| Chapter 18 |
1 | And he spake also a simile to them, that it behoveth [us] always to pray, and not to faint, |
2 | saying, 'A certain judge was in a certain city -- God he is not fearing, and man he is not regarding -- |
3 | and a widow was in that city, and she was coming unto him, saying, Do me justice on my opponent, |
4 | and he would not for a time, but after these things he said in himself, Even if God I do not fear, and man do not regard, |
5 | yet because this widow doth give me trouble, I will do her justice, lest, perpetually coming, she may plague me.' |
6 | And the Lord said, 'Hear ye what the unrighteous judge saith: |
7 | and shall not God execute the justice to His choice ones, who are crying unto Him day and night -- bearing long in regard to them? |
8 | I say to you, that He will execute the justice to them quickly; but the Son of Man having come, shall he find the faith upon the earth?' |
9 | And he spake also unto certain who have been trusting in themselves that they were righteous, and have been despising the rest, this simile: |
10 | 'Two men went up to the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-gatherer; |
11 | the Pharisee having stood by himself, thus prayed: God, I thank Thee that I am not as the rest of men, rapacious, unrighteous, adulterers, or even as this tax-gatherer; |
12 | I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all things -- as many as I possess. |
13 | 'And the tax-gatherer, having stood afar off, would not even the eyes lift up to the heaven, but was smiting on his breast, saying, God be propitious to me -- the sinner! |
14 | I say to you, this one went down declared righteous, to his house, rather than that one: for every one who is exalting himself shall be humbled, and he who is humbling himself shall be exalted.' |
15 | And they were bringing near also the babes, that he may touch them, and the disciples having seen did rebuke them, |
16 | and Jesus having called them near, said, 'Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the reign of God; |
17 | verily I say to you, Whoever may not receive the reign of God as a little child, may not enter into it.' |
18 | And a certain ruler questioned him, saying, 'Good teacher, what having done -- shall I inherit life age-during?' |
19 | And Jesus said to him, 'Why me dost thou call good? no one [is] good, except One -- God; |
20 | the commands thou hast known: Thou mayest not commit adultery, Thou mayest do no murder, Thou mayest not steal, Thou mayest not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.' |
21 | And he said, 'All these I did keep from my youth;' |
22 | and having heard these things, Jesus said to him, 'Yet one thing to thee is lacking; all things -- as many as thou hast -- sell, and distribute to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come, be following me;' |
23 | and he, having heard these things, became very sorrowful, for he was exceeding rich. |
24 | And Jesus having seen him become very sorrowful, said, 'How hardly shall those having riches enter into the reign of God! |
25 | for it is easier for a camel through the eye of a needle to enter, than for a rich man into the reign of God to enter.' |
26 | And those who heard, said, 'And who is able to be saved?' |
27 | and he said, 'The things impossible with men are possible with God.' |
28 | And Peter said, 'Lo, we left all, and did follow thee;' |
29 | and he said to them, 'Verily I say to you, that there is not one who left house, or parents, or brothers, or wife, or children, for the sake of the reign of God, |
30 | who may not receive back manifold more in this time, and in the coming age, life age-during.' |
31 | And having taken the twelve aside, he said unto them, 'Lo, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things shall be completed -- that have been written through the prophets -- to the Son of Man, |
32 | for he shall be delivered up to the nations, and shall be mocked, and insulted, and spit upon, |
33 | and having scourged they shall put him to death, and on the third day he shall rise again.' |
34 | And they none of these things understood, and this saying was hid from them, and they were not knowing the things said. |
35 | And it came to pass, in his coming nigh to Jericho, a certain blind man was sitting beside the way begging, |
36 | and having heard a multitude going by, he was inquiring what this may be, |
37 | and they brought him word that Jesus the Nazarene doth pass by, |
38 | and he cried out, saying, 'Jesus, Son of David, deal kindly with me;' |
39 | and those going before were rebuking him, that he might be silent, but he was much more crying out, 'Son of David, deal kindly with me.' |
40 | And Jesus having stood, commanded him to be brought unto him, and he having come nigh, he questioned him, |
41 | saying, 'What wilt thou I shall do to thee?' and he said, 'Sir, that I may receive sight.' |
42 | And Jesus said to him, 'Receive thy sight; thy faith hath saved thee;' |
43 | and presently he did receive sight, and was following him, glorifying God; and all the people, having seen, did give praise to God. |