1 Then|strong="G2532" Jesus|strong="G0846" taught the|strong="G3588" followers that|strong="G3004" they|strong="G0846" should|strong="G1163" always|strong="G3842" pray|strong="G4336" and|strong="G2532" never|strong="G3361" lose hope. He|strong="G2532" used this|strong="G3588" story to|strong="G4314" teach them|strong="G0846":
2 “Once there|strong="G1510" was|strong="G1510" a|strong="G1510" judge|strong="G2923" in|strong="G1722" a|strong="G1510" town|strong="G4172". He|strong="G2532" did|strong="G1510" not|strong="G3361" care about|strong="G1722" God|strong="G2316". He|strong="G2532" also|strong="G2532" did|strong="G1510" not|strong="G3361" care what|strong="G3588" people|strong="G0444" thought|strong="G3004" about|strong="G1722" him|strong="G2532".
3 In|strong="G1722" that|strong="G1565" same|strong="G0846" town|strong="G4172" there|strong="G1510" was|strong="G1510" a|strong="G1510" woman whose|strong="G0846" husband had|strong="G1510" died. She|strong="G0846" came|strong="G2064" many times to|strong="G4314" this|strong="G3588" judge and|strong="G2532" said|strong="G3004", ‘There|strong="G1510" is|strong="G1510" a|strong="G1510" man|strong="G1565" who|strong="G3588" is|strong="G1510" doing bad things|strong="G0846" to|strong="G4314" me|strong="G3004". Give|strong="G1556" me|strong="G3004" my|strong="G1722" rights!’
4 But|strong="G1161" the|strong="G3588" judge did|strong="G3761" not|strong="G3756" want|strong="G2309" to|strong="G3004" help the|strong="G3588" woman|strong="G3778". After|strong="G3326" a|strong="G3004" long|strong="G5550" time|strong="G5550", the|strong="G3588" judge thought|strong="G3004" to|strong="G3004" himself|strong="G1438", ‘I|strong="G2532" don’t|strong="G3756" care about|strong="G1909" God|strong="G2316". And|strong="G2532" I|strong="G2532" don’t|strong="G3756" care about|strong="G1909" what|strong="G3588" people|strong="G0444" think.
5 But|strong="G3361" this|strong="G3778" woman|strong="G3778" is|strong="G3778" bothering|strong="G2873" me|strong="G1473". If|strong="G2443" I|strong="G1473" give|strong="G1556" her|strong="G0846" what|strong="G3588" she|strong="G0846" wants, then|strong="G0846" she|strong="G0846" will|strong="G3778" leave me|strong="G1473" alone|strong="G0846". But|strong="G3361" if|strong="G2443" I|strong="G1473" don’t|strong="G3361" give|strong="G1556" her|strong="G0846" what|strong="G3588" she|strong="G0846" wants, she|strong="G0846" will|strong="G3778" bother|strong="G3930" me|strong="G1473" until|strong="G1519" I|strong="G1473" am|strong="G1473" sick.’”
6 The|strong="G3588" Lord|strong="G2962" said|strong="G3004", “Listen|strong="G0191", there|strong="G1161" is|strong="G5101" meaning in|strong="G3004" what|strong="G5101" the|strong="G3588" bad judge|strong="G2923" said|strong="G3004".
7 God’s|strong="G2316" people|strong="G0846" shout|strong="G0994" to|strong="G1909" him|strong="G0846" night|strong="G3571" and|strong="G2532" day|strong="G2250", and|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" will|strong="G2316" always give|strong="G4160" them|strong="G0846" what|strong="G3588" is|strong="G2316" right. He|strong="G2532" will|strong="G2316" not|strong="G3756" be|strong="G2532" slow to|strong="G1909" answer them|strong="G0846".
8 I|strong="G3754" tell|strong="G3004" you|strong="G5210", God|strong="G0846" will|strong="G0444" help his|strong="G0846" people|strong="G0444" quickly|strong="G5034". But|strong="G4133" when|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" Son|strong="G5207" of|strong="G5207" Man|strong="G0444" comes|strong="G2064" again, will|strong="G0444" he|strong="G0846" find|strong="G2147" people|strong="G0444" on|strong="G1909" earth|strong="G1093" who|strong="G3588" believe in|strong="G1722" him|strong="G0846"?”
9 There|strong="G1510" were|strong="G1510" some|strong="G5100" people|strong="G1510" who|strong="G3588" thought|strong="G3004" they|strong="G2532" were|strong="G1510" very|strong="G3778" good|strong="G1510" and|strong="G2532" looked down on|strong="G1909" everyone|strong="G3748" else|strong="G3062". Jesus|strong="G3004" used this|strong="G3778" story to|strong="G4314" teach them|strong="G1438":
10 “One|strong="G1520" time there|strong="G1417" was|strong="G3588" a|strong="G1520" Pharisee|strong="G5330" and|strong="G2532" a|strong="G1520" tax|strong="G5057" collector|strong="G5057". One|strong="G1520" day they|strong="G2532" both|strong="G2532" went|strong="G0305" to|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" Temple|strong="G2411" to|strong="G1519" pray|strong="G4336".
11 The|strong="G3588" Pharisee|strong="G5330" stood|strong="G2476" alone, away from|strong="G2228" the|strong="G3588" tax|strong="G5057" collector|strong="G5057". When|strong="G5613" the|strong="G3588" Pharisee|strong="G5330" prayed|strong="G4336", he|strong="G2532" said|strong="G2532", ‘O God|strong="G2316", I|strong="G2532" thank|strong="G2168" you|strong="G4771" that|strong="G3754" I|strong="G2532" am|strong="G1510" not|strong="G3756" as|strong="G5613" bad as|strong="G5613" other|strong="G3062" people|strong="G0444". I|strong="G2532" am|strong="G1510" not|strong="G3756" like|strong="G5613" men|strong="G0444" who|strong="G3588" steal, cheat, or|strong="G2228" commit adultery. I|strong="G2532" thank|strong="G2168" you|strong="G4771" that|strong="G3754" I|strong="G2532" am|strong="G1510" better than|strong="G2228" this|strong="G3778" tax|strong="G5057" collector|strong="G5057".
12 I|strong="G3956" fast|strong="G3522" twice|strong="G1364" a|strong="G1364" week|strong="G4521", and|strong="G3956" I|strong="G3956" give a|strong="G1364" tenth of|strong="G3956" everything|strong="G3956" I|strong="G3956" get|strong="G2932"!’
13 “The|strong="G3588" tax|strong="G5057" collector|strong="G5057" stood|strong="G2476" alone|strong="G0846" too. But|strong="G1161" when|strong="G1161" he|strong="G0846" prayed, he|strong="G0846" would|strong="G0846" not|strong="G3756" even|strong="G3761" look up|strong="G1519" to|strong="G1519" heaven|strong="G3772". He|strong="G0846" felt very|strong="G0846" humble before|strong="G1519" God|strong="G2316". He|strong="G0846" said|strong="G3004", ‘O God|strong="G2316", have|strong="G1473" mercy on|strong="G1519" me|strong="G3004". I|strong="G1473" am|strong="G2309" a|strong="G3004" sinner|strong="G0268"!’
14 I|strong="G3778" tell|strong="G3004" you|strong="G5210", when|strong="G1161" this|strong="G3778" man|strong="G3778" finished his|strong="G0846" prayer and|strong="G1161" went|strong="G2597" home|strong="G3624", he|strong="G0846" was|strong="G3588" right|strong="G1519" with|strong="G3844" God|strong="G0846". But|strong="G1161" the|strong="G3956" Pharisee, who|strong="G3588" felt that|strong="G3754" he|strong="G0846" was|strong="G3588" better than|strong="G2228" others|strong="G3588", was|strong="G3588" not|strong="G3778" right|strong="G1519" with|strong="G3844" God|strong="G0846". People|strong="G3956" who|strong="G3588" make themselves|strong="G1438" important will|strong="G3778" be|strong="G3956" made|strong="G5312" humble|strong="G5013". But|strong="G1161" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" make themselves|strong="G1438" humble|strong="G5013" will|strong="G3778" be|strong="G3956" made|strong="G5312" important.”
15 Some|strong="G3588" people|strong="G0846" brought|strong="G4374" their|strong="G0846" small children to|strong="G2443" Jesus|strong="G0846" so|strong="G2443" that|strong="G2443" he|strong="G2532" could lay his|strong="G0846" hands on|strong="G1161" them|strong="G0846" to|strong="G2443" bless them|strong="G0846". But|strong="G1161" when|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" followers saw|strong="G3708" this|strong="G3588", they|strong="G0846" told|strong="G2008" the|strong="G3588" people|strong="G0846" not|strong="G2532" to|strong="G2443" do|strong="G3708" this|strong="G3588".
16 But|strong="G1161" Jesus|strong="G2424" called|strong="G3004" the|strong="G3588" little children|strong="G3813" to|strong="G4314" him|strong="G0846" and|strong="G2532" said|strong="G3004" to|strong="G4314" his|strong="G0846" followers, “Let|strong="G0863" the|strong="G3588" little children|strong="G3813" come|strong="G2064" to|strong="G4314" me|strong="G3004". Don’t|strong="G3361" stop|strong="G3361" them|strong="G0846", because|strong="G1063" God’s|strong="G2316" kingdom|strong="G0932" belongs|strong="G1510" to|strong="G4314" people|strong="G0846" who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G1510" like|strong="G5108" these|strong="G3588" little children|strong="G3813".
17 The|strong="G3588" truth is|strong="G2316", you|strong="G5210" must|strong="G1525" accept|strong="G1209" God’s|strong="G2316" kingdom|strong="G0932" like|strong="G5613" a|strong="G5613" little child|strong="G3813" accepts things|strong="G3739", or|strong="G3361" you|strong="G5210" will|strong="G2316" never|strong="G3756" enter|strong="G1525" it|strong="G0846".”
18 A|strong="G4160" religious leader asked|strong="G1905" Jesus|strong="G0846", “Good|strong="G0018" Teacher|strong="G1320", what|strong="G5101" must|strong="G4160" I|strong="G2532" do|strong="G4160" to|strong="G3004" get eternal|strong="G0166" life|strong="G2222"?”
19 Jesus|strong="G2424" said|strong="G3004" to|strong="G3004" him|strong="G0846", “Why|strong="G5101" do|strong="G3361" you|strong="G1487" call|strong="G3004" me|strong="G3004" good|strong="G0018"? Only|strong="G1487" God|strong="G2316" is|strong="G2316" good|strong="G0018".
20 And|strong="G2532" you|strong="G4771" know|strong="G1492" his|strong="G2532" commands|strong="G1785": ‘You|strong="G4771" must|strong="G3588" not|strong="G3361" commit|strong="G3431" adultery|strong="G3431", you|strong="G4771" must|strong="G3588" not|strong="G3361" murder|strong="G5407" anyone, you|strong="G4771" must|strong="G3588" not|strong="G3361" steal|strong="G2813", you|strong="G4771" must|strong="G3588" not|strong="G3361" tell lies about|strong="G3588" others|strong="G3588", you|strong="G4771" must|strong="G3588" respect your|strong="G5091" father|strong="G3962" and|strong="G2532" mother|strong="G3384" ….’”
21 But|strong="G1161" the|strong="G3956" leader said|strong="G3004", “I|strong="G1473" have|strong="G1473" obeyed all|strong="G3956" these|strong="G3778" commands since|strong="G1537" I|strong="G1473" was|strong="G3588" a|strong="G3004" boy.”
22 When|strong="G2532" Jesus|strong="G2424" heard|strong="G0191" this|strong="G3588", he|strong="G2532" said|strong="G3004" to|strong="G3004" the|strong="G3956" leader, “But|strong="G1161" there|strong="G1722" is|strong="G3772" still|strong="G2089" one|strong="G1520" thing|strong="G1520" you|strong="G4771" need|strong="G2192" to|strong="G3004" do|strong="G2192". Sell|strong="G4453" everything|strong="G3956" you|strong="G4771" have|strong="G2192" and|strong="G2532" give|strong="G0191" the|strong="G3956" money|strong="G0846" to|strong="G3004" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G3956" poor|strong="G4434". You|strong="G4771" will|strong="G3956" have|strong="G2192" riches in|strong="G1722" heaven|strong="G3772". Then|strong="G2532" come|strong="G1204" and|strong="G2532" follow|strong="G0190" me|strong="G3004".”
23 But|strong="G1161" when|strong="G1161" the|strong="G3588" man|strong="G3778" heard|strong="G0191" Jesus|strong="G1510" tell him|strong="G0191" to|strong="G1096" give|strong="G0191" away his|strong="G0191" money, he|strong="G3778" was|strong="G1510" sad|strong="G4036". He|strong="G3778" didn’t want to|strong="G1096" do|strong="G1096" this|strong="G3778", because|strong="G1063" he|strong="G3778" was|strong="G1510" very|strong="G3778" rich|strong="G4145".
24 When|strong="G1161" Jesus|strong="G2424" saw|strong="G3708" that|strong="G3004" the|strong="G3588" man|strong="G2316" was|strong="G2424" sad, he|strong="G0846" said|strong="G3004", “It|strong="G0846" will|strong="G2316" be|strong="G2316" very|strong="G0846" hard|strong="G1423" for|strong="G1519" rich|strong="G2192" people|strong="G0846" to|strong="G1519" enter|strong="G1531" God’s|strong="G2316" kingdom|strong="G0932".
25 It|strong="G1223" is|strong="G1510" easier|strong="G2123" for|strong="G1063" a|strong="G1510" camel|strong="G2574" to|strong="G1519" go|strong="G1525" through|strong="G1223" the|strong="G3588" eye of|strong="G0932" a|strong="G1510" needle than|strong="G2228" for|strong="G1063" a|strong="G1510" rich|strong="G4145" person to|strong="G1519" enter|strong="G1525" God’s|strong="G2316" kingdom|strong="G0932".”
26 When|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" people|strong="G3588" heard|strong="G0191" this|strong="G3588", they|strong="G2532" said|strong="G3004", “Then|strong="G2532" who|strong="G3588" can|strong="G1410" be|strong="G2532" saved|strong="G4982"?”
27 Jesus|strong="G3004" answered|strong="G3004", “God|strong="G2316" can|strong="G3004" do|strong="G1510" things|strong="G3588" that|strong="G3004" are|strong="G1510" not|strong="G1510" possible|strong="G1415" for|strong="G3844" people|strong="G0444" to|strong="G3004" do|strong="G1510".”
28 Peter|strong="G4074" said|strong="G3004", “Look|strong="G2400", we|strong="G2249" left|strong="G0863" everything we|strong="G2249" had|strong="G3588" and|strong="G1161" followed|strong="G0190" you|strong="G4771".”
29 Jesus|strong="G0846" said|strong="G3004", “I|strong="G3739" can|strong="G3004" promise that|strong="G3739" everyone|strong="G3739" who|strong="G3739" has|strong="G2316" left|strong="G0863" their|strong="G0846" home|strong="G3614", wife|strong="G1135", brothers|strong="G0080", parents|strong="G1118", or|strong="G2228" children|strong="G5043" for|strong="G1752" God’s|strong="G2316" kingdom|strong="G0932"
30 will|strong="G3739" get much|strong="G4179" more than|strong="G2532" they|strong="G3739" left. They|strong="G3739" will|strong="G3739" get many|strong="G4179" times|strong="G2540" more in|strong="G1722" this|strong="G3778" life|strong="G2222". And|strong="G2532" in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" world|strong="G0165" that|strong="G3739" is|strong="G3778" coming|strong="G2064" they|strong="G3739" will|strong="G3739" get the|strong="G3588" reward of|strong="G1722" eternal|strong="G0166" life|strong="G2222".”
31 Then|strong="G2532" Jesus|strong="G0846" talked to|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3956" twelve|strong="G1427" apostles alone|strong="G0846". He|strong="G2532" said|strong="G3004" to|strong="G1519" them|strong="G0846", “Listen|strong="G2400", we|strong="G2532" are|strong="G3956" going|strong="G0305" to|strong="G1519" Jerusalem|strong="G2419". Everything|strong="G3956" that|strong="G3004" God|strong="G0846" told|strong="G3004" the|strong="G3956" prophets|strong="G4396" to|strong="G1519" write|strong="G1125" about|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3956" Son|strong="G5207" of|strong="G5207" Man|strong="G0444" will|strong="G0444" happen|strong="G1519".
32 He|strong="G2532" will|strong="G1484" be|strong="G2532" handed|strong="G3860" over|strong="G3860" to|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" foreigners, who|strong="G3588" will|strong="G1484" laugh at|strong="G3588" him|strong="G2532", insult|strong="G5195" him|strong="G2532", and|strong="G2532" spit|strong="G1716" on|strong="G2532" him|strong="G2532".
33 They|strong="G0846" will|strong="G2250" beat him|strong="G0846" with|strong="G2532" whips and|strong="G2532" then|strong="G2532" kill|strong="G0615" him|strong="G0846". But|strong="G2532" on|strong="G0846" the|strong="G3588" third|strong="G5154" day|strong="G2250" after|strong="G2532" his|strong="G0846" death|strong="G0615", he|strong="G2532" will|strong="G2250" rise|strong="G0450" to|strong="G2532" life again|strong="G0450".”
34 The|strong="G3588" apostles tried to|strong="G3004" understand|strong="G4920" this|strong="G3778", but|strong="G2532" they|strong="G0846" could not|strong="G3756"; the|strong="G3588" meaning was|strong="G1510" hidden|strong="G2928" from|strong="G0575" them|strong="G0846".
35 Jesus|strong="G0846" came|strong="G1096" near|strong="G1448" the|strong="G3588" city|strong="G0846" of|strong="G5100" Jericho|strong="G2410". There|strong="G1722" was|strong="G3588" a|strong="G1096" blind|strong="G5185" man|strong="G5100" sitting|strong="G2521" beside|strong="G3844" the|strong="G3588" road|strong="G3598". He|strong="G0846" was|strong="G3588" begging|strong="G1871" people|strong="G0846" for|strong="G1519" money|strong="G0846".
36 When|strong="G1161" he|strong="G3778" heard|strong="G0191" the|strong="G1161" people|strong="G3793" coming down the|strong="G1161" road, he|strong="G3778" asked|strong="G4441", “What|strong="G5101" is|strong="G1510" happening?”
37 They|strong="G0846" told|strong="G0518" him|strong="G0846", “Jesus|strong="G2424", the|strong="G3588" one|strong="G3588" from|strong="G2424" Nazareth|strong="G3480", is|strong="G3588" coming here.”
38 The|strong="G2532" blind man|strong="G5207" was|strong="G2424" excited and|strong="G2532" said|strong="G3004", “Jesus|strong="G2424", Son|strong="G5207" of|strong="G5207" David|strong="G1138", please help me|strong="G3004"!”
39 The|strong="G3588" people|strong="G0846" who|strong="G3588" were|strong="G3588" in|strong="G2532" front|strong="G4254" leading the|strong="G3588" group criticized the|strong="G3588" blind man|strong="G5207". They|strong="G0846" told|strong="G2008" him|strong="G0846" to|strong="G2443" be|strong="G2532" quiet|strong="G4601". But|strong="G1161" he|strong="G2532" shouted|strong="G2896" more|strong="G3123" and|strong="G2532" more|strong="G3123", “Son|strong="G5207" of|strong="G5207" David|strong="G1138", please help me|strong="G1473"!”
40 Jesus|strong="G2424" stopped|strong="G2476" there|strong="G1161" and|strong="G1161" said|strong="G1905", “Bring|strong="G0071" that|strong="G0846" man to|strong="G4314" me!” When|strong="G1161" he|strong="G0846" came|strong="G1448" close|strong="G1448", Jesus|strong="G2424" asked|strong="G1905" him|strong="G0846",
41 “What|strong="G5101" do|strong="G4160" you|strong="G4771" want|strong="G2309" me|strong="G3004" to|strong="G2443" do|strong="G4160" for|strong="G2443" you|strong="G4771"?”
42 Jesus|strong="G2424" said|strong="G3004" to|strong="G3004" him|strong="G0846", “You|strong="G4771" can|strong="G3004" see|strong="G0308" now|strong="G2532". You|strong="G4771" are|strong="G3588" healed because|strong="G0846" you|strong="G4771" believed.”
43 Then|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3956" man|strong="G2316" was|strong="G3588" able to|strong="G2532" see|strong="G3708". He|strong="G2532" followed|strong="G0190" Jesus|strong="G0846", thanking God|strong="G2316". Everyone|strong="G3956" who|strong="G3588" saw|strong="G3708" this|strong="G3588" praised|strong="G1392" God|strong="G2316" for|strong="G2316" what|strong="G3588" happened|strong="G3588".