English Standard Version ESV
Common English Bible CEB
1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
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Jesus was telling them a parable about their need to pray continuously and not to be discouraged.
2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man.
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He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected people.
3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary. ’
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In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him, asking, ‘Give me justice in this case against my adversary.'
4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man,
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For a while he refused but finally said to himself, I don't fear God or respect people,
5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming. ’”
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but I will give this widow justice because she keeps bothering me. Otherwise, there will be no end to her coming here and embarrassing me."
6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says.
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The Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says.
7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?
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Won't God provide justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he be slow to help them?
8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth? ”
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I tell you, he will give them justice quickly. But when the Human One comes, will he find faithfulness on earth?"
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:
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Jesus told this parable to certain people who had convinced themselves that they were righteous and who looked on everyone else with disgust:
10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
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"Two people went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
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The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself with these words, ‘God, I thank you that I'm not like everyone else—crooks, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get. ’
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I fast twice a week. I give a tenth of everything I receive.'
13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner! ’
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But the tax collector stood at a distance. He wouldn't even lift his eyes to look toward heaven. Rather, he struck his chest and said, ‘God, show mercy to me, 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, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted. ”
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I tell you, this person went down to his home justified rather than the Pharisee. All who lift themselves up will be brought low, and those who make themselves low will be lifted up."
15 Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
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People were bringing babies to Jesus so that he would bless them. When the disciples saw this, they scolded them.
16 But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.
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Then Jesus called them to him and said, "Allow the children to come to me. Don't forbid them, because God's kingdom belongs to people like these children.
17 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. ”
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I assure you that whoever doesn't welcome God's kingdom like a child will never enter it."
18 And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? ”
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A certain ruler asked Jesus, "Good Teacher, what must I do to obtain eternal life?"
19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.
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Jesus replied, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except the one God.
20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother. ’”
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You know the commandments: Don't commit adultery. Don't murder. Don't steal. Don't give false testimony. Honor your father and mother."
21 And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth. ”
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Then the ruler said, "I've kept all of these things since I was a boy."
22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. ”
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When Jesus heard this, he said, "There's one more thing. Sell everything you own and distribute the money to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me."
23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.
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When he heard these words, the man became sad because he was extremely rich.
24 Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!
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When Jesus saw this, he said, "It's very hard for the wealthy to enter God's kingdom!
25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. ”
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It's easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God's kingdom."
26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved? ”
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Those who heard this said, "Then who can be saved?"
27 But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God. ”
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Jesus replied, "What is impossible for humans is possible for God."
28 And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you. ”
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Peter said, "Look, we left everything we own and followed you."
29 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,
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Jesus said to them, "I assure you that anyone who has left house, husband, wife, brothers, sisters, parents, or children because of God's kingdom
30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life. ”
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will receive many times more in this age and eternal life in the coming age."
31 And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished.
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Jesus took the Twelve aside and said, "Look, we're going up to Jerusalem, and everything written about the Human One by the prophets will be accomplished.
32 For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon.
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He will be handed over to the Gentiles. He will be ridiculed, mistreated, and spit on.
33 And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise. ”
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After torturing him, they will kill him. On the third day, he will rise up."
34 But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.
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But the Twelve understood none of these words. The meaning of this message was hidden from them and they didn't grasp what he was saying.
35 As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.
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As Jesus came to Jericho, a certain blind man was sitting beside the road begging.
36 And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant.
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When the man heard the crowd passing by, he asked what was happening.
37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by. ”
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They told him, "Jesus the Nazarene is passing by."
38 And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! ”
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The blind man shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, show me mercy."
39 And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me! ”
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Those leading the procession scolded him, telling him to be quiet, but he shouted even louder, "Son of David, show me mercy."
40 And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him,
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Jesus stopped and called for the man to be brought to him. When he was present Jesus asked,
41 “What do you want me to do for you? ”He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight. ”
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"What do you want me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, I want to see."
42 And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well. ”
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Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight! Your faith has healed you."
43 And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
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At once he was able to see, and he began to follow Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they praised God too.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible