Parables on Prayer

18 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they (A)ought to pray and not to (B)lose heart, saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not (C)respect man. There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘[a]Give me legal protection from my opponent.’ For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor (D)respect man, yet (E)because this widow bothers me, I will [b]give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will [c](F)wear me out.’” And (G)the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge *said; now, will not God (H)bring about justice for His (I)elect who cry to Him day and night, [d]and will He (J)delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, (K)will He find [e]faith on the earth?”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 18:3 Lit Do me justice
  2. Luke 18:5 Lit do her justice
  3. Luke 18:5 Lit hit me under the eye
  4. Luke 18:7 Or and yet He is very patient toward them
  5. Luke 18:8 Lit the faith

18 And he spake also a simile to them, that it behoveth [us] always to pray, and not to faint,

saying, `A certain judge was in a certain city -- God he is not fearing, and man he is not regarding --

and a widow was in that city, and she was coming unto him, saying, Do me justice on my opponent,

and he would not for a time, but after these things he said in himself, Even if God I do not fear, and man do not regard,

yet because this widow doth give me trouble, I will do her justice, lest, perpetually coming, she may plague me.'

And the Lord said, `Hear ye what the unrighteous judge saith:

and shall not God execute the justice to His choice ones, who are crying unto Him day and night -- bearing long in regard to them?

I say to you, that He will execute the justice to them quickly; but the Son of Man having come, shall he find the faith upon the earth?'

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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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