1 T hen He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,

Jesus told them a picture-story to show that men should always pray and not give up.

2 s aying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.

He said, “There was a man in one of the cities who was head of the court. His work was to say if a person was guilty or not. This man was not afraid of God. He did not respect any man.

3 N ow there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’

In that city there was a woman whose husband had died. She kept coming to him and saying, ‘Help me! There is someone who is working against me.’

4 A nd he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man,

For awhile he would not help her. Then he began to think, ‘I am not afraid of God and I do not respect any man.

5 y et because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’”

But I will see that this woman whose husband has died gets her rights because I get tired of her coming all the time.’”

6 T hen the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said.

Then the Lord said, “Listen to the words of the sinful man who is head of the court.

7 A nd shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?

Will not God make the things that are right come to His chosen people who cry day and night to Him? Will He wait a long time to help them?

8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

I tell you, He will be quick to help them. But when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth? ” The Picture-Story of the Proud Religious Law-Keepers and the Tax-Gatherers

9 A lso He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

Jesus told another picture-story to some people who trusted in themselves and thought they were right with God. These people did not think well of other men.

10 “ Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

Jesus said, “Two men went up to the house of God to pray. One of them was a proud religious law-keeper. The other was a man who gathered taxes.

11 T he Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.

The proud religious law-keeper stood and prayed to himself like this, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men. I am not like those who steal. I am not like those who do things that are wrong. I am not like those who do sex sins. I am not even like this tax-gatherer.

12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’

I go without food two times a week so I can pray better. I give one-tenth part of the money I earn.’

13 A nd the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’

But the man who gathered taxes stood a long way off. He would not even lift his eyes to heaven. But he hit himself on his chest and said, ‘God, have pity on me! I am a sinner!’

14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Jesus Blesses Little Children

I tell you, this man went back to his house forgiven, and not the other man. For whoever makes himself look more important than he is will find out how little he is worth. Whoever does not try to honor himself will be made important.” Jesus Gives Thanks for Little Children

15 T hen they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

People took their little children to Jesus so He could put His hand on them. When His followers saw it, they spoke sharp words to the people.

16 B ut Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.

Jesus called the followers to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me. Do not try to stop them. The holy nation of God is made up of ones like these.

17 A ssuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler

For sure, I tell you, whoever does not receive the holy nation of God as a child will not go into the holy nation.” Jesus Teaches about Keeping the Law

18 N ow a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

A leader of the people asked Jesus, “Good Teacher, what must I do to have life that lasts forever?”

19 S o Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.

Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? There is only One Who is good. That is God.

20 Y ou know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”

You know the Laws. You must not do any sex sins. You must not kill another person. You must not steal. You must not tell a lie about someone else. Respect your father and your mother.”

21 A nd he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.”

The leader said, “I have obeyed all these Laws since I was a boy.”

22 S o when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

When Jesus heard this, He said to the leader of the people, “There is still one thing you need to do. Sell everything you have. Give the money to poor people. Then you will have riches in heaven. Come and follow Me.”

23 B ut when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich. With God All Things Are Possible

When the leader heard this, he was very sad because he had many riches.

24 A nd when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!

When Jesus saw that he was very sad, He said, “It is hard for those with riches to go into the holy nation of God!

25 F or it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to go into the holy nation of God.”

26 A nd those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?”

Those who heard this, said, “Then who can be saved from the punishment of sin?”

27 B ut He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”

Jesus said, “God can do things men cannot do.”

28 T hen Peter said, “See, we have left all and followed You.”

Then Peter said, “See, we have left everything and have followed You.”

29 S o He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,

Jesus said to them, “For sure, I tell you, anyone who has left his house or parents or brothers or wife or children because of the holy nation of God

30 w ho shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.” Jesus a Third Time Predicts His Death and Resurrection

will receive much more now. In the time to come he will have life that lasts forever.” Jesus Tells of His Death the Third Time

31 T hen He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished.

Then Jesus took the twelve followers to one side and said, “See! We are going up to Jerusalem. All the things the early preachers wrote about the Son of Man are going to happen.

32 F or He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon.

He will be given over to the people who are not Jews. He will be made fun of. He will be hurt. He will be spit on.

33 T hey will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

They will beat Him and kill Him. After three days He will be raised again.”

34 B ut they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken. A Blind Man Receives His Sight

The followers did not understand these words. The meaning of these words was hidden from them. They did not know what He said. Healing of the Blind Man

35 T hen it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging.

Jesus was coming near Jericho. A blind man was sitting by the side of the road, begging.

36 A nd hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant.

He heard many people going by and asked what was happening.

37 S o they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.

They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was going by.

38 A nd he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Then he cried out and said, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me.”

39 T hen those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

The people spoke sharp words to him and told him not to call out. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.”

40 S o Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him,

Jesus stopped and told the people to bring the blind man to Him. When the man was near, Jesus asked,

41 s aying, “What do you want Me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.”

“What do you want Me to do for you?” He answered, “Lord, I want to see.”

42 T hen Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.”

Jesus said to him, “Then see! Your faith has healed you.”

43 A nd immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

At once he could see. He followed Jesus and gave thanks to God. All the people gave thanks to God when they saw it.