Luke 18
1 [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].
And he was speaking a parable unto them, as to its being needful for them always to pray, and not be faint-hearted;
2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not revere God, and did not care about people, either.
saying—A certain judge, there was in a certain city, —having, for God, no reverence, and, for man, no respect.
3 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!’]
And, a widow, there was, in that city; and she kept coming unto him, saying—Vindicate me from mine adversary!
4 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,
And he was unwilling for a time; but, after these things, he said within himself—Although, neither God, I reverence, nor man, I respect,
5 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!’”
Yet, if only because this widow annoyeth me, I will vindicate her, —lest, persistently coming, she wholly wear me out.
6 Then the Lord [Jesus] said, “[Even though] the judge was not a righteous man, think carefully about what he said!
And the Lord said—Hear ye what, the unrighteous judge saith; —
7 [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].
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?
8 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]”
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?
9 [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.
And he spake, even unto certain who were confident in themselves that they were righteous, and were despising the rest, this parable: —
10 [He said this]: “Two men went up to the Temple [in Jerusalem] to pray. One was a Pharisee. The other was a tax collector.
Two men, went up into the temple to pray, one, a Pharisee, and, the other, a tax-collector.
11 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]!
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;
12 [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!’
I fast twice in the week, I give a tenth of whatsoever things I gain!
13 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]!’”
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!
14 [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}.”
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?
15 [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].
And they were bringing unto him, even the babes, that he might touch, them; but the disciples, seeing it, began to rebuke them.
16 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].
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.
17 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.”
Verily I say unto you—Whosoever shall not welcome the kingdom of God, as a child, in nowise shall enter thereinto.
18 A [Jewish] leader asked [Jesus], “Good teacher, what shall I do in order to have eternal life?” (aiōnios g166)
And a certain, ruler, questioned him, saying—Good Teacher! by doing what, shall I inherit life age-abiding? (aiōnios g166)
19 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]
But Jesus said to him—Why, callest thou me, good? None, is good, save one—God.
20 [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.’”
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,
21 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]?)”
And, he, said—All these things, have I kept from my youth.
22 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!”
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.
23 The man became sad when he heard that, because he was very rich [and he did not want to give everything away].
But, he, hearing these things, became, encompassed with grief; for he was rich exceedingly.
24 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].
And Jesus, beholding him, said—With what difficulty, shall, they who have money, enter, into the kingdom of God.
25 [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].”
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.
26 [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]!”
And they who heard said—Who, then, can be saved?
27 But Jesus said, “It is impossible for people [to save themselves]. But [God can save them, because] God can do anything!”
And, he, said—The things impossible with men, are, possible with God.
28 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?]”)
And Peter said—Lo! we, have left our own possessions, and followed thee!
29 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],
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;
31 [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}.
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;
32 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.
For he will be delivered up unto the nations, and be mocked, and insulted, and spit upon, —
33 They will whip me, and [then] they will kill me. But on the third day [after that] I will become alive again.”
and, having scourged him, they will slay him, and, on the third day, will, he, arise.
34 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].
And, they, not one of these things, understood, and this saying was hidden from them, and the could not comprehend the things spoken.
35 As [Jesus and his disciples] came near to Jericho [city], a blind man was sitting beside the road. [He was] begging [for money].
And it came to pass, as he was drawing near unto Jericho, a certain blind man, was sitting beside the road, begging.
36 When he heard the crowd [of people] passing by, he asked someone, “What is happening?”
And. hearkening unto a multitude moving along, he enquired, what this, might be.
37 They told him, “Jesus, [the man] from Nazareth [town], is passing by.”
And they told him—Jesus of Nazareth, is passing by!
38 He shouted, “Jesus, [you who are] descended from [King] David, [the Messiah], pity me!”
And he cried aloud, saying—Jesus, son of David! have mercy upon me!
39 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!”
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!
40 Jesus stopped and told [people] to bring the man to him. When [the blind man] came near, Jesus asked him,
And, standing still, Jesus commanded him to be led unto him; and, when he had drawn near, he questioned him—
41 “What do you [(sg)] want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, enable me to see [again]!”
What desirest thou, I should do unto thee? And, he, said—Lord! …that I may recover sight!
42 Jesus said to him, “[Then] see! Because you have trusted [PRS] [in me], [I] have healed you!”
And, Jesus, said unto him—Recover sight! Thy faith, hath saved thee.
43 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.
And, instantly, he recovered sight, and began to follow him, glorifying God. And, all the people, beholding, gave praise unto God.
