1 And he spake also a simile to them, that it behoveth us always to pray, and not to faint, 2saying, ‘A certain judge was in a certain city—God he is not fearing, and man he is not regarding— 3and a widow was in that city, and she was coming unto him, saying, Do me justice on my opponent, 4and 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, 5yet because this widow doth give me trouble, I will do her justice, lest, perpetually coming, she may plague me.’ 6And the Lord said, ‘Hear ye what the unrighteous judge saith: 7and shall not God execute the justice to His choice ones, who are crying unto Him day and night—bearing long in regard to them? 8I 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?’

9 And he spake also unto certain who have been trusting in themselves that they were righteous, and have been despising the rest, this simile: 10‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-gatherer; 11the Pharisee having stood by himself, thus prayed: God, I thank Thee that I am not as the rest of men, rapacious, unrighteous, adulterers, or even as this tax-gatherer; 12I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all things—as many as I possess.

13 ‘And the tax-gatherer, having stood afar off, would not even the eyes lift up to the heaven, but was smiting on his breast, saying, God be propitious to me—the sinner! 14I say to you, this one went down declared righteous, to his house, rather than that one: for every one who is exalting himself shall be humbled, and he who is humbling himself shall be exalted.’

15 And they were bringing near also the babes, that he may touch them, and the disciples having seen did rebuke them, 16and Jesus having called them near, said, ‘Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the reign of God; 17verily I say to you, Whoever may not receive the reign of God as a little child, may not enter into it.’

18 And a certain ruler questioned him, saying, ‘Good teacher, what having done—shall I inherit life age-during?’