Hebrew Names Version HNV
The Message Bible MSG
1 He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray, and not give up,
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Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit.
2 saying, "A certain judge was in a city, who didn't fear God, and didn't respect man.
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He said, "There was once a judge in some city who never gave God a thought and cared nothing for people.
3 A widow was in that city, and she came often to him, saying, 'Defend me from my adversary!'
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A widow in that city kept after him: 'My rights are being violated. Protect me!'
4 He wouldn't for a while, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I don't fear God, nor respect man,
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"He never gave her the time of day. But after this went on and on he said to himself, 'I care nothing what God thinks, even less what people think.
5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will defend her, or else she will wear me out by her continual coming.'"
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But because this widow won't quit badgering me, I'd better do something and see that she gets justice - otherwise I'm going to end up beaten black and blue by her pounding.'"
6 The Lord said, "Listen to what the unrighteous judge says.
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Then the Master said, "Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying?
7 Won't God avenge his elect, who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them?
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So what makes you think God won't step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won't he stick up for them?
8 I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the eretz?"
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I assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet. But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?"
9 He spoke also this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others.
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He told his next story to some who were complacently pleased with themselves over their moral performance and looked down their noses at the common people:
10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Parush, and the other was a tax collector.
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"Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax man.
11 The Parush 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.
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The Pharisee posed and prayed like this: 'Oh, God, I thank you that I am not like other people - robbers, crooks, adulterers, or, heaven forbid, like this tax man.
12 I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.'
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I fast twice a week and tithe on all my income.'
13 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!'
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"Meanwhile the tax man, slumped in the shadows, his face in his hands, not daring to look up, said, 'God, give mercy. Forgive 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 he who humbles himself will be exalted."
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Jesus commented, "This tax man, not the other, went home made right with God. If you walk around with your nose in the air, you're going to end up flat on your face, but if you're content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself."
15 They were also bringing their babies to him, that he might touch them. But when the talmidim saw it, they rebuked them.
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People brought babies to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. When the disciples saw it, they shooed them off.
16 Yeshua 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.
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Jesus called them back. "Let these children alone. Don't get between them and me. These children are the kingdom's pride and joy.
17 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."
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Mark this: Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you'll never get in."
18 A certain ruler asked him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
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One day one of the local officials asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to deserve eternal life?"
19 Yeshua asked him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good, except one -- God.
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Jesus said, "Why are you calling me good? No one is good - only God.
20 You know the mitzvot: 'Don't commit adultery,' 'Don't murder,' 'Don't steal,' 'Don't give false testimony,' 'Honor your father and your mother.'"
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You know the commandments, don't you? No illicit sex, no killing, no stealing, no lying, honor your father and mother."
21 He said, "I have observed all these things from my youth up."
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He said, "I've kept them all for as long as I can remember."
22 When Yeshua 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."
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When Jesus heard that, he said, "Then there's only one thing left to do: Sell everything you own and give it away to the poor. You will have riches in heaven. Then come, follow me."
23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was very rich.
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This was the last thing the official expected to hear. He was very rich and became terribly sad. He was holding on tight to a lot of things and not about to let them go.
24 Yeshua, seeing that he became very sad, said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
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Seeing his reaction, Jesus said, "Do you have any idea how difficult it is for people who have it all to enter God's kingdom?
25 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."
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I'd say it's easier to thread a camel through a needle's eye than get a rich person into God's kingdom."
26 Those who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?"
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"Then who has any chance at all?" the others asked.
27 But he said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."
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"No chance at all," Jesus said, "if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it."
28 Kefa said, "Look, we have left everything, and followed you."
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Peter tried to regain some initiative: "We left everything we owned and followed you, didn't we?"
29 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,
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"Yes," said Jesus, "and you won't regret it. No one who has sacrificed home, spouse, brothers and sisters, parents, children - whatever -
30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the world to come, eternal life."
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will lose out. It will all come back multiplied many times over in your lifetime. And then the bonus of eternal life!"
31 He took the twelve aside, and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Yerushalayim, and all the things that are written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be completed.
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Then Jesus took the Twelve off to the side and said, "Listen carefully. We're on our way up to Jerusalem. Everything written in the Prophets about the Son of Man will take place.
32 For he will be delivered up to the Goyim, will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit on.
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He will be handed over to the Romans, jeered at, made sport of, and spit on. Then, after giving him the third degree, they will kill him.
33 They will scourge and kill him. On the third day, he will rise again."
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In three days he will rise, alive."
34 They understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they didn't understand the things that were said.
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But they didn't get it, could make neither heads nor tails of what he was talking about.
35 It happened, as he came near Yericho, a certain blind man sat by the road, begging.
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He came to the outskirts of Jericho. A blind man was sitting beside the road asking for handouts.
36 Hearing a multitude going by, he asked what this meant.
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When he heard the rustle of the crowd, he asked what was going on.
37 They told him that Yeshua of Natzeret was passing by.
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They told him, "Jesus the Nazarene is going by."
38 He cried out, "Yeshua, you son of David, have mercy on me!"
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He yelled, "Jesus! Son of David! Mercy, have mercy on me!"
39 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!"
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Those ahead of Jesus told the man to shut up, but he only yelled all the louder, "Son of David! Mercy, have mercy on me!"
40 Yeshua, standing, commanded him to be brought to him. When he had come near, he asked him,
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Jesus stopped and ordered him to be brought over. When he had come near, Jesus asked,
41 "What do you want me to do?" He said, "Lord, that I may see again."
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"What do you want from me?" He said, "Master, I want to see again."
42 Yeshua said to him, "Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you."
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Jesus said, "Go ahead - see again! Your faith has saved and healed you!"
43 Immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw it, praised God.
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The healing was instant: He looked up, seeing - and then followed Jesus, glorifying God. Everyone in the street joined in, shouting praise to God.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.