Luke 18:1-12 ▼

1 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not become discouraged,

2 saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect any person.

3 Now there was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my opponent.’

4 For a while he was unwilling; but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect any person,

5 yet because this widow is bothering me, I will give her justice; otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’”

6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge said;

7 now, will God not bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night, and will He delay long for them?

8 I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”

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

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

11 The Pharisee stood and began praying this in regard to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, crooked, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

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