Luke 18:1-13 ▼

1 Jesus told his disciples a parable about their need to pray all the time and never give up.

2 He said, |In a city there was a judge who didn't fear God or respect people.

3 In that city there was also a widow who kept coming to him and saying, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'

4 For a while the judge refused. But later, he told himself, 'I don't fear God or respect people,

5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice. Otherwise, she will keep coming and wear me out.'|

6 Then the Lord added, |Listen to what the unrighteous judge says.

7 Won't God grant his chosen people justice when they cry out to him day and night? Is he slow to help them?

8 I tell you, he will give them justice quickly. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?|

9 Jesus also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves, thinking they were righteous, but who looked down on everyone else:

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

11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, 'O God, I thank you that I'm not like other people—thieves, dishonest people, adulterers, or even this tax collector.

12 I fast twice a week, and I give a tenth of my entire income.'

13 |But the tax collector stood at a distance and would not even look up to heaven. Instead, he continued to beat his chest and said, 'O God, be merciful to me, the sinner that I am!'