Luke 18
1 And He also spoke an allegory to them, that it is always necessary to pray and not to faint,
Jesus told them this story to encourage them to pray at all times, and not to become discouraged.
2 saying, “A certain judge was in a certain city—he is not fearing God, and he is not regarding man—
“Once there was a judge in this particular town who didn't respect God or care about anyone,” Jesus explained.
3 and a widow was in that city, and she was coming to him, saying, Do me justice on my opponent,
“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!’
4 and he would not for a time, but after these things he said in himself, Even if I do not fear God, and do not regard man,
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,
5 yet because this widow gives me trouble, I will do her justice, lest, continuously coming, she may bruise me.”
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.’
6 And the LORD said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says:
Listen to what even an unjust judge decided,” said the Lord.
7 and will God not execute justice to His chosen ones, who are crying to Him day and night—bearing long in regard to them?
“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?
8 I say to you that He will execute justice to them quickly; but the Son of Man having come, will He find faith on the earth?”
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?”
9 And He also spoke to some who have been trusting in themselves that they were righteous, and have been despising the rest, this allegory:
He also told this story about those who are so sure that they are living right, and who put everybody else down.
10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector;
“Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector.
11 the Pharisee having stood by himself, thus prayed: God, I thank You that I am not as the rest of men, rapacious, unrighteous, adulterers, or even as this tax collector;
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.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all things—as many as I possess.
I fast twice a week, and I pay tithe on my income.’
13 And the tax collector, having stood far off, would not even lift up the eyes to the sky, but was striking on his breast, saying, God be propitious to me—the sinner!
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.’
14 I say to you, this one went down declared righteous, to his house, rather than that one: for everyone who is exalting himself will be humbled, and he who is humbling himself will be exalted.”
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.”
15 And they were also bringing the babies near, that He may touch them, and the disciples having seen, rebuked them,
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.
16 and Jesus having called them near, said, “Permit the little children to come to Me, and do not forbid them, for of such is the Kingdom of God;
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.
17 truly I say to you, whoever may not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child, may not enter into it.”
I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
18 And a certain ruler questioned Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what having done—will I inherit continuous life?” (aiōnios g166)
One of the rulers came to Jesus and asked him, “Good Teacher, what do I have to do to inherit eternal life?” (aiōnios g166)
19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one [is] good, except one—God;
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good, only God.
20 you have known the commands: You may not commit adultery, You may not murder, You may not steal, You may not bear false witness, Honor your father and your mother.”
You know the commandments: do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.”
21 And he said, “All these I kept from my youth”;
“I've kept all these commandments since I was young,” the man replied.
22 and having heard these things, Jesus said to him, “Yet one thing to you is lacking: all things—as many as you have—sell, and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven, and come, follow Me”;
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!”
23 and he, having heard these things, became very sorrowful, for he was exceedingly rich.
But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very wealthy.
24 And Jesus having seen him become very sorrowful, said, “How hardly will those having riches enter into the Kingdom of God!
When he saw his reaction, Jesus said, “How difficult it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!
25 For it is easier for a camel to enter through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God.”
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.”
26 And those who heard, said, “And who is able to be saved?”
Those who heard this wondered, “Who can be saved then?”
27 And He said, “The things impossible with men are possible with God.”
Jesus replied, “What is impossible in human terms is possible for God.”
28 And Peter said, “Behold, we left all, and followed You”;
Peter said, “We left everything to follow you!”
29 and He said to them, “Truly I say to you that there is not one who left house, or parents, or brothers, or wife, or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God,
“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
31 And having taken the Twelve aside, He said to them, “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things will be accomplished that have been written through the prophets to the Son of Man,
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.
32 for He will be delivered up to the nations, and will be mocked, and insulted, and spit on,
He will be handed over to the foreigners he will be mocked, insulted, and spat upon.
33 and having scourged they will put Him to death, and on the third day He will rise again.”
They will flog him and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again.”
34 And they understood none of these things, and this saying was hid from them, and they were not knowing the things said.
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.
35 And it came to pass, in His coming near to Jericho, a certain blind man was sitting beside the way begging,
As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting beside the road begging.
36 and having heard a multitude going by, he was inquiring what this may be,
He heard the crowd going past, so he asked what was happening.
37 and they brought him word that Jesus the Nazarene passes by,
They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
38 and he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, deal kindly with me”;
He called out, “Jesus, son of David, please have mercy on me!”
39 and those going before were rebuking him, that he might be silent, but he was crying out much more, “Son of David, deal kindly with me!”
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!”
40 And Jesus having stood, commanded him to be brought to Him, and he having come near, He questioned him,
Jesus stopped and told them to bring the blind man to him. As he came over, Jesus asked him,
41 saying, “What do you will I will do to you?” And he said, “Lord, that I may receive sight.”
“What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, please, I want to see,” he pleaded.
42 And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has saved you”;
“Then see!” Jesus told him. “Your trust in me has healed you.”
43 and instantly he received sight, and was following Him, glorifying God; and all the people, having seen, gave praise to God.
Immediately the man could see. He followed Jesus, praising God. Everyone there who saw what happened also praised God.
