Luke 18
Worldwide English (New Testament)
18 Jesus told them a story to teach them that they should keep on talking with God and not give up.
2 He said, `There was a judge in a city. He did not respect God or care about people.
3 There was a woman in that city whose husband was dead. The woman came to the judge again and again. She said, "Save me from my enemy!"
4 For a long time he would not do it. But after a time he said, "I do not respect God or care about people.
5 But this woman is troubling me. So I will save her from her enemy. If I do not, she will keep coming until I am tired." '
6 The Lord said, `The judge was a bad man. And yet you should listen to what he says.
7 When the people whom God has chosen call to him day and night, he will save them from their enemies. He may let them wait a time.
8 But I tell you, he will save them from their enemies soon. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find any people who believe in him?'
9 There were some people who thought they were very good. And they thought that other people were not good. Jesus told this story to them.
10 He said, `Two men went to the temple to talk with God. One was a Pharisee and the other one was a tax collector.
11 `The Pharisee stood and said to himself, "God, I thank you that I am not like other men. They steal, cheat, and commit adultery. I thank you that I am not like this tax collector.
12 Two times in the week I do not eat - I fast. I give away one tenth part of all I get."
13 `The tax collector stood far away. He did not even look up towards heaven. But he beat his chest, and said, "God, I am a bad man. Help me!"
14 I tell you, when this man went home, he was right with God. The other one was not. Everyone who puts himself up in a high place will be brought down to a low place. And everyone who puts himself in a low place will be brought up to a high place.'
15 People brought even small children to Jesus. They wanted him to put his hands on them. When the disciples saw it, they tried to stop the people.
16 But Jesus called them to him and said, `Let the children come to me. Do not try to stop them. The kingdom of God belongs to people like them.
17 I tell you the truth. If anyone does not believe in the kingdom of God like a child, he will never go in.'
18 A ruler asked Jesus, `Good Teacher, what must I do so that I will live for ever?'
19 Jesus answered him, `Why do you call me good? Only one is good, and that is God.
20 `You know the laws, "Do not commit adultery. [Do not take a man or woman who is not your husband or wife.] Do not kill. Do not steal. Do not tell lies. Respect your father and your mother." '
21 The man said, `I have kept all these laws since I was a boy.'
22 When Jesus heard that, he said to him, `You need one thing more. Sell everything you have. Give the money to poor people. You will be rich in heaven. Then come and go with me.'
23 When the man heard that, he was sad because he was very rich.
24 Jesus looked at him and said, `It is very hard for rich people to enter the kingdom of God!
25 It is easier for a big animal like a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.'
26 Those who heard it asked, `Then who can be saved?'
27 But Jesus said, `God can do what men cannot do.'
28 Peter said, `See, we have left all things and have come with you.'
30 Jesus said to them, `I tell you the truth. If any man has left his house, or his wife, or his brothers, or his father, or his mother, or his children for the sake of the kingdom of God, he will receive many times as much as he has left. He will receive that in this world. And in the next world he will live for ever.'
31 Jesus took the twelve disciples with him. He said to them, `We are going to Jerusalem. The prophets of God long ago wrote about the Son of Man. Everything they wrote will be done to him.
32 He will be given over to rulers who are not Jews. They will make fun of him. They will treat him very badly. They will spit on him.
33 They will beat him and kill him. On the third day he will rise.'
34 But the disciples did not understand any of these things. The meaning was hidden from them and they did not understand what he said.
35 When he came near the city of Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road. He was begging for money.
36 He heard many people passing by. He asked, `Why are so many people passing here?'
37 They told him, `Jesus of Nazareth is passing this way.'
38 Then he shouted, `Jesus, son of David! Help me!'
39 The people in front said, `Be quiet!' But he shouted louder and said, `Son of David! Help me!'
40 Jesus stopped and said, `Bring him here.' When the man came close, Jesus asked him, `What do you want me to do for you?'
41 The man said, `Sir, I want to see.'
42 Jesus said, `You can see now. You are healed because you believed.'
43 Right then he was able to see. He went with Jesus and he praised God. All the people saw it and they all praised God too.
Luke 18
King James Version
18 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
15 And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
16 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.
20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.
21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.
22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.
24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
26 And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?
27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
28 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.
29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,
30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.
31 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.
32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.
34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
35 And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:
36 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.
37 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.
38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.
39 And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.
40 And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,
41 Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.
43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
© 1969, 1971, 1996, 1998 by SOON Educational Publications