The Parable of the Persistent Widow

18 He then told them a parable on the need for them to pray(A) always and not become discouraged:(B) “There was a judge in a certain town who didn’t fear God(C) or respect man. And a widow(D) in that town kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’

“For a while he was unwilling, but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or respect man, yet because this widow keeps(E) pestering me,[a] I will give her justice, so she doesn’t wear me out[b] by her persistent coming.’”

Then the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. Will not God grant justice(F) to His elect(G) who cry out to Him day and night?(H) Will He delay(I) to help them?[c] I tell you that He will swiftly grant them justice. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes,(J) will He find that faith[d] on earth?”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 18:5 Lit widow causes me trouble
  2. Luke 18:5 Or doesn’t give me a black eye, or doesn’t ruin my reputation
  3. Luke 18:7 Or Will He put up with them?
  4. Luke 18:8 Or faith, or that kind of faith, or any faith, or the faith, or faithfulness; the faith that persists in prayer for God’s vindication

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