores.

He would have been glad to eat the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table; but instead, even the dogs would come and lick his sores.

In time the beggar died and was carried away by the angels to Avraham’s side; the rich man also died and was buried.

“In Sh’ol, where he was in torment, the rich man looked up and saw Avraham far away with El‘azar at his side.

He called out, ‘Father Avraham, take pity on me, and send El‘azar just to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool my tongue, because I’m in agony in this fire!’

However, Avraham said, ‘Son, remember that when you were alive, you got the good things while he got the bad; but now he gets his consolation here, while you are the one in agony.