New Living Translation | New International Version |
1One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. | 1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. |
2 “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. | 2He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. |
3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ | 3And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' |
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 some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care what people think, |
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 keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually come and attack me!'" |
6Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. | 6And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. |
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? | 7And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? |
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 | 8I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and 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: | 9To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: |
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 to 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! | 11The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. |
12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ | 12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all 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 stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a 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 that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves 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. | 15People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked 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 the children to him and said, "Let the little children 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 | 17Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." |
18Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” | 18A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" |
19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good. | 19"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "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.’ ” | 20You know the commandments: 'You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'" |
21The man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” | 21"All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said. |
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, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." |
23But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich. | 23When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. |
24When Jesus saw this, he said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God! | 24Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich 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!” | 25Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." |
26Those who heard this said, “Then who in the world can be saved?” | 26Those who heard this asked, "Who then can be saved?" |
27He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.” | 27Jesus replied, "What is impossible with man is possible with God." |
28Peter said, “We’ve left our homes to follow you.” | 28Peter said to him, "We have left all we had to follow 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, | 29"Truly I tell you," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters 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 | 30will fail to receive many times as much in this age, 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. | 31Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. |
32 He will be handed over to the Romans, and he will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit upon. | 32He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; |
33 They will flog him with a whip and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again.” | 33they will flog him and kill him. On 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 | 34The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about. |
35As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road. | 35As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. |
36When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening. | 36When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. |
37They told him that Jesus the Nazarene was going by. | 37They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." |
38So he began shouting, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” | 38He called out, "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 rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted 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, | 40Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he 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, I want to see," he replied. |
42And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.” | 42Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has healed you." |
43Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too. | 43Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised 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 International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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