Ask, Search, Knock

⁵ He also said to them, “Suppose one of you^[a] has a friend and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, ⁶ because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I don’t have anything to offer him.’ ⁷ Then he will answer from inside and say, ‘Don’t bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I have gone to bed. I can’t get up to give you anything.’ ⁸ I tell you, even though he won’t get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his friend’s shameless boldness,^[b] he will get up and give him as much as he needs.^(A)

⁹ “So^(B) I say to you, ask,^(C) and it will be given to you. Seek,^(D) and you will find. Knock,^(E) and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. ¹¹ What father among you, if his son^[c] asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? ¹² Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, who are evil,^(F) know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father^(G) give the Holy Spirit^(H) to those who ask him?”

³⁶ But be alert at all times,^(A) praying that you may have strength^[a] to escape^(B) all these things that are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man.”

¹⁷ pray constantly,