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, saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor [a]regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, [b]‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, (B)yet because this widow troubles me I will [c]avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ”

Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. And (C)shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 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?”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 18:2 respect
  2. Luke 18:3 Avenge me on
  3. Luke 18:5 vindicate

18 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: and there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

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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