Then Jesus spake a parable to them to the end that they ought always to pray and not to faint, saying, "There was in a certain city a judge who feared not God and regarded not man. Now there was a widow in that city, who kept coming to him, saying, 'Avenge me of my adversary." And he would not, for a time; but afterward, he said within himself, 'Though I fear not God nor regard man, yet because this widow giveth me trouble, I will avenge her, lest she harass me by continually coming."

Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge saith. Now shall not God avenge His elect, who cry to Him day and night, though He exercise forbearance over them? I tell you, that He shall avenge them speedily. But when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?"

Then He spake also this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised the rest: "Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself: 'God, I thank Thee that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax-collector. I fast twice in the week; I tithe all that I gain."

"But the tax-collector, standing afar off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but smote his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner." I say to you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."