Luke 18:1-14 ▼

1 And He spake a parable to them, to the end that they ought always to pray, and not to faint;

2 saying, "There was in a city a judge, who feared not God, nor regarded man.

3 And there was a widow in that city; and she kept coming to him, saying, 'Avenge me of my adversary.'

4 And he would not for a time; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

5 yet, because this widow occasions me trouble, I will avenge her, lest, by her persistent coming, she wear me out.'"

6 And the Lord said, "Hear what the judge of unrighteousness says.

7 And will not God avenge His elect, who are crying to Him day and night, and He is long suffering over them?

8 I say to you, that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, will the Son of Man, when He cometh, find the faith on the earth?"

9 And He spake also this parable to some who had trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised the rest:

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

11 The Pharisee, having taken his stand, was praying these things with himself: 'God, I thank Thee that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax-collector!

12 I fast twice on the Sabbath; I give a tenth of all that I acquire.'

13 "But the tax-collector, standing afar off, would not lift up even his eyes to heaven, but was smiting his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!'

14 I say to you, this man went down justified to his house, rather than the other; because every one who exalts himself shall be humbled, but he who humbles himself shall be exalted."