# Luke 18.1-8

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-06-01 | updated: 2026-06-01 -->

**Book:** [Luke](/codex/luke-the-evangelist/) · NASB95

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> **1. <span class="rl-speech">And he spake a parable unto them to the end that they ought always to pray, and not to faint;</span> 2. <span class="rl-speech">saying, There was in a city a judge, who feared not God, and regarded not man:</span> 3. <span class="rl-speech">and there was a widow in that city; and she came oft unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.</span> 4. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, <span class="rl-speech">Though I fear not God, nor regard man;</span> 5. <span class="rl-speech">yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest she wear me out by her continual coming.</span> 6. And the Lord said, <span class="rl-speech">Hear what the unrighteous judge saith.</span> 7. <span class="rl-speech">And shall not God avenge his elect, that cry to him day and night, and yet he is longsuffering over them?</span> 8. <span class="rl-speech">I say unto you, that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?</span>**
>
> 9. <span class="rl-speech">And he spake also this parable unto certain who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and set all others at nought:</span> 10. <span class="rl-speech">Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.</span> (Luke 18:1-10, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> **1. He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray, <span class="rl-speech">and not give up,</span> 2. <span class="rl-speech">saying, “There was a judge in a certain city who didn’t fear God, and didn’t respect man.</span> 3. <span class="rl-speech">A widow was in that city, and she often came to him, saying, ‘Defend me from my adversary!’</span> 4. He wouldn’t for a while, but afterward he said to himself, <span class="rl-speech">‘Though I neither fear God, nor respect man,</span> 5. <span class="rl-speech">yet because this widow bothers me, I will defend her, or else she will wear me out by her continual coming.’”</span> 6. The Lord said, <span class="rl-speech">“Listen to what the unrighteous judge says.</span> 7. <span class="rl-speech">Won’t God avenge his chosen ones, who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them?</span> 8. <span class="rl-speech">I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”</span>**
>
> 9. <span class="rl-speech">He spoke also this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others.</span> 10. <span class="rl-speech">“Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.</span> (Luke 18:1-10, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> **1. And he spake a parable unto them to this end, <span class="rl-speech">that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;</span> 2. <span class="rl-speech">Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: <sup>in a city: Gr. in a certain city</sup></span> 3. <span class="rl-speech">And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.</span> 4. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, <span class="rl-speech">Though I fear not God, nor regard man;</span> 5. <span class="rl-speech">Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.</span> 6. And the Lord said, <span class="rl-speech">Hear what the unjust judge saith.</span> 7. <span class="rl-speech">And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?</span> 8. <span class="rl-speech">I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?</span>**
>
> 9. <span class="rl-speech">And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: <sup>that: or, as being righteous</sup></span> 10. <span class="rl-speech">Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.</span> (Luke 18:1-10, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> **1. And he spake also a simile to them, <span class="rl-speech">that it behoveth [us] always to pray, and not to faint,</span> 2. <span class="rl-speech">saying, 'A certain judge was in a certain city, God he is not fearing, and man he is not regarding</span> 3. <span class="rl-speech">and a widow was in that city, and she was coming unto him, saying, Do me justice on my opponent,</span> 4. and he would not for a time, but after these things he said in himself, <span class="rl-speech">Even if God I do not fear, and man do not regard,</span> 5. <span class="rl-speech">yet because this widow doth give me trouble, I will do her justice, lest, perpetually coming, she may plague me.'</span> 6. And the Lord said, <span class="rl-speech">'Hear ye what the unrighteous judge saith:</span> 7. <span class="rl-speech">and shall not God execute the justice to His choice ones, who are crying unto Him day and night, bearing long in regard to them?</span> 8. <span class="rl-speech">I 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?'</span>**
>
> 9. <span class="rl-speech">And he spake also unto certain who have been trusting in themselves that they were righteous, and have been despising the rest, this simile:</span> 10. <span class="rl-speech">'Two men went up to the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-gatherer;</span> (Luke 18:1-10, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** _TBD_
- **Audience:** _TBD_
- **Location:** _TBD_
- **Time period:** _TBD_

## Theological reading

_Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added._

## Key words

_Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word; see Lexicon Roadmap._

- _TBD_
- _TBD_
- _TBD_
- _TBD_

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## Quoted in

**Concepts:**

- [Jesus Said](/codex/jesus-said/), via [Luke 18.1-14](/codex/luke-18-1-14/)
- [Prayer](/codex/prayer/)
- [Prayers for Evangelism](/codex/prayers-for-evangelism/)

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_Scripture quotations taken from the **New American Standard Bible®** (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by **The Lockman Foundation**. Used by permission. All rights reserved. [www.lockman.org](https://www.lockman.org)_

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.