The Parable of the Persistent Widow

18 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men ^(A)always ought to pray and not lose heart, ² saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor ^[a]regard man. ³ Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ^[b]‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ ⁴ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, ^5 (B)yet because this widow troubles me I will ^[c]avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ”

⁶ Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. ⁷ And ^(C)shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? ⁸ I tell you ^(D)that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

¹⁴ For ^(A)as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. ¹⁵ For ^(B)you did not receive the spirit of bondage again ^(C)to fear, but you received the ^(D)Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ^(E)“Abba,^[a] Father.” ^16 (F)The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

²⁴ For we were saved in this hope, but ^(A)hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

²⁶ Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For ^(B)we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but ^(C)the Spirit Himself makes intercession ^[a]for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. ²⁷ Now ^(D)He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints ^(E)according to the will of God.

²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those ^(F)who are the called according to His purpose. ²⁹ For whom ^(G)He foreknew, ^(H)He also predestined ^(I)to be conformed to the image of His Son, ^(J)that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. ³⁰ Moreover whom He predestined, these He also ^(K)called; whom He called, these He also ^(L)justified; and whom He justified, these He also ^(M)glorified.

God’s Everlasting Love

³¹ What then shall we say to these things? ^(N)If God is for us, who can be against us? ^32 (O)He who did not spare His own Son, but ^(P)delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? ³³ Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? ^(Q)It is God who justifies. ^34 (R)Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, ^(S)who is even at the right hand of God, ^(T)who also makes intercession for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?