Luke 18:1-11

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? ¹

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?"

9 Jesus also told this parable to people who were sure of their own goodness and despised everybody else.

10 "Once there were two men who went up to the Temple to pray: one was a Pharisee, the other 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.

Cross References

• 1. +218.7Ben Sira 35.19.

Footnotes

• [a]. stood apart by himself and prayed; [some manuscripts have] stood up and prayed to himself.