Luke

The Gospel according to Saint Luke, chapter 18, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 18 New English Translation

Prayer and the Parable of the Persistent Widow

   1 Then Jesus told them a parable to show them they should always pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected people. 3 There was also a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.' 4 For a while he refused, but later on he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God nor have regard for people, 5 yet because this widow keeps on bothering me, I will give her justice, or in the end she will wear me out by her unending pleas.'" 6 And the LORD said, "Listen to what the unrighteous judge says! 7 Won't God give justice to his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay long to help them? 8 I tell you, he will give them justice speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

The Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector

   9 Jesus also told this parable to some who were confident that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else. 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself like this: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people: extortionists, unrighteous people, adulterers - or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.' 13 The tax collector, however, stood far off and would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, be merciful to me, sinner that I am!' 14 I tell you that this man went down to his home justified rather than the Pharisee. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Jesus and Little Children

   15 Now people were even bringing their babies to him for him to touch. But when the disciples saw it, they began to scold those who brought them. 16 But Jesus called for the children, saying, "Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it."

The Wealthy Ruler

   18 Now a certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 19 Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'" 21 The man replied, "I have wholeheartedly obeyed all these laws since my youth." 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 23 But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was extremely wealthy. 24 When Jesus noticed this, he said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." 26 Those who heard this said, "Then who can be saved?" 27 He replied, "What is impossible for mere humans is possible for God." 28 And Peter said, "Look, we have left everything we own to follow you!" 29 Then Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, there is no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of God's kingdom 30 who will not receive many times more in this age - and in the age to come, eternal life."

Another Prediction of Jesus' Passion

   31 Then Jesus took the twelve aside and said to them, "Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 32 For he will be handed over to the Gentiles; he will be mocked, mistreated, and spat on. 33 They will flog him severely and kill him. Yet on the third day he will rise again." 34 But the twelve understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what Jesus meant.

Healing a Blind Man

   35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. 36 When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was going on. 37 They told him, "Jesus the Nazarene is passing by." 38 So he called out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 39 And those who were in front scolded him to get him to be quiet, but he shouted even more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 40 So Jesus stopped and ordered the beggar to be brought to him. When the man came near, Jesus asked him, 41 "What do you want me to do for you?" He replied, "LORD, let me see again." 42 Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has healed you." 43 And immediately he regained his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they too gave praise to God.

King James Version

   1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
   2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
   3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
   4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
   5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
   6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
   7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
   8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
   9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
   10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
   11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
   12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
   13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
   14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
   15 And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
   16 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
   17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
   18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
   19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.
   20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.
   21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.
   22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
   23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.
   24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
   25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
   26 And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?
   27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
   28 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.
   29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,
   30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.
   31 ¶ Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.
   32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
   33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.
   34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
   35 ¶ And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:
   36 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.
   37 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.
   38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
   39 And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
   40 And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,
   41 Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
   42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.
   43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.