Luke 18:1-14 And he told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2) He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor regarded man; 3) and there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, 'Vindicate me against my adversary.' 4) For a while he refused; but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God nor regard man, 5) yet because this widow bothers me, I will vindicate her, or she will wear me out by her continual coming.'" 6) And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7) And will not God vindicate his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8) I tell you, he will vindicate them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?" 9) He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others: 10) " Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11) The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank thee that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12) I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.' 13) But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' 14) I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."
