| New Living Translation | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. | 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 city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. | 2saying, "In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. |
| 3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ | 3"There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, 'Give me legal protection from my opponent.' |
| 4 The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, | 4"For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, 'Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, |
| 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!’” | 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, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. | 6And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge said; |
| 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? | 7now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? |
| 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 | 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?" |
| 9Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned 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 to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. | 10"Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a 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! | 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. |
| 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ | 12'I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.' |
| 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.’ | 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!' |
| 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 | 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." |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 | 17"Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all." |
| 18Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what should 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. “Only God is truly good. | 19And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. |
| 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.’ ” | 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.'" |
| 21The man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” | 21And he said, "All these things I have kept from my youth." |
| 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.” | 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." |
| 23But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich. | 23But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. |
| 24When Jesus saw this, he said, “How hard it is for the rich 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! |
| 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!” | 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 said, “Then who in the world can be saved?” | 26They who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?" |
| 27He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.” | 27But He said, "The things that are impossible with people are possible with God." |
| 28Peter said, “We’ve left our homes to follow you.” | 28Peter said, "Behold, we have left our own homes and followed You." |
| 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, | 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, |
| 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 | 30who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life." |
| 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. | 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. |
| 32 He will be handed over to the Romans, and he will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit upon. | 32"For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon, |
| 33 They will flog him with a whip and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again.” | 33and after they have scourged Him, they will kill Him; and the third day He will rise again." |
| 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 | 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 Jesus approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road. | 35As Jesus was approaching Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. |
| 36When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening. | 36Now hearing a crowd going by, he began to inquire what this was. |
| 37They told him that Jesus the Nazarene was going by. | 37They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. |
| 38So he began shouting, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” | 38And he called out, saying, "Jesus, 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!” | 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!" |
| 40When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him. As the man came near, Jesus 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!" |
| 42And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.” | 42And Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well." |
| 43Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too. | 43Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him, glorifying God; and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God. |
| 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. | 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 |
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