Christian Standard Bible

English Standard Version

1Now he told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not give up.

1And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

2"There was a judge in a certain town who didn't fear God or respect people.

2He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man.

3And a widow in that town kept coming to him, saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.'

3And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’

4"For a while he was unwilling, but later he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or respect people,

4For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man,

5yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice, so that she doesn't wear me out by her persistent coming.'"

5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’”

6Then the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says.

6And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says.

7Will not God grant justice to his elect who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay helping them?

7And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?

8I tell you that he will swiftly grant them justice. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

8I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

9He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else:

9He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:

10"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

10“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

11The Pharisee was standing and praying like this about himself: 'God, I thank you that I'm not like other people--greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

11The 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.

12I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.'

12I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’

13"But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner!'

13But 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!’

14I tell you, this one went down to his house justified rather than the other; because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

14I 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.”

15People were bringing infants to him so he might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

15Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

16Jesus, however, invited them: "Let the little children come to me, and don't stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

16But 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.

17Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

17Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

18A ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

18And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

19"Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked him. "No one is good except God alone.

19And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

20You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not bear false witness; honor your father and mother."

20You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’”

21"I have kept all these from my youth," he said.

21And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.”

22When Jesus heard this, he told him, "You still lack one thing: Sell all you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

22When 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.”

23After he heard this, he became extremely sad, because he was very rich.

23But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.

24Seeing that he became sad, Jesus said, "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!

24Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!

25For 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."

25For 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.”

26Those who heard this asked, "Then who can be saved?"

26Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?”

27He replied, "What is impossible with man is possible with God."

27But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

28Then Peter said, "Look, we have left what we had and followed you."

28And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.”

29So he said to them, "Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left a house, wife or brothers or sisters, parents or children because of the kingdom of God,

29And 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,

30who will not receive many times more at this time, and eternal life in the age to come."

30who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

31Then he took the Twelve aside and told them, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem. Everything that is written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished.

31And 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.

32For he will be handed over to the Gentiles, and he will be mocked, insulted, spit on;

32For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon.

33and after they flog him, they will kill him, and he will rise on the third day."

33And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.”

34They understood none of these things. The meaning of the saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.

34But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.

35As he approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging.

35As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.

36Hearing a crowd passing by, he inquired what was happening.

36And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant.

37"Jesus of Nazareth is passing by," they told him.

37They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”

38So he called out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

38And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

39Then those in front told him to keep quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

39And 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!”

40Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to him. When he came closer, he asked him,

40And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him,

41"What do you want me to do for you?" "Lord," he said, "I want to see."

41“What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.”

42"Receive your sight." Jesus told him. "Your faith has saved you."

42And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.”

43Instantly he could see, and he began to follow him, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

43And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.