< Luke 18 >

1 He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray, and not give up,
Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and never despair.
2 saying, "There was a judge in a certain city who did not fear God, and did not respect people.
‘There was,’ he said, ‘in a certain town a judge, who had no fear of God nor regard for people.
3 A widow was in that city, and she often came to him, saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.'
In the same town there was a widow who went to him again and again, and said “Grant me justice against my opponent.”
4 He would not for a while, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God, nor respect people,
For a time the judge refused, but afterwards he said to himself “Although I am without fear of God or regard for people,
5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her justice, or else she will wear me out by her continual coming.'"
yet, as this widow is so troublesome, I will grant her justice, to stop her from plaguing me with her endless visits.”’
6 The Lord said, "Listen to what the unrighteous judge says.
Then the Master added, ‘Listen to what this iniquitous judge says!
7 Won't God avenge his chosen ones, who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them?
And God – won’t he see that his own people, who cry to him night and day, have justice done them – though he holds his hand?
8 I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
He will, I tell you, give them justice soon enough! Yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?’
9 He spoke also this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others.
Another time, speaking to people who were satisfied that they were religious, and who regarded everyone else with scorn, Jesus told this parable –
10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.
‘Two men went up into the Temple Courts to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax-gatherer.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: 'God, I thank you, that I am not like other people, extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
The Pharisee stood forward and began praying to himself in this way – “God, I thank you that I am not like other men – thieves, rogues, adulterers – or even like this tax-gatherer.
12 I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.'
I fast twice a week, and give a tenth of everything I get to God.”
13 But the tax collector, standing far away, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner.'
Meanwhile the tax-gatherer stood at a distance, not venturing even to raise his eyes to heaven, but he kept striking his breast and saying “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."
This man, I tell you, went home pardoned, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, while everyone who humbles himself will be exalted.’
15 Now they were also bringing their babies to him, that he might touch them. But when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
Some of the people were bringing even their babies to Jesus, for him to touch them; but, when the disciples saw it, they began to find fault with those who had brought them.
16 Yeshua summoned them, saying, "Allow the little children to come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Jesus, however, called the little children to him. ‘Let the little children come to me,’ he said, ‘and do not hinder them, for it is to the childlike that the kingdom of God belongs.
17 Truly, I tell you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child, he will in no way enter into it."
I tell you, unless a man receives the kingdom of God like a child, he will not enter it at all.’
18 A certain ruler asked him, saying, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit everlasting life?" (aiōnios g166)
And one of the leaders asked Jesus this question – ‘Good teacher, what must I do if I am to gain eternal life?’ (aiōnios g166)
19 Yeshua asked him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good, except one—God.
‘Why do you call me good?’ answered Jesus. ‘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 your mother.'"
You know the commandments – Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not say what is false about others, Honour your father and your mother.’
21 And he said, "I have kept all these things from my youth up."
‘I have observed all these,’ he replied, ‘from childhood.’
22 When Yeshua heard it, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have, and distribute it to the poor. You will have treasure in heaven. Come, follow me."
Hearing this, Jesus said to him, ‘There is one thing still lacking in you; sell everything that you have, and distribute to the poor, and you will have wealth in heaven; then come and follow me.’
23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was very rich.
But the man became greatly distressed on hearing this, for he was extremely rich.
24 And Yeshua looked at him and said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into the Kingdom of God.
Seeing this, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘How hard it is for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!
25 For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle's eye, than for a rich person to enter into the Kingdom of God."
It is easier, indeed, for a camel to get through a needle’s eye than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God!’
26 Those who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?"
‘Then who can be saved?’ asked those who heard this.
27 But he said, "The things which are impossible with man are possible with God."
But Jesus said, ‘What is impossible with people is possible with God.’
28 And Kipha said, "Look, we have left our own things and followed you."
‘But we,’ said Peter, ‘we left what belonged to us and followed you.’
29 He said to them, "Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for the Kingdom of God's sake,
‘I tell you,’ he answered, ‘that there is no one 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 more in this time, and in the world to come, everlasting life." (aiōn g165, aiōnios g166)
who will not receive many times as much in the present, and in the age that is coming eternal life.’ (aiōn g165, aiōnios g166)
31 He took the twelve aside, and said to them, "Look, we are going up to Urishlim, and all the things that are written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be completed.
Gathering the Twelve round him, Jesus said to them, ‘Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem; and there everything that is written in the prophets will be done to the Son of Man.
32 For he will be delivered up to the non-Jews, will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit on.
For he will be given up to the Gentiles, mocked, insulted and spat on;
33 They will scourge and kill him. On the third day, he will rise again."
they will scourge him, and then put him to death; and on the third day he will rise again.’
34 They understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not understand the things that were said.
The apostles did not comprehend any of this. His meaning was unintelligible to them and they did not understand what he was saying.
35 It happened, as he came near Irikhu, a certain blind man sat by the road, begging.
As Jesus was getting near Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside, begging.
36 Hearing a crowd going by, he asked what this meant.
Hearing a crowd going by, the man asked what was the matter;
37 They told him that Yeshua of Natsrath was passing by.
and, when people told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing,
38 He called out, "Yeshua, Son of Dawid, have mercy on me."
he shouted out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, take pity on me!’
39 Those who led the way rebuked him, that he should be quiet; but he shouted all the more, "Son of Dawid, have mercy on me."
Those who were in front kept telling him to be quiet, but he continued to call out the louder, ‘Son of David, take pity on me!’
40 Standing still, Yeshua commanded him to be brought to him. When he had come near, he asked him,
Then Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. And, when he had come close up to him, Jesus asked him,
41 "What do you want me to do?" He said, "Lord, that I may see again."
‘What do you want me to do for you?’ ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I want to recover my sight.’
42 Yeshua said to him, "Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you."
And Jesus said, ‘Recover your sight, your faith has delivered you.’
43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw it, praised God.
Instantly he recovered his sight, and began to follow Jesus, praising God. And all the people, on seeing it, gave glory to God.

< Luke 18 >