New Living Translation

English Standard Version

1One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.

1And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

2 “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people.

2He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man.

3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’

3And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’

4 The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people,

4For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man,

5 but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”

5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’”

6Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge.

6And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says.

7 Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?

7And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?

8 I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?” Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector

8I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

9Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else:

9He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:

10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector.

10“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer : ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector!

11The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’

12I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’

13But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Jesus Blesses the Children

14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

15One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him.

15Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

16Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.

16But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.

17 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” The Rich Man

17Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

18Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

18And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good.

19And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

20 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.’ ”

20You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’”

21The man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”

21And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.”

22When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

22When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

23But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich.

23But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.

24When Jesus saw this, he said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!

24Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!

25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”

25For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

26Those who heard this said, “Then who in the world can be saved?”

26Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?”

27He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.”

27But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

28Peter said, “We’ve left our homes to follow you.”

28And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.”

29 “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God,

29And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, 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 will be repaid many times over in this life, and will have eternal life in the world to come.” Jesus Again Predicts His Death

30who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

31Taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus said, “Listen, we’re going up to Jerusalem, where all the predictions of the prophets concerning the Son of Man will come true.

31And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished.

32 He will be handed over to the Romans, and he will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit upon.

32For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon.

33 They will flog him with a whip and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again.”

33And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.”

34But they didn’t understand any of this. The significance of his words was hidden from them, and they failed to grasp what he was talking about. Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar

34But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.

35As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road.

35As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.

36When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening.

36And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant.

37They told him that Jesus the Nazarene was going by.

37They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”

38So he began shouting, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

38And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

39“Be quiet!” the people in front yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

39And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

40When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him. As the man came near, Jesus asked him,

40And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him,

41 “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord,” he said, “I want to see!”

41“What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.”

42And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.”

42And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.”

43Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too.

43And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.