ASV - Luke 18:1-17

18 Luke 18

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

⁹And he spake also this parable unto certain who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and set all others at nought: ¹⁰Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. ¹¹The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. ¹²I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I get. ¹³But the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote his breast, saying, God, be thou merciful to me a sinner. ¹⁴I say unto you, This man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled; but he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

¹⁵And they were bringing unto him also their babes, that he should touch them: but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. ¹⁶But Jesus called them unto him, saying, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for to such belongeth the kingdom of God. ¹⁷Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no wise enter therein.