International Standard Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Jesus told his disciples a parable about their need to pray all the time 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,

2He said, "In a city there was a judge who didn't fear God or respect people.

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

3In that city there was also a widow who kept coming to him and saying, 'Grant 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.'

4For a while the judge refused. But later, he told himself, 'I don't fear God or respect people,

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 bothering me, I will grant her justice. Otherwise, she will keep coming and wear me out.'"

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

6Then the Lord added, "Listen to what the unrighteous judge says.

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

7Won't God grant his chosen people justice when they cry out to him day and night? Is he slow 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, he will give them justice quickly. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find 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?"

9Jesus also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves, thinking they were righteous, but who 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 to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.

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

11The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, 'O God, I thank you that I'm not like other people—thieves, dishonest people, adulterers, or even 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, and I give a tenth of my entire 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 would not even look up to heaven. Instead, he continued to beat his chest and said, 'O God, be merciful to me, the sinner that I am!'

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 man, rather than the other one, went down to his home justified, because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the person 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."

15Now some people were even bringing their infants to Jesus to have him touch them. But when the disciples saw this, they sternly told the people not to do that.

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, called for the children and said, "Let the little children come to me, and stop keeping them away, because the kingdom of God belongs to people like 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 tell all of you with certainty, whoever doesn't receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never get into it at all."

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

18Then an official asked Jesus, "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. "Nobody is good except for one—God.

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

20You know the commandments: 'Never commit adultery. Never murder. Never steal. Never give false testimony. 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 official replied, "I have kept all of these since I was a young man."

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

22When Jesus heard this, he told him, "You still need to do one thing. Sell everything you have and give the money to the destitute, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come back and 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 official heard this he became sad, because he was very rich.

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

24So when Jesus saw how sad he was, he said, "How hard it is for rich people to get into 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!

25Indeed, it's easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to get into 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 were listening to Jesus asked, "Then who can be saved?"

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

27Jesus replied, "The things that are impossible for people are possible for God."

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

28Then Peter said, "See, we have left everything we have and followed you."

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

29Jesus told them, "I tell all of you with certainty, there is no one who has left his home, wife, 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 as much in this world, as well as 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."

31Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, "Pay attention! We're going up to Jerusalem. Everything written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled,

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.

32because he'll be handed over to the unbelievers, and will be mocked, insulted, and spit on.

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

33After they have whipped him, they'll kill him, but on the third day he'll 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. What he said was hidden from them, and they didn't know what he meant.

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 was approaching Jericho, there was a blind man sitting by the road begging.

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

36When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening.

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

37They told him that Jesus from Nazareth was coming by.

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

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

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

39The people at the front of the crowd sternly told him to be quiet, but he started shouting even 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!"

40Then Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he 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?" He said, "Lord, I want to see again!"

41"What do you want Me to do for you?" And he said, "Lord, I want to regain my sight!"

42So Jesus told him, "See again! Your faith has made you well."

42And Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well."

43Immediately the man could see again and began to follow Jesus, glorifying God. All the people saw this and 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.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

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