Luke 18:1-13 ▼

1 And He spake also a parable to them, to shew that men ought always to pray, and not to faint:

2 saying, There was a judge in a certain city, who neither feared God, nor regarded man.

3 And there was a widow in that city, who came to him, saying, Do me justice of my adversary.

4 And he would not for a time: but afterwards he said within himself, Though I fear not God,

5 nor regard man, yet because this widow gives me trouble, I will do her justice, least by continually coming she weary me out.

6 And the Lord said, hear what even the unjust judge saith:

7 and will not God do justice for his elect that cry to Him day and night, though He bear long with them.

8 I tell you, He will avenge them speedily. And yet when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith in the land?

9 And He spake also this parable to some that trusted in themselves as being righteous, and despised others.

10 Two men went up to the temple to pray; the one a pharisee and the other a publican.

11 The pharisee standing by himself prayed thus, O God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are, rapacious, unjust, adulterous, or even as this publican.

12 I fast twice a week, and I give tithes of all that I possess.

13 But the publican standing at a distance did not presume so much as to lift up his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, O God, be merciful to me a sinner.