Holman Christian Standard Bible

New Living Translation

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

1One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.

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

2 “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people.

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

3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’

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

4 The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people,

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

5 but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”

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

6Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge.

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

7 Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?

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, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?” Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector

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

9Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else:

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

10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised 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 by himself and prayed this prayer : ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector!

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

12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’

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 stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am 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."

14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Jesus Blesses the Children

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

15One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him.

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.

16Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.

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

17 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” The Rich Man

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

18Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

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

19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good.

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 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.’ ”

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

21The man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”

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 his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

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

23But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich.

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

24When Jesus saw this, he said, “How hard it is for the rich 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 In fact, 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 this said, “Then who in the world can be saved?”

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

27He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.”

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

28Peter said, “We’ve left our homes to follow 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,

29 “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up 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."

30 will be repaid many times over in this life, and will have eternal life in the world to come.” Jesus Again Predicts His Death

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.

31Taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus said, “Listen, we’re going up to Jerusalem, where all the predictions of the prophets concerning the Son of Man will come true.

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

32 He will be handed over to the Romans, and he will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit upon.

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

33 They will flog him with a whip and kill him, but on 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 they didn’t understand any of this. The significance of his words was hidden from them, and they failed to grasp what he was talking about. Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar

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

35As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road.

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

36When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening.

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

37They told him that Jesus the Nazarene was going by.

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

38So he began shouting, “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!"

39“Be quiet!” the people in front yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

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

40When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him. As the man came near, Jesus 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?” “Lord,” he said, “I want to see!”

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

42And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.”

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

43Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too.

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

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.