ThisHe said,and afterthat He saidto them, "Our friendLazarushas fallen asleep;but I go,sothat I may awaken him out of sleep."
Then Gehazipassedon beforethem and laidthe staffon the lad'sface,but therewas nosoundorresponse.So he returnedto meethim and toldhim, "The ladhas not awakened."
"Did You not, O our God,driveout the inhabitantsof thislandbeforeYour peopleIsraeland giveit to the descendantsof AbrahamYour friendforever?
Thus the LORDused to speakto Mosesfaceto face,justas a manspeaksto his friend.When Moses returnedto the camp,his servantJoshua,the sonof Nun,a youngman,would not departfrom the tent.
"But you, Israel,My servant,JacobwhomI have chosen,Descendantof AbrahamMy friend,
"Manyof those whosleepin the dustof the groundwill awake,theseto everlastinglife,but the othersto disgrace[and] everlastingcontempt.
The tombswere opened,and manybodiesof the saintswho had fallen asleepwere raised;
He said,"Leave;for the girlhas not died,but is asleep."And they [began] laughingat Him.
And enteringin, He saidto them, "Whymake a commotionand weep?The childhas not died,but is asleep."
"But ifanyonewalksin the night,he stumbles,becausethe lightis not in him."
The disciplesthensaidto Him, "Lord,ifhe has fallen asleep,he will recover."
NowJesushad spokenof his death,but they thoughtthat He was speakingof literalsleep.
Sothe sisterssent[word] to Him, saying,"Lord,behold,he whomYou loveis sick."
"He who hasthe brideis the bridegroom;but the friendof the bridegroom,who standsand hearshim, rejoicesgreatlybecauseof the bridegroom'svoice.Sothisjoyof minehas been made full.
Thenfallingon his knees,he criedout with a loudvoice,"Lord,do not holdthissinagainst them!" Having saidthis,he fell asleep.
Thenthosealsowho have fallen asleepin Christhave perished.
Become sober-mindedas you ought,and stopsinning;for somehaveno knowledgeof God.I speak[this] to your shame.
Behold,I tellyou a mystery;we will not allsleep,but we will allbe changed,
For this reasonit says,"Awake,sleeper,And arisefrom the dead,And Christwill shineon you."
The LORDsaidto Moses,"Behold,you are about to liedownwith your fathers;and thispeoplewill ariseand playthe harlotwith the strangegodsof the land,into the midstof whichthey are going,and will forsakeMe and breakMy covenantwhichI have madewith them.
who diedfor us, sothat whetherwe are awakeorasleep,we will livetogetherwith Him.
and the Scripturewas fulfilledwhich says,"AND ABRAHAMBELIEVEDGOD,AND IT WAS RECKONEDTO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,"and he was calledthe friendof God.
