Keep Asking, Searching, Knocking

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.’^{[b] 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 persistence,^[c] he will get up and give him as much as he needs.^(A)

⁹ “So^(B) I say to you, keep asking,^[d](C) and it will be given to you. Keep searching,^[e](D) and you will find. Keep knocking,^[f](E) and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. ¹¹ What father among you, if his son^[g] 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^[h] 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.”