Luke, 18

1. Then he told them a parable about the need to pray continually and never lose heart.

1. And he told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

2. 'There was a judge in a certain town,' he said, 'who had neither fear of God nor respect for anyone.

2. He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor regarded man;

3. In the same town there was also a widow who kept on coming to him and saying, "I want justice from you against my enemy!"

3. and there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, `Vindicate me against my adversary.'

4. For a long time he refused, but at last he said to himself, "Even though I have neither fear of God nor respect for any human person,

4. For a while he refused; but afterward he said to himself, `Though I neither fear God nor regard man,

5. I must give this widow her just rights since she keeps pestering me, or she will come and slap me in the face." '

5. yet because this widow bothers me, I will vindicate her, or she will wear me out by her continual coming.'"

6. And the Lord said, 'You notice what the unjust judge has to say?

6. And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says.

7. Now, will not God see justice done to his elect if they keep calling to him day and night even though he still delays to help them?

7. And will not God vindicate his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?

8. I promise you, he will see justice done to them, and done speedily. But when the Son of man comes, will he find any faith on earth?'

8. I tell you, he will vindicate them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

9. He spoke the following parable to some people who prided themselves on being upright and despised everyone else,

9. He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others:

10. 'Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax collector.

10. "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

11. The Pharisee stood there and said this prayer to himself, "I thank you, God, that I am not grasping, unjust, adulterous like everyone else, and particularly that I am not like this tax collector here.

11. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, `God, I thank thee that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

12. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes on all I get."

12. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.'

13. The tax collector stood some distance away, not daring even to raise his eyes to heaven; but he beat his breast and said, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner."

13. But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, `God, be merciful to me a sinner!'

14. This man, I tell you, went home again justified; the other did not. For everyone who raises himself up will be humbled, but anyone who humbles himself will be raised up.'

14. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

15. People even brought babies to him, for him to touch them; but when the disciples saw this they scolded them.

15. Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

16. But Jesus called the children to him and said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.

16. But Jesus called them to him, saying, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God.

17. In truth I tell you, anyone who does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.'

17. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it."

18. One of the rulers put this question to him, 'Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?'

18. And a ruler asked him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

19. Jesus said to him, 'Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.

19. And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.

20. You know the commandments: You shall not commit adultery; You shall not kill; You shall not steal; You shall not give false witness; Honour your father and your mother.'

20. You know the commandments: `Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.'"

21. He replied, 'I have kept all these since my earliest days.'

21. And he said, "All these I have observed from my youth."

22. And when Jesus heard this he said, 'There is still one thing you lack. Sell everything you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.'

22. And when Jesus heard it, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."

23. But when he heard this he was overcome with sadness, for he was very rich.

23. But when he heard this he became sad, for he was very rich.

24. Jesus looked at him and said, 'How hard it is for those who have riches to make their way into the kingdom of God!

24. Jesus looking at him said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!

25. Yes, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for someone rich to enter the kingdom of God.'

25. For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

26. Those who were listening said, 'In that case, who can be saved?'

26. Those who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?"

27. He replied, 'Things that are impossible by human resources, are possible for God.'

27. But he said, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."

28. But Peter said, 'Look, we left all we had to follow you.'

28. And Peter said, "Lo, we have left our homes and followed you."

29. He said to them, 'In truth I tell you, there is no one who has left house, wife, brothers, parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God

29. And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there is no man who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,

30. who will not receive many times as much in this present age and, in the world to come, eternal life.'

30. who will not receive manifold more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life."

31. Then taking the Twelve aside he said to them, 'Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of man is to come true.

31. And taking the twelve, he said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written of the Son of man by the prophets will be accomplished.

32. For he will be handed over to the gentiles and will be mocked, maltreated and spat on,

32. For he will be delivered to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon;

33. and when they have scourged him they will put him to death; and on the third day he will rise again.'

33. they will scourge him and kill him, and on the third day he will rise."

34. But they could make nothing of this; what he said was quite obscure to them, they did not understand what he was telling them.

34. But they understood none of these things; this saying was hid from them, and they did not grasp what was said.

35. Now it happened that as he drew near to Jericho there was a blind man sitting at the side of the road begging.

35. As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging;

36. When he heard the crowd going past he asked what it was all about,

36. and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant.

37. and they told him that Jesus the Nazarene was passing by.

37. They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."

38. So he called out, 'Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me.'

38. And he cried, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

39. The people in front scolded him and told him to keep quiet, but he only shouted all the louder, 'Son of David, have pity on me.'

39. And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

40. Jesus stopped and ordered them to bring the man to him, and when he came up, asked him,

40. And Jesus stopped, and commanded him to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him,

41. 'What do you want me to do for you?' 'Sir,' he replied, 'let me see again.'

41. "What do you want me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, let me receive my sight."

42. Jesus said to him, 'Receive your sight. Your faith has saved you.'

42. And Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well."

43. And instantly his sight returned and he followed him praising God, and all the people who saw it gave praise to God.

43. And immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.