Habakkuk 1:2-5; Habakkuk 3:2; Habakkuk 3:17-19; Luke 18:1-8

2 O Lord, how long must I call for help before you listen, before you save us from violence?

3 Why do you make me see such trouble? How can you stand to look on such wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are all around me, and there is fighting and quarreling everywhere.

4 The law is weak and useless, and justice is never done. Evil people get the better of the righteous, and so justice is perverted.

5 Then the Lord said to his people, "Keep watching the nations around you, and you will be astonished at what you see. I am going to do something that you will not believe when you hear about it.

2 O Lord, I have heard of what you have done, and I am filled with awe. Now do again in our times the great deeds you used to do. Be merciful, even when you are angry.

17 Even though the fig trees have no fruit and no grapes grow on the vines, even though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no grain, even though the sheep all die and the cattle stalls are empty,

18 I will still be joyful and glad, because the Lord God is my savior.

19 The Sovereign Lord gives me strength. He makes me sure-footed as a deer and keeps me safe on the mountains.

1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to teach them that they should always pray and never become discouraged.

2 "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected people.

3 And there was a widow in that same town who kept coming to him and pleading for her rights, saying, "Help me against my opponent!'

4 For a long time the judge refused to act, but at last he said to himself, "Even though I don't fear God or respect people,

5 yet because of all the trouble this widow is giving me, I will see to it that she gets her rights. If I don't, she will keep on coming and finally wear me out!' "

6 And the Lord continued, "Listen to what that corrupt judge said.

7 Now, will God not judge in favor of his own people who cry to him day and night for help? Will he be slow to help them?

8 I tell you, he will judge in their favor and do it quickly. But will the Son of Man find faith on earth when he comes?"