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The Parable of the Widow and the Judge

18 He told them a parable to illustrate that it is necessary always to pray and not lose heart. He said: “In a city there was a judge who did not fear God or regard man. And a widow was in that city. She came to him, saying, ‘Avenge me against my adversary.’

“He would not for a while. Yet afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I do not fear God or respect man, yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she will weary me.’ ”

And the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge says. And shall not God avenge His own elect and be patient with them, who cry day and night to Him? I tell you, He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”

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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