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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 certain judge who did not fear God and did not (C)respect man. Now there was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice from my opponent.’ And 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 is bothering me, I will give her justice, lest by continually coming she [a](F)wears me out.’” And (G)the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge *said. Now, will God not (H)bring about justice for His (I)elect who cry to Him day and night, [b]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 that faith on the earth?”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 18:5 Lit hit me under the eye
  2. Luke 18:7 Or and yet He is very patient toward them

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

18 Jesus told them a parable about the need to always pray and not lose heart: “There was a judge in a certain town who did not fear God and did not care about people. There was a widow in that town, and she kept going to him, saying, ‘Give me justice from my adversary!’ For some time he refused, but after a while he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God or care about people, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice so that she will not wear me out with her endless pleading.’”

The Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. Will not God give justice to his chosen ones, who are crying out to him day and night? Will he put off helping them? I tell you that he will give them justice quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

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