The Parable of the Unjust Judge

18 And he told them a parable to show that they must always pray and not be discouraged, saying, “There was a certain judge in a certain town who did not fear God and did not respect people. And there was a widow in that town, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary!’ And he was not willing for a time, but after these things he said to himself, ‘Even if I do not fear God or respect people, yet because this widow is causing trouble for me, I will grant her justice, so that she does not wear me down in the end by her[a] coming back!’” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge is saying! And will not God surely see to it that justice is done[b] to his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night, and will he delay toward them? I tell you that he will see to it that justice is done[c] for them soon! Nevertheless, when[d] the Son of Man comes, then will he find faith on earth?”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 18:5 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“coming back”) which is understood as means
  2. Luke 18:7 Literally “carry out the giving of justice”
  3. Luke 18:8 Literally “he will carry out the giving of justice”
  4. Luke 18:8 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“comes”) which is understood as temporal

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

18 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.(A) He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice(B) against my adversary.’

“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”(C)

And the Lord(D) said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out(E) to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man(F) comes,(G) will he find faith on the earth?”

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