Prayer and the Parable of the Persistent Widow

18:1 Then1 Jesus2 told them a parable to show them they should always3 pray and not lose heart.4 18:2 He said,5 “In a certain city6 there was a judge7 who neither feared God nor respected people.8 18:3 There was also a widow9 in that city10 who kept coming11 to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 18:4 For12 a while he refused, but later on13 he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor have regard for people,14 18:5 yet because this widow keeps on bothering me, I will give her justice, or in the end she will wear me out15 by her unending pleas.’ ”16 18:6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge says!17 18:7 Won’t18 God give justice to his chosen ones, who cry out19 to him day and night?20 Will he delay21 long to help them? 18:8 I tell you, he will give them justice speedily.22 Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith23 on earth?”