Luke 18:1-13 ▼

1 He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray, and not give up,

2 saying, |There was a judge in a certain city who did not fear God, and did not respect people.

3 A widow was in that city, and she often came to him, saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.'

4 He would not for a while, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God, nor respect people,

5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her justice, or else she will wear me out by her continual coming.'|

6 The Lord said, |Listen to what the unrighteous judge says.

7 Won't God avenge his chosen ones, who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them?

8 I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?|

9 He spoke also this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others.

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

11 The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: 'God, I thank you, that I am not like other people, extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

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

13 But the tax collector, standing far away, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner.'