Luke 18:4-14

4 "For a while he was unwilling, but later he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or respect man,

5 yet because this widow keeps pestering me, ^[a] I will give her justice, so she doesn't wear me out ^[b] by her persistent coming.' "

6 Then the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says.

7 Will not God grant justice to His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay [to help] them? ^[c]

8 I tell you that He will swiftly grant them justice. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find that faith ^[d] on earth?"

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else:

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

11 The Pharisee took his stand ^[e] and was praying like this: 'God, I thank You that I'm not like other people ^[f] -greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth ^[g] of everything I get.'

13 "But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest ^[h] and saying, 'God, turn Your wrath from me ^[i] -a sinner!'

14 I tell you, this one went down to his house justified rather than the other; because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."