Luke:18:1-14

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* And he told them a parable , to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart . * He said , "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor regarded man ; * and there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying , `Vindicate me against my adversary .' * For a while he refused ; but afterward he said to himself , `Though I neither fear God nor regard man , * yet because this widow bothers me , I will vindicate her , or she will wear me out by her continual coming .'" * And the Lord said , "Hear what the unrighteous judge says . * And will not God vindicate his elect , who cry to him day and night ? Will he delay long over them ? * I tell you , he will vindicate them speedily . Nevertheless , when the Son of man comes , will he find faith on earth ?" * He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others : * "Two men went up into the temple to pray , one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector . * 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 . * I fast twice a week , I give tithes of all that I get .' * 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 !' * 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 ."

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