Luke 18
1 And he was speaking a parable unto them, as to its being needful for them always to pray, and not be faint-hearted;
[Jesus] told [his disciples] a parable to teach them that they always ought to pray confidently and not be discouraged [if God does not immediately answer their prayers].
2 saying—A certain judge, there was in a certain city, —having, for God, no reverence, and, for man, no respect.
He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not revere God, and did not care about people, either.
3 And, a widow, there was, in that city; and she kept coming unto him, saying—Vindicate me from mine adversary!
There was a widow in that city who kept coming to him, saying, ‘Please decide what is just [in the dispute between me and] the man who is opposing me [in court!’]
4 And he was unwilling for a time; but, after these things, he said within himself—Although, neither God, I reverence, nor man, I respect,
For a long time the judge refused [to help her]. But later he thought to himself, ‘I do not revere God and I do not care about people,
5 Yet, if only because this widow annoyeth me, I will vindicate her, —lest, persistently coming, she wholly wear me out.
but this widow keeps bothering me! So I will make sure that she is treated justly. [If I do not do that], she will exhaust me by continually coming to me!’”
6 And the Lord said—Hear ye what, the unrighteous judge saith; —
Then the Lord [Jesus] said, “[Even though] the judge was not a righteous man, think carefully about what he said!
7 And shall, God, in any wise not execute the vindication of his chosen ones, who are crying out to him day and night, although he beareth long with regard to them?
[Similarly], (God will certainly show that [what you] have done has been right!/will God not show that [what you] have done has been right?) [RHQ] He will do this for you whom he has chosen. [He will do this for you] who pray earnestly to him night and day, asking him to [help you]. He may delay [helping you].
8 I tell you—He will execute their vindication, quickly! nevertheless, though, the Son of Man, do come, will he, after all, find the faith on the earth?
But I tell you, [some day] he will show that what you did was right, and he will do it quickly. But when [I], the one who came from heaven, return to earth, (there may not be [many people who will still] be trusting [that I will vindicate them] (OR, who will still be trusting in me)./will there be [many people who will still] be trusting [that I will vindicate them] (OR, who will still be trusting in me)?) [RHQ]”
9 And he spake, even unto certain who were confident in themselves that they were righteous, and were despising the rest, this parable: —
[Jesus] also told a parable [to warn] people who mistakenly thought that they were doing things that made them acceptable to God. Besides, they also despised other people.
10 Two men, went up into the temple to pray, one, a Pharisee, and, the other, a tax-collector.
[He said this]: “Two men went up to the Temple [in Jerusalem] to pray. One was a Pharisee. The other was a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee, taking his stand, these things unto himself was praying: O God! I thank thee, that I am not like the rest of men, —extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or, even as this tax-collector;
The Pharisee stood and prayed silently, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men. [Some] extort money [from others]; some treat others unjustly; some commit adultery. [I do not do such things. And I am certainly not] like this tax collector [who cheats people]!
12 I fast twice in the week, I give a tenth of whatsoever things I gain!
[Our law says that we(exc) should] (fast/abstain from food) [once a week], [but I do more than that. I] fast twice a week! I give [you] ten percent of all that I earn!’
13 But, the tax-collector, afar off, standing, —would not so much as lift up, his eyes, unto heaven, but kept smiting his own breast saying—O God! be propitiated unto me, the sinner!
But the tax collector stood far [from the other people in the Temple courtyard because he felt very unworthy]. He would not even look up toward heaven. Instead, he beat on his chest [to show that he was sorry for his sin]. He said, ‘God, I am a sinner; be merciful to me [and forgive me]!’”
14 I tell you—This one went down justified, unto his house, rather than that one; because, every one who exalteth himself, shall be abased, but, he that abaseth himself, shall be exalted?
[Then Jesus said], “I tell you [(pl)] that as the tax collector went home, the record of his sins was erased {[God] erased the record of his sins}, not that of the Pharisee. [Remember this]: Those who exalt themselves will be humbled {[God] will humble all those who exalt themselves}, but those who humble themselves will be exalted {[he] will exalt those who humble themselves}.”
15 And they were bringing unto him, even the babes, that he might touch, them; but the disciples, seeing it, began to rebuke them.
[One day when many people were coming to Jesus], they were also bringing small children. They wanted him to put his hands on [the children and bless them]. When the disciples saw that, they rebuked [those who were bringing those children].
16 But, Jesus, called them near, saying—Suffer, the children, to be coming unto me, and do not hinder them; for, of such, is the kingdom of God.
But Jesus called the children [to come to him]. He said to his disciples, “Let the children come to me! Do not stop them! It is people who are [humble and trusting] like they are who can experience God ruling [their lives].
17 Verily I say unto you—Whosoever shall not welcome the kingdom of God, as a child, in nowise shall enter thereinto.
Note this: Those who do not [trust God and] allow him to direct [their lives], as children [do], will not enter the [MET] place where God rules.”
18 And a certain, ruler, questioned him, saying—Good Teacher! by doing what, shall I inherit life age-abiding? (aiōnios g166)
A [Jewish] leader asked [Jesus], “Good teacher, what shall I do in order to have eternal life?” (aiōnios g166)
19 But Jesus said to him—Why, callest thou me, good? None, is good, save one—God.
Jesus said to him, “Only God is good! No one [else] is good! (So you(sg) should consider carefully what [you are implying by] calling me good!/[Do you realize that you are implying that I am God by] calling me good?) [RHQ]
20 The commandments, thou knowest: —Do not commit adultery, Do not commit murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, —Honour thy father and mother,
[But to answer your question], you [(sg)] know the commandments that [God gave Moses. He commanded such things as] ‘do not commit adultery, do not commit murder, do not steal, do not testify falsely [about what you have seen or heard], honor your father and mother.’”
21 And, he, said—All these things, have I kept from my youth.
The man said, “I have obeyed all those [commandments] ever since I was young. [So] ([there must be something else I have not done./is that enough]?)”
22 And Jesus, hearing, said unto him—Yet one thing, unto thee, is lacking: Whatsoever thou hast, sell, and distribute unto the destitute, —and thou shalt have treasure in [the] heavens; and come! be following me.
When Jesus heard [him say] that, he replied to him, “There is one thing that you [(sg)] have not [done] yet. Sell all that you own. Then give [the money] to poor people. [The result will be that] you will have [spiritual] riches in heaven. Then come and be my disciple!”
23 But, he, hearing these things, became, encompassed with grief; for he was rich exceedingly.
The man became sad when he heard that, because he was very rich [and he did not want to give everything away].
24 And Jesus, beholding him, said—With what difficulty, shall, they who have money, enter, into the kingdom of God.
Jesus looked at the man [as he left], and said, “It is very difficult for those who are wealthy [to decide] to let God rule [MET] their [lives].
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.
[You would say] that it is impossible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. It is [almost] as difficult [HYP] for rich people [to decide] to let God rule their [lives].”
26 And they who heard said—Who, then, can be saved?
[The Jews thought that God favored rich people, so they thought that if God did not save rich people, he would not save others, either]. So [one of the disciples] who heard him say that replied, “If that is so, it seems that no one will be saved {[that God] will not save anyone} [RHQ]!”
27 And, he, said—The things impossible with men, are, possible with God.
But Jesus said, “It is impossible for people [to save themselves]. But [God can save them, because] God can do anything!”
28 And Peter said—Lo! we, have left our own possessions, and followed thee!
Then Peter said, “[You know that we(exc) have left] everything we had and have become your disciples [RHQ]. [So what about us?] (OR, [So will God accept/save us?]”)
29 And, he, said unto them—Verily, I say unto you—No one, is there, who hath left—house, or wife, or brethren, or parents, or children, —for the sake of the kingdom of God;
He said to them, “Keep this in mind: Those who have left [their] homes, [their] wives, [their] brothers, [their] parents, [their] children, [or any other family members], [to tell others] about how God wants to rule [MET] [people’s lives],
31 And, taking aside the twelve, he said unto them—Lo! we are going up unto Jerusalem, and all the things will be finished, which have been written through means of the prophets, respecting the Son of Man;
[Jesus] took the twelve [disciples] to a place by themselves and said to them, “Listen carefully! We [(inc)] are [now] going up to Jerusalem. [While we are there], everything that has been written by the prophets {that the prophets have written} about [me], the one who came from heaven, will be fulfilled {will occur}.
32 For he will be delivered up unto the nations, and be mocked, and insulted, and spit upon, —
I will be put into the hands of {[My enemies] will hand me over to} non-Jews. [The non-Jews] will make fun of me and mistreat me and spit on me.
33 and, having scourged him, they will slay him, and, on the third day, will, he, arise.
They will whip me, and [then] they will kill me. But on the third day [after that] I will become alive again.”
34 And, they, not one of these things, understood, and this saying was hidden from them, and the could not comprehend the things spoken.
But [the disciples] did not understand any of those things that [he said]. They were prevented {[Something] prevented them} from understanding the meaning of what [he] was telling [them].
35 And it came to pass, as he was drawing near unto Jericho, a certain blind man, was sitting beside the road, begging.
As [Jesus and his disciples] came near to Jericho [city], a blind man was sitting beside the road. [He was] begging [for money].
36 And. hearkening unto a multitude moving along, he enquired, what this, might be.
When he heard the crowd [of people] passing by, he asked someone, “What is happening?”
37 And they told him—Jesus of Nazareth, is passing by!
They told him, “Jesus, [the man] from Nazareth [town], is passing by.”
38 And he cried aloud, saying—Jesus, son of David! have mercy upon me!
He shouted, “Jesus, [you who are] descended from [King] David, [the Messiah], pity me!”
39 And, they that were going before, began to rebuke him, that he might hold his peace. But, he, by so much the more, was crying out—O Son of David! have mercy upon me!
Those who were [walking] at the front [of the crowd] scolded the man [and] told him to be quiet. But he shouted more loudly, “You who are descended from [King] David, [the Messiah], pity me!”
40 And, standing still, Jesus commanded him to be led unto him; and, when he had drawn near, he questioned him—
Jesus stopped and told [people] to bring the man to him. When [the blind man] came near, Jesus asked him,
41 What desirest thou, I should do unto thee? And, he, said—Lord! …that I may recover sight!
“What do you [(sg)] want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, enable me to see [again]!”
42 And, Jesus, said unto him—Recover sight! Thy faith, hath saved thee.
Jesus said to him, “[Then] see! Because you have trusted [PRS] [in me], [I] have healed you!”
43 And, instantly, he recovered sight, and began to follow him, glorifying God. And, all the people, beholding, gave praise unto God.
Immediately he was able to see! And he went with [Jesus], praising God. And when all the people who were [going with Jesus] saw it, they also praised God.
