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¹ HE also spake to them a parable, that they should pray always and not get weary.² There was a judge in a city, who did not fear God, and had no regard for men.³ There was a widow in that city, and she used to come to him, saying, Avenge me of my accuser.⁴ And he would not for a long time; but afterwards he said within himself, Though I am not afraid of God, and have no regard for men;⁵ Yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, so that she may not keep coming and annoy me.⁶ Then our Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge said.⁷ Would not God avenge his chosen ones much more, who call upon him day and night, though he has patience with them?⁸ I say to you, he will avenge them promptly. But when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on the earth?

⁹ And he said this parable against the men who relied upon themselves that they were righteous, and despised every man.¹⁰ Two men went up to the temple to pray; one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.¹¹ And the Pharisee stood by himself, and prayed thus: O God, I thank thee, that I am not like the rest of men, extortioners, grafters, adulterers, and not like this publican.¹² But I fast twice a week, and I give tithes on everything I earn.¹³ But the publican stood afar off, and he would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but smote his breast, saying, O God, be merciful to me, I am a sinner.¹⁴ I say to you, that this man went down to his house more righteous than the Pharisee. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled; and everyone who humbles himself will be exalted.

¹⁵ They brought to him also little boys, that he might touch them; and his disciples saw them and rebuked them.¹⁶ But Jesus called them, and said to them, Permit the children to come to me, and do not stop them; for the kingdom of heaven is for those who are like these.¹⁷ Truly I say to you, He who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little boy will never enter into it.

¹⁸ A nd one of the leaders asked him and said to him, O good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit life everlasting?¹⁹ Jesus said to him, Why do you call me good? there is no one good, except one, that is God.²⁰ You know the commandments: You shall not kill; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and your mother.²¹ He said to him, All these I have obeyed from my boyhood.²² When Jesus heard it, he said to him, You lack one thing; go, sell everything you have, and give it to the poor, and you will have a treasure in heaven; and come and follow me.²³ But when he heard these things, he felt sad, because he was very rich.²⁴ And when Jesus saw that he felt sad, he said, How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter into the kingdom of God!²⁵ It is easier for a rope to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.²⁶ Those who heard it said to him, Who then can be saved?²⁷ But Jesus said, Those things which are impossible to men are possible to God.²⁸ Simon Peter said to him, Behold we have left everything and followed you.²⁹ Jesus said to him, Truly I say to you, that there is no man who leaves houses, or parents, or brothers, or wife, or children for the sake of the kingdom of God,³⁰ Who will not receive many times more at this time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

³¹ Then Jesus took the twelve and said to them, Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man will be fulfilled.³² For he will be delivered to the Gentiles, and they will mock him, and spit in his face.³³ And they will scourge him, and curse him, and kill him; and on the third day he will rise again.³⁴ But they understood not one of these things; and this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know these things which were spoken to them.

³⁵ And when he drew near Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside and begging.³⁶ And he heard the voice of the people passing, and asked, Who is this?³⁷ They said to him, Jesus the Nazarene is passing.³⁸ And he cried and said, O Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me.³⁹ And those who were going before Jesus rebuked him, to keep quiet; but he cried the more, O son of David, have mercy on me.⁴⁰ So Jesus stood still, and commanded to call him to him; and as he came near him he asked him,⁴¹ And said to him, What do you wish me to do for you? He answered and said, My Lord, that I may see.⁴² And Jesus said to him, See; your faith has healed you.⁴³ And he saw immediately, and followed him, and praised God; and all the people who saw it, gave praise to God.