New King James Version

New Living Translation

1Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,

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

2saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.

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

3Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’

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

4And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard 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 troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ”

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, “Hear what the unjust judge said.

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

7And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with 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 avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the 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

9Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

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 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 stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as 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 tithes of all that I possess.’

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

13And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to 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 man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he 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

15Then they also brought infants to Him that 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.

16But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.

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.

17Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means 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

18Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

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

19So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, 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 your 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.’ ”

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

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

22So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and 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.”

23But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.

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

24And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches 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 man 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!”

26And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?”

26Those who heard this said, “Then who in the world can be saved?”

27But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”

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

28Then Peter said, “See, we have left all and followed You.”

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

29So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake 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 shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

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 said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning 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 delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon.

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

33They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

33 They will flog him with a whip and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again.”

34But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken.

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

35Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging.

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

36And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant.

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

37So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.

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

38And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

38So he began shouting, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

39Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried 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!”

40So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come 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,

41saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.”

41 “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord,” he said, “I want to see!”

42Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.”

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

43And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And 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.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

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.