Good News Translation GNT
World English Bible WEB
1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to teach them that they should always pray and never become discouraged.
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He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray, and not give up,
2 "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected people.
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saying, "A certain judge was in a city, who didn't fear God, and didn't respect man.
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!'
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A widow was in that city, and she came often to him, saying, 'Defend me from my adversary!'
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,
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He wouldn't for a while, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I don't fear God, nor respect man,
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!' "
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yet because this widow bothers me, I will defend her, or else she will wear me out by her continual coming.'"
6 And the Lord continued, "Listen to what that corrupt judge said.
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The Lord said, "Listen to what the unrighteous judge says.
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?
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Won't God avenge his elect, who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with 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?"
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I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
9 Jesus also told this parable to people who were sure of their own goodness and despised everybody else.
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He spoke also this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others.
10 "Once there were two men who went up to the Temple to pray: one was a Pharisee, the other a tax collector.
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"Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee stood apart by himself and prayed, "I thank you, God, that I am not greedy, dishonest, or an adulterer, like everybody else. I thank you that I am not like that tax collector over there.
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The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: 'God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
12 I fast two days a week, and I give you one tenth of all my income.'
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I fast twice in the week. I give tithes of all that I get.'
13 But the tax collector stood at a distance and would not even raise his face to heaven, but beat on his breast and said, "God, have pity on me, a sinner!'
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But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn't even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'
14 I tell you," said Jesus, "the tax collector, and not the Pharisee, was in the right with God when he went home. For those who make themselves great will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be made great."
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I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."
15 Some people brought their babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. The disciples saw them and scolded them for doing so,
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They were also bringing their babies to him, that he might touch them. But when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
16 but Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the children come to me and do not stop them, because the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
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Jesus called them near, saying, "Allow the little children to come to me, and don't hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to ones like these.
17 Remember this! Whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it."
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Most assuredly, I tell you, whoever doesn't receive the kingdom of God like a little child, he will in no way enter into it."
18 A Jewish leader asked Jesus, "Good Teacher, what must I do to receive eternal life?"
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A certain ruler asked him, saying, "Good Teacher, what do I do to inherit eternal life?"
19 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked him. "No one is good except God alone.
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Jesus asked him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good, except one -- God.
20 You know the commandments: "Do not commit adultery; do not commit murder; do not steal; do not accuse anyone falsely; respect your father and your 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 your mother.'"
21 The man replied, "Ever since I was young, I have obeyed all these commandments."
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He said, "I have observed all these things from my youth up."
22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "There is still one more thing you need to do. Sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me."
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When Jesus heard these things, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have, and distribute it to the poor. You will have treasure in heaven. Come, follow me."
23 But when the man heard this, he became very sad, because he was very rich.
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But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was very rich.
24 Jesus saw that he was sad and said, "How hard it is for rich people to enter the Kingdom of God!
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Jesus, seeing that he became very sad, said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
25 It is much harder for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle."
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For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."
26 The people who heard him asked, "Who, then, can be saved?"
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Those who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?"
27 Jesus answered, "What is humanly impossible is possible for God."
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But he said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."
28 Then Peter said, "Look! We have left our homes to follow you."
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Peter said, "Look, we have left everything, and followed you."
29 "Yes," Jesus said to them, "and I assure you that anyone who leaves home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the Kingdom of God
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He said to them, "Most assuredly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,
30 will receive much more in this present age and eternal life in the age to come."
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who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the world to come, eternal life."
31 Jesus took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, "Listen! We are going to Jerusalem where everything the prophets wrote about the Son of Man will come true.
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He took the twelve aside, and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be completed.
32 He will be handed over to the Gentiles, who will make fun of him, insult him, and spit on him.
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For he will be delivered up to the Gentiles, will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit on.
33 They will whip him and kill him, but three days later he will rise to life."
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They will scourge and kill him. On the third day, he will rise again."
34 But the disciples did not understand any of these things; the meaning of the words was hidden from them, and they did not know what Jesus was talking about.
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They understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they didn't understand the things that were said.
35 As Jesus was coming near Jericho, there was a blind man sitting by the road, begging.
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It happened, as he came near Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the road, begging.
36 When he heard the crowd passing by, he asked, "What is this?"
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Hearing a multitude going by, he asked what this meant.
37 "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by," they told him.
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They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.
38 He cried out, "Jesus! Son of David! Have mercy on me!"
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He cried out, "Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!"
39 The people in front scolded him and told him to be quiet. But he shouted even more loudly, "Son of David! Have mercy on me!"
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Those who led the way rebuked him, that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "You son of David, have mercy on me!"
40 So Jesus stopped and ordered the blind man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him,
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Jesus, standing, commanded him to be brought to him. When he had come near, he asked him,
41 "What do you want me to do for you?" "Sir," he answered, "I want to see again."
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"What do you want me to do?" He said, "Lord, that I may see again."
42 Jesus said to him, "Then see! Your faith has made you well."
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Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you."
43 At once he was able to see, and he followed Jesus, giving thanks to God. When the crowd saw it, they all praised God.
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Immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw it, praised God.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
The World English Bible is in the public domain.