Luke 18:1–43

¹Then he went on to tell them an illustration with regard to the need for them always to pray and not to give up,²saying: “In a certain city there was a certain judge that had no fear of God and had no respect for man.³But there was a widow in that city and she kept going to him, saying, ‘See that I get justice from my adversary at law.’⁴Well, for a while he was unwilling, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Although I do not fear God or respect a man,⁵at any rate, because of this widow’s continually making me trouble, I will see that she gets justice, so that she will not keep coming and pummeling me to a finish.’”⁶Then the Lord said: “HEAR​ what the judge, although unrighteous, said!⁷Certainly, then, shall not God cause justice to be done for his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night, even though he is long‐suffering toward them?⁸I tell ​YOU, He will cause justice to be done to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man arrives, will he really find the faith on the earth?”

⁹But he spoke this illustration also to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and who considered the rest as nothing:¹⁰“Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.¹¹The Pharisee stood and began to pray these things to himself, ‘O God, I thank you I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.¹²I fast twice a week, I give the tenth of all things I acquire.’¹³But the tax collector standing at a distance was not willing even to raise his eyes heavenward, but kept beating his breast, saying, ‘O God, be gracious to me a sinner.’¹⁴I tell ​YOU, This man went down to his home proved more righteous than that man; because everyone that exalts himself will be humiliated, but he that humbles himself will be exalted.”

¹⁵Now people began to bring him also their infants for him to touch these; but on seeing it the disciples began to reprimand them.¹⁶However, Jesus called the [infants] to him, saying: “Let the young children come to me, and do not try to stop them. For the kingdom of God belongs to suchlike ones.¹⁷Truly I say to ​YOU, Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a young child will by no means get into it.”

¹⁸And a certain ruler questioned him, saying: “Good Teacher, by doing what shall I inherit everlasting life?”¹⁹Jesus said to him: “Why do you call me good? Nobody is good, except one, God.²⁰You know the commandments, ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’”²¹Then he said: “All these I have kept from youth on.”²²After hearing that, Jesus said to him: “There is yet one thing lacking about you: Sell all the things you have and distribute to poor people, and you will have treasure in the heavens; and come be my follower.”²³When he heard this, he became deeply grieved, for he was very rich.

²⁴Jesus looked at him and said: “How difficult a thing it will be for those having money to make their way into the kingdom of God!²⁵It is easier, in fact, for a camel to get through the eye of a sewing needle than for a rich man to get into the kingdom of God.”²⁶Those who heard this said: “Who possibly can be saved?”²⁷He said: “The things impossible with men are possible with God.”²⁸But Peter said: “Look! We have left our own things and followed you.”²⁹He said to them: “Truly I say to ​YOU, There is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God³⁰who will not in any way get many times more in this period of time, and in the coming system of things everlasting life.”

³¹Then he took the twelve aside and said to them: “Look! We are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things written by means of the prophets as to the Son of man will be completed.³²For instance, he will be delivered up to [men of] the nations and will be made fun of and be treated insolently and spit upon;³³and after scourging him they will kill him, but on the third day he will rise.”³⁴However, they did not get the meaning of any of these things; but this utterance was hidden from them, and they were not knowing the things said.

³⁵Now as he was getting near to Jer′i‧cho a certain blind man was sitting beside the road begging.³⁶Because he heard a crowd moving through he began to inquire what this might mean.³⁷They reported to him: “Jesus the Naz‧a‧rene′ is passing by!”³⁸At that he cried out, saying: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”³⁹And those going in advance began to tell him sternly to keep quiet, but that much more he kept shouting: “Son of David, have mercy on me.”⁴⁰Then Jesus stood still and commanded the [man] to be led to him. After he got near, [Jesus] asked him:⁴¹“What do you want me to do for you?” He said: “Lord, let me recover sight.”⁴²So Jesus said to him: “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.”⁴³And instantly he recovered sight, and he began to follow him, glorifying God. Also, all the people, at seeing [it], gave praise to God.