Luke 18
1 Jesus told them this story to encourage them to pray at all times, and not to become discouraged.
He also taught them by a parable how they ought always to pray and never to lose heart.
2 “Once there was a judge in this particular town who didn't respect God or care about anyone,” Jesus explained.
"There was a certain town," he said, "a judge who had neither reverence for God, nor respect for man.
3 “In the same town lived a widow who time and again went to the judge, saying, ‘Give me justice in the case against my enemy!’
"In that same town there was a widow who came again and again before him, saying, "‘Do for me the justice of my adversary.’
4 For a while he didn't want to do anything about it, but eventually he said to himself, ‘Even though I don't respect God or care about anyone,
"For a while he would not, but afterwards he said to himself, ‘Though I have neither reverence for God nor regard for man,
5 this widow is so annoying I'll make sure she receives justice. Then she won't wear me out by her coming to see me so often.’
"‘yet because this woman annoys me I will give her justice, lest by her continual coming she wear me out.’
6 Listen to what even an unjust judge decided,” said the Lord.
"Listen" said the Lord, "to what this unjust judge says.
7 “Don't you think that God will make sure his chosen people receive justice, those who cry out to him day and night? Do you think he will make them wait?
"And will not God see justice done to his elect who are crying unto him day and night, even if he seems to delay helping them?
8 No, I tell you, he will give them justice quickly. However, when the Son of man comes, will he find people on earth who trust in him?”
"I tell you that he will quickly see justice done to his elect! Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith upon the earth?"
9 He also told this story about those who are so sure that they are living right, and who put everybody else down.
Moreover he spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves because they were righteous, and looked down upon the rest.
10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector.
"Two men are going up to the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, the other a tax-gatherer.
11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed to himself, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—cheats, criminals, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
"The Pharisee stood apart and thus began to pray by himself. "‘O God, I thank thee that I am not like the rest of men, extortioners, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax gatherer;
12 I fast twice a week, and I pay tithe on my income.’
"‘I fast twice a week, I pay tithes of all my possessions.’
13 But the tax collector stood at a distance. He wouldn't even look up to heaven. Instead he beat his chest and prayed, ‘God, please be merciful to me. I am a sinner.’
"But the tax-gatherer, standing far back, would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven, but kept beating his breast and saying, "‘O God be merciful to me, the sinner!’
14 I tell you, it was this man who went home right in God's sight and not the other. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, while those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
"I tell you that this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one who exalts himself shall be humbled; but he who humbles himself shall be exalted."
15 Parents were bringing their infants to Jesus to have him bless them by his touch. When the disciples saw what was happening, they tried to stop them.
And they kept bringing their babies for him to touch them; but when his disciples saw it they began to rebuke them.
16 But Jesus called the children to him. “Let the little children come to me,” he said. “Don't prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to those who are like them.
But Jesus called for the babies. "Let the little children come to me," he said, "do not hinder them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
17 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
"I tell you in solemn truth that whoever will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child, he will never get into it."
18 One of the rulers came to Jesus and asked him, “Good Teacher, what do I have to do to inherit eternal life?” (aiōnios g166)
A ruler put this question to him. "Good teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" (aiōnios g166)
19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good, only God.
"Why are you calling me ‘good’?"said Jesus to him; "no one is good but God.
20 You know the commandments: do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.”
"You know the commandments. "Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother."
21 “I've kept all these commandments since I was young,” the man replied.
"All of these," he replied, "I have kept from my youth up."
22 When Jesus heard this he told the man, “You still lack one thing. Go and sell all you have, give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me!”
And receiving this reply, Jesus said to him. "One thing you are still lacking. Sell all that you have and give it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me."
23 But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very wealthy.
But when he heard these words he became deeply grieved, for he was exceedingly rich.
24 When he saw his reaction, Jesus said, “How difficult it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!
Jesus looked at him and said. "How hard it is for those who have money to enter into the kingdom of God!
25 It's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
Why, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."
26 Those who heard this wondered, “Who can be saved then?”
"Who then can be saved?" exclaimed his hearers.
27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible in human terms is possible for God.”
"Things that are impossible with men," he answered them, "are possible with God."
28 Peter said, “We left everything to follow you!”
Then Peter said, "Look! we have left our homes and followed you."
29 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus told them, “anybody who leaves behind their home, wife, brothers, parents, or children for the sake of God's kingdom
And he said to them, "In Solemn truth I tell you that there is no one who, for the sake of the kingdom of God, has left houses, or wife, or brother, or parents, or children,
31 Jesus took the twelve disciples aside, and told them, “We're going to Jerusalem, and all that the prophets wrote about the Son of man will be fulfilled.
Then he took the twelve aside and told them. "See, we are on our way to Jerusalem, and all prophets regarding the son of Man will be fulfilled.
32 He will be handed over to the foreigners he will be mocked, insulted, and spat upon.
"He will be betrayed to the Gentiles, and be mocked, and shamefully treated, and spit upon;
33 They will flog him and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again.”
"and they will scourge and kill him; and the third day he will rise again."
34 But they didn't understand anything Jesus told them. The meaning was hidden from them and they didn't grasp what he was talking about.
But they understood none of these sayings. His words were a mystery to them, and they did not know what he meant.
35 As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting beside the road begging.
As Jesus drew near to Jericho, there was a blind man who sat by the wayside begging.
36 He heard the crowd going past, so he asked what was happening.
He heard the crowd passing and asked what the matter was.
37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."
38 He called out, “Jesus, son of David, please have mercy on me!”
Then he shouted out, saying, "Jesus, son of David, take pity on me!"
39 Those at the front of the crowd told him to stop shouting and be quiet, but he only shouted louder, “Son of David, please have mercy on me!”
Those who went ahead began to reprove him and to tell him to be still; but he kept clamorously shouting all the more, "Son of David, take pity on me!"
40 Jesus stopped and told them to bring the blind man to him. As he came over, Jesus asked him,
So Jesus stopped and ordered him to be brought to him. When he was come near to him he asked him
41 “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, please, I want to see,” he pleaded.
"What do you want me to do for you?" "Lord," he answered, "that I might see again."
42 “Then see!” Jesus told him. “Your trust in me has healed you.”
"Receive your sight," said Jesus, "your faith has saved you."
43 Immediately the man could see. He followed Jesus, praising God. Everyone there who saw what happened also praised God.
Instantly he regained his sight and followed Jesus, giving glory to God; and all the people who saw it gave praise to God.
