Holman Christian Standard Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

1He then told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not become discouraged:

1Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart,

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

2saying, "In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man.

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

3"There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, 'Give me legal protection from my opponent.'

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

4"For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, 'Even though I do not fear God nor respect man,

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

5yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.'"

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

6And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge said;

7Will not God grant justice to His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay to help them?

7now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and 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 that faith on earth?"

8"I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?"

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

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

10"Two men went up to the temple complex 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 took his stand and was praying like this: God, I thank You that I'm not like other people--greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

11"The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: 'God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

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

12'I fast twice a week; I pay 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, turn Your wrath from me --a sinner!'

13"But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the 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."

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

15Some people were even bringing infants to Him so He might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

15And they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking 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 for them, saying, "Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

17I assure you: Whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

17"Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all."

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

18A ruler questioned Him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

19"Why do you call Me good?" Jesus asked him. "No one is good but One--God.

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." "

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.'"

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

21And he said, "All these things I have kept from my youth."

22When Jesus heard this, He told him, "You still lack one thing: Sell all that 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 possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."

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

23But when he had 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!

24And Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for those who are wealthy 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."

25"For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

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

26They who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?"

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

27But He said, "The things that are impossible with people are possible with God."

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

28Peter said, "Behold, we have left our own homes and followed You."

29So He said to them, "I assure you: There is no one who has left a house, wife or brothers, 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 as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life."

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

31Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished.

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

32"For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon,

33and after they flog Him, they will kill Him, and He will rise on the third day."

33and after they have scourged Him, they will kill Him; and the third day He will rise again."

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

34But the disciples understood none of these things, and the meaning of this statement was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend the things that were said.

35As He drew near Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging.

35As Jesus was approaching Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging.

36Hearing a crowd passing by, he inquired what this meant. "

36Now hearing a crowd going by, he began to inquire what this was.

37Jesus the Nazarene is passing by," they told him.

37They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.

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

38And he called out, saying, "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!"

39Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet; but he kept crying out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

40Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him. When he drew near, He asked him,

40And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him; and when he came near, He questioned 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?" And he said, "Lord, I want to regain my sight!"

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

42And Jesus said to him, "Receive 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.

43Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him, glorifying God; and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God.

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org