Luke 18

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

1Jesus told them a story to teach them something. They should always pray and never give up.

2Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

2He said, "In a town there was a judge, a man who decides who is right. He did not care about God or about people."

3And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

3"A widow lived in that same town. Her husband had died. She kept coming to the judge. She said, 'Someone is hurting me. Please give me what is fair.'"

4And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

4"For a long time the judge said no. Later he said to himself, 'I do not care about God or people.'"

5Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

5"'But this widow keeps bothering me. So I will give her what is fair. Then she will stop wearing me out.'"

6And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

6Then the Lord Jesus said, "Listen to what that unfair judge said."

7And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

7"God's own chosen people call out to him day and night. Will God not give them what is fair? Will he keep making them wait?"

NoteThe KJV word "avenge" here does not mean revenge. It means giving someone what is fair, the way a judge would.

8I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

8"I tell you, God will help them soon. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find people on earth who trust him?" Son of Man was the name Jesus used for himself.

9And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

9Some people were sure they were good. They looked down on everyone else. Jesus told them this story.

10Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

10"Two men went to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, a man who worked hard to keep every rule. The other collected tax money for the rulers."

11The 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.

11"The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed. 'God, thank you that I am not like other men. They cheat, they do wrong, they break their marriage promises. I am not even like this tax man.'"

12I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

12"'Twice a week I go without food so I can pray. I give you a tenth of everything I get.'"

13And 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.

13"But the tax man stood far away. He would not even look up toward heaven. He hit his chest because he was sad. He said, 'God, be kind to me. I have done wrong.'"

14I 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.

14"I tell you, that man went home right with God. The other man did not. Anyone who makes himself big will be made small. Anyone who makes himself small will be made big."

15And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

15People were bringing their babies to Jesus. They wanted him to put his hands on them. His close followers saw this and told them to stop.

16But 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.

16But Jesus called the children over to him. He said, "Let the little children come to me. Do not keep them away. God's kingdom belongs to people like them."

Note"Suffer little children to come unto me" is old English. "Suffer" here means "allow" or "let".

17Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

17"I am telling you the truth. You must welcome God's kingdom the way a little child would. If you do not, you will never go in."

18And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

18A leader of the people asked Jesus, "Good Teacher, what must I do to live with God forever?"

19And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

19Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? Only one is good, and that is God."

20Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

20"You know the rules God gave. Keep your marriage promises. Do not kill. Do not steal. Do not tell lies about people. Treat your father and mother well."

21And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.

21The man said, "I have kept all of these rules since I was a boy."

22Now 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.

22Jesus heard this and said to him, "You still need one thing. Sell everything you own. Give the money to poor people. Then you will have riches in heaven. Then come and follow me."

23And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

23When the man heard this, he became very sad. He was very rich.

24And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

24Jesus saw that he was sad. He said, "It is so hard for rich people to enter God's kingdom!"

25For 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.

25"A camel could squeeze through the little hole in a needle more easily. That is easier than a rich man entering God's kingdom."

26And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?

26The people who heard this said, "Then who can be saved?"

27And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

27Jesus said, "People cannot do this by themselves. But God can do what people cannot do."

28Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.

28Then Peter said, "Look, we left everything we had. We followed you."

29And 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,

29Jesus said to them, "I am telling you the truth. Some people leave their home, their wife, their brothers, their parents, or their children. They do it for God's kingdom."

30Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

30"Every one of them will get much more back in this life. And in the life that is coming, they will live forever."

31Then 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.

31Then Jesus took his twelve close followers aside. He said, "We are going up to Jerusalem. Long ago God's messengers wrote about the Son of Man. All of it will come true."

32For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:

32"He will be handed over to people who are not Jews. They will make fun of him. They will treat him badly and spit on him."

33And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.

33"They will beat him with whips and kill him. Three days later he will come back to life."

34And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

34But his followers did not understand any of this. The meaning was hidden from them. They did not know what he was talking about.

35And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:

35Jesus came near the town of Jericho. A blind man was sitting beside the road. He was asking people for money.

36And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.

36The man heard a crowd walking past him. He asked what was happening.

37And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.

37They told him, "Jesus from the town of Nazareth is going by."

38And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.

38So the man shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, please be kind to me!"

Note"Son of David" was a name for the king God had promised to send. King David had lived hundreds of years earlier.

39And 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.

39The people at the front told him to be quiet. But he shouted even louder, "Son of David, please be kind to me!"

40And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,

40Jesus stopped walking. He told them to bring the man to him. When the man came close, Jesus asked him a question.

41Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.

41He said, "What do you want me to do for you?" The man said, "Lord, I want to see again."

42And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.

42Jesus said to him, "See again. You trusted me, and that has made you well."

NoteThe KJV says "thy faith hath saved thee." The word used here can also mean "made you well," which fits a man being healed.

43And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

43Right away the man could see. He followed Jesus and thanked God out loud. All the people saw it, and they praised God too.