Luke 18:5

THE MESSAGE

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
yet because this widow keeps

King James Version (1611)
Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will auenge her, lest by her continuall comming, she wearie me.

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

English Standard Version
yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.'"

New American Standard Bible
yet because this widow is bothering me, I will give her justice; otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.'"

New Century Version
I will see that she gets her rights. Otherwise she will continue to bother me until I am worn out.'"

Amplified Bible
yet because this widow continues to bother me, I will give her justice and legal protection; otherwise by continually coming she [will be an intolerable annoyance and she] will wear me out.'"

New American Standard Bible (1995)
yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.'"

Legacy Standard Bible
yet because this widow is bothering me, I will give her justice, lest by continually coming she wears me out.'"

Berean Standard Bible
yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice. Then she will stop wearing me out with her perpetual requests.'"

Contemporary English Version
I will help this widow because she keeps on bothering me. If I don't help her, she will wear me out."

Complete Jewish Bible
but because this widow is such a nudnik, I will see to it that she gets justice — otherwise, she'll keep coming and pestering me till she wears me out!'"

Darby Translation
at any rate because this widow annoys me I will avenge her, that she may not by perpetually coming completely harass me.

Easy-to-Read Version
But this woman is bothering me. If I give her what she wants, then she will leave me alone. But if I don't give her what she wants, she will bother me until I am sick.'"

Geneva Bible (1587)
Yet because this widowe troubleth mee, I will doe her right, lest at the last shee come and make me wearie.

George Lamsa Translation
Yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, so that she may not keep coming and annoy me.

Good News Translation
yet because of all the trouble this widow is giving me, I will see to it that she gets her rights. If I don't, she will keep on coming and finally wear me out!'"

Lexham English Bible
yet because this widow is causing trouble for me, I will grant her justice, so that she does not wear me down in the end by her coming back!'"

Literal Translation
yet because this widow causes me trouble, I will avenge her, that not coming to the end, she wear me down.

American Standard Version
yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest she wear me out by her continual coming.

Bible in Basic English
Because this widow is a trouble to me, I will give her her right; for if not, I will be completely tired out by her frequent coming.

Hebrew Names Version
yet because this widow bothers me, I will defend her, or else she will wear me out by her continual coming.'"

International Standard Version
Yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice. Otherwise, she will keep coming and wear me out.'"Luke 11:8;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
yet, because this widow wearies me, I will avenge her, that in all time she come not molesting me.

Murdock Translation
yet, because this widow troubleth me, I will vindicate her; that she may not be always coming and troubling me.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Yet because this widdowe [much] troubleth me, I wyll auenge her: leste she come at the last, & make me weery.

English Revised Version
yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest she wear me out by her continual coming.

World English Bible
yet because this widow bothers me, I will defend her, or else she will wear me out by her continual coming.'"

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Yet because this widow giveth me trouble, I will do her justice, left by her continual coming she weary me out.

Weymouth's New Testament
yet because she annoys me I will give her justice, to prevent her from constantly coming to pester me.'"

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
netheles for this widewe is heuy to me, Y schal venge hir; lest at the laste sche comynge condempne me.

Update Bible Version
yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, lest she wear me out by her continual coming.

Webster's Bible Translation
Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

New English Translation
yet because this widow keeps on bothering me, I will give her justice, or in the end she will wear me out by her unending pleas.'"

New King James Version
yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me."'

New Living Translation
but this woman is driving me crazy. I'm going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!'"

New Life Bible
But I will see that this woman whose husband has died gets her rights because I get tired of her coming all the time.'"

New Revised Standard
yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.'"

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Yet, if only because this widow annoyeth me, I will vindicate her, - lest, persistently coming, she wholly wear me out.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Yet because this widow is troublesome to me, I will avenge her, lest continually coming she weary me.

Revised Standard Version
yet because this widow bothers me, I will vindicate her, or she will wear me out by her continual coming.'"

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
yet because this wedowe troubleth me I will avenge her lest at the laste she come and hagge on me.

Young's Literal Translation
yet because this widow doth give me trouble, I will do her justice, lest, perpetually coming, she may plague me.'

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
yet seynge this weddowe is so importune vpon me, I wil delyuer her, lest she come at the last, and rayle vpon me.

Mace New Testament (1729)
yet, because this widow importunes me, I will do her justice, that she may'nt be continually coming to teaze me.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Finally, just to be rid of her, the judge did what she wanted because he was tired of seeing and hearing from her every single day."

Contextual Overview

¹Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit. He said, "There was once a judge in some city who never gave God a thought and cared nothing for people. A widow in that city kept after him: ‘My rights are being violated. Protect me!' ⁴"He never gave her the time of day. But after this went on and on he said to himself, ‘I care nothing what God thinks, even less what people think. But because this widow won't quit badgering me, I'd better do something and see that she gets justice—otherwise I'm going to end up beaten black-and-blue by her pounding.'" ⁶Then the Master said, "Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying? So what makes you think God won't step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won't he stick up for them? I assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet. But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

because: Luke 11:8, Judges 16:16, 2 Samuel 13:24-27

weary: Luke 18:39, Matthew 15:23, Mark 10:47, Mark 10:48

Reciprocal: Judges 14:17 - she lay Nehemiah 6:4 - four times Psalms 63:8 - followeth

Cross-References

Genesis 33:10
Jacob said, "Please. If you can find it in your heart to welcome me, accept these gifts. When I saw your face, it was as the face of God smiling on me. Accept the gifts I have brought for you. God has been good to me and I have more than enough." Jacob urged the gifts on him and Esau accepted.

Judges 13:15
Manoah said to the angel of God, "Please, stay with us a little longer; we'll prepare a meal for you—a young goat."

Judges 19:5
On the fourth day, they got up at the crack of dawn and got ready to go. But the girl's father said to his son-in-law, "Strengthen yourself with a hearty breakfast and then you can go." So they sat down and ate breakfast together. The girl's father said to the man, "Come now, be my guest. Stay the night—make it a holiday." The man got up to go, but his father-in-law kept after him, so he ended up spending another night. On the fifth day, he was again up early, ready to go. The girl's father said, "You need some breakfast." They went back and forth, and the day slipped on as they ate and drank together. But the man and his concubine were finally ready to go. Then his father-in-law, the girl's father, said, "Look, the day's almost gone—why not stay the night? There's very little daylight left; stay another night and enjoy yourself. Tomorrow you can get an early start and set off for your own place." But this time the man wasn't willing to spend another night. He got things ready, left, and went as far as Jebus (Jerusalem) with his pair of saddled donkeys, his concubine, and his servant. At Jebus, though, the day was nearly gone. The servant said to his master, "It's late; let's go into this Jebusite city and spend the night." But his master said, "We're not going into any city of foreigners. We'll go on to Gibeah." He directed his servant, "Keep going. Let's go on ahead. We'll spend the night either at Gibeah or Ramah." So they kept going. As they pressed on, the sun finally left them in the vicinity of Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin. They left the road there to spend the night at Gibeah. The Levite went and sat down in the town square, but no one invited them in to spend the night. Then, late in the evening, an old man came in from his day's work in the fields. He was from the hill country of Ephraim and lived temporarily in Gibeah where all the local citizens were Benjaminites. When the old man looked up and saw the traveler in the town square, he said, "Where are you going? And where are you from?" The Levite said, "We're just passing through. We're coming from Bethlehem on our way to a remote spot in the hills of Ephraim. I come from there. I've just made a trip to Bethlehem in Judah and I'm on my way back home, but no one has invited us in for the night. We wouldn't be any trouble: We have food and straw for the donkeys, and bread and wine for the woman, the young man, and me—we don't need anything." The old man said, "It's going to be all right; I'll take care of you. You aren't going to spend the night in the town square." He took them home and fed the donkeys. They washed up and sat down to a good meal. They were relaxed and enjoying themselves when the men of the city, a gang of local hell-raisers all, surrounded the house and started pounding on the door. They yelled for the owner of the house, the old man, "Bring out the man who came to your house. We want to have sex with him." He went out and told them, "No, brothers! Don't be obscene—this man is my guest. Don't commit this outrage. Look, my virgin daughter and his concubine are here. I'll bring them out for you. Abuse them if you must, but don't do anything so senselessly vile to this man." But the men wouldn't listen to him. Finally, the Levite pushed his concubine out the door to them. They raped her repeatedly all night long. Just before dawn they let her go. The woman came back and fell at the door of the house where her master was sleeping. When the sun rose, there she was. It was morning. Her master got up and opened the door to continue his journey. There she was, his concubine, crumpled in a heap at the door, her hands on the threshold. "Get up," he said. "Let's get going." There was no answer. He lifted her onto his donkey and set out for home. When he got home he took a knife and dismembered his concubine—cut her into twelve pieces. He sent her, piece by piece, throughout the country of Israel. And he ordered the men he sent out, "Say to every man in Israel: ‘Has such a thing as this ever happened from the time the Israelites came up from the land of Egypt until now? Think about it! Talk it over. Do something!'"

Psalms 104:15
class="poetry"> O my soul, bless God ! God , my God, how great you are! beautifully, gloriously robed, Dressed up in sunshine, and all heaven stretched out for your tent. You built your palace on the ocean deeps, made a chariot out of clouds and took off on wind-wings. You commandeered winds as messengers, appointed fire and flame as ambassadors. You set earth on a firm foundation so that nothing can shake it, ever. You blanketed earth with ocean, covered the mountains with deep waters; Then you roared and the water ran away— your thunder crash put it to flight. Mountains pushed up, valleys spread out in the places you assigned them. You set boundaries between earth and sea; never again will earth be flooded. You started the springs and rivers, sent them flowing among the hills. All the wild animals now drink their fill, wild donkeys quench their thirst. Along the riverbanks the birds build nests, ravens make their voices heard. You water the mountains from your heavenly cisterns; earth is supplied with plenty of water. You make grass grow for the livestock, hay for the animals that plow the ground. Oh yes, God brings grain from the land, wine to make people happy, Their faces glowing with health, a people well-fed and hearty. God 's trees are well-watered— the Lebanon cedars he planted. Birds build their nests in those trees; look—the stork at home in the treetop. Mountain goats climb about the cliffs; badgers burrow among the rocks. The moon keeps track of the seasons, the sun is in charge of each day. When it's dark and night takes over, all the forest creatures come out. The young lions roar for their prey, clamoring to God for their supper. When the sun comes up, they vanish, lazily stretched out in their dens. Meanwhile, men and women go out to work, busy at their jobs until evening. What a wildly wonderful world, God ! You made it all, with Wisdom at your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations. Oh, look—the deep, wide sea, brimming with fish past counting, sardines and sharks and salmon. Ships plow those waters, and Leviathan, your pet dragon, romps in them. All the creatures look expectantly to you to give them their meals on time. You come, and they gather around; you open your hand and they eat from it. If you turned your back, they'd die in a minute— Take back your Spirit and they die, revert to original mud; Send out your Spirit and they spring to life— the whole countryside in bloom and blossom. The glory of God —let it last forever! Let God enjoy his creation! He takes one look at earth and triggers an earthquake, points a finger at the mountains, and volcanoes erupt. Oh, let me sing to God all my life long, sing hymns to my God as long as I live! Oh, let my song please him; I'm so pleased to be singing to God . But clear the ground of sinners— no more godless men and women! O my soul, bless God !

Isaiah 3:1
The Master, God -of-the-Angel-Armies, is emptying Jerusalem and Judah Of all the basic necessities, plain bread and water to begin with. He's withdrawing police and protection, judges and courts, pastors and teachers, captains and generals, doctors and nurses, and, yes, even the repairmen and jacks-of-all-trades. He says, "I'll put little kids in charge of the city. Schoolboys and schoolgirls will order everyone around. People will be at each other's throats, stabbing one another in the back: Neighbor against neighbor, young against old, the no-account against the well-respected. One brother will grab another and say, ‘You look like you've got a head on your shoulders. Do something! Get us out of this mess.' And he'll say, ‘Me? Not me! I don't have a clue. Don't put me in charge of anything.'

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Yet because this widow troubleth me,.... By often knocking at his door, by loud cries and earnest entreaties, with strong arguments, and floods of tears, and could not easily be removed from his presence, or got out of his house:

I will avenge her; I will hear her cause, do her justice, and deliver her from her troublesome adversary:

lest by her continual coming she weary me: so that it was not from a conscience of duty in him, as a judge, or from a commiseration of the poor widow's case; but from a selfish end, for his own ease, in perfect agreement to his character, that his house might not be disturbed, and his ears stunned with her noise and cry, and he was pestered with her company day after day. The character of this judge, his reasoning with himself upon it, his principles from which he acted, and the ends he had in view, are wholly to be left out in the accommodation of this parable; and no farther to be considered than as the argument from the lesser to the greater may be strengthened by them; the intention of the parable being only to show the force, efficacy, and usefulness of importunity in prayer, as appears by the application of it, by our Lord, in the verses following.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For a while - Probably this means for a “considerable” time. It was his duty to attend to the claims of justice, but this was long delayed.

Within himself - He thought, or came to a conclusion.

Though I fear not ... - This contains the reason why he attended to the case at all. It was not from any regard to justice, or to the duties of his office. It was simply to avoid “trouble.” And yet his conduct in this case might have appeared very upright, and possibly might have been strictly according to law and to justice. How many actions are performed that “appear well,” when the doers of those actions know that they are mere hypocrisy! and how many actions are performed from the basest and lowest motives of “selfishness,” that have the appearance of external propriety and even of goodness!

She weary me - The word used here, in the original, is that which was employed to denote the wounds and bruises caused by “boxers,” who beat each other, and blacken their eyes, and disable them. See the notes at 1 Corinthians 9:27. Hence, it means any vexatious and troublesome importunity that takes the time, and disables from other employment.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Luke 18:5. She weary me. — υπωπιαζη με, Stun me. A metaphor taken from boxers, who bruise each other, and by beating each other about the face blacken the eyes. See 1 Corinthians 9:27.