VERSE STUDY • KJV

Luke 18:1-8

¹ And he spake a parable unto them [to this end], that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; ² Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: ³ And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. ⁴ And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; ⁵ Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. ⁶ And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. ⁷ And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? ⁸ I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Read it in 5 translations

KJV King James Version

¹ And he spake a parable unto them [to this end], that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; ² Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: ³ And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. ⁴ And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; ⁵ Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. ⁶ And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. ⁷ And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? ⁸ I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

BSB Berean Standard Bible

¹ Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart: ² “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected men. ³ And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ ⁴ For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect men, ⁵ yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice. Otherwise, she will wear me out with her perpetual requests.’” ⁶ And the Lord said, “Listen to the words of the unjust judge. ⁷ Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay in helping them? ⁸ I tell you, He will promptly carry out justice on their behalf. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”

WEB World English Bible

¹ He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray, and not give up, ² saying, “There was a judge in a certain city who didn’t fear God, and didn’t respect man. ³ A widow was in that city, and she often came to him, saying, ‘Defend me from my adversary!’ ⁴ He wouldn’t for a while, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God, nor respect man, ⁵ yet because this widow bothers me, I will defend her, or else she will wear me out by her continual coming.’” ⁶ The Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge says. ⁷ Won’t God avenge his chosen ones, who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them? ⁸ I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

ASV American Standard Version

¹ And he spake a parable unto them to the end that they ought always to pray, and not to faint; ² saying, There was in a city a judge, who feared not God, and regarded not man: ³ and there was a widow in that city; and she came oft unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. ⁴ And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; ⁵ yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest she wear me out by her continual coming. ⁶ And the Lord said, Hear what the unrighteous judge saith. ⁷ And shall not God avenge his elect, that cry to him day and night, and yet he is longsuffering over them? ⁸ I say unto you, that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

YLT Young’s Literal Translation

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?’

Surrounding context — Luke 18

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

11 The 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.

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