Continue to Ask^(A)

⁵ Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose one of you went to your friend’s house at midnight and said to him, ‘Friend, loan me three loaves of bread. ⁶ A friend of mine has come ·into town [^Lfrom the road] to visit me, but I have nothing ·for him to eat [to offer him; ^Lto set before him].’ ⁷ Your friend inside the house answers, ‘Don’t bother me! The door is already ·locked [shut], and my children ·and I are [^Lare with me] in bed [^Ca small Palestinian home where everyone slept in one room]. I cannot get up and give you anything.’ ⁸ I tell you, [^Leven] if friendship is not enough to make him get up to give you the bread, ·your boldness will make him [your shameless persistence will make him; or in order not to be shamed before the community he will] get up and give you whatever you need. ⁹ So I tell you, ·ask [keep on asking], and God will give to you. ·Search [Keep on searching/seeking], and you will find. ·Knock [Keep on knocking], and the door will open for you. ¹⁰ ·Yes, [^LFor; Because] everyone who asks will receive. The one who ·searches [seeks] will find. And everyone who knocks will have the door opened. ¹¹ If your ·children ask [or son asks] for^[a] a fish, which of you fathers would give them a snake instead? ¹² Or, if ·your children ask [or he asks] for an egg, would you give them a scorpion? ¹³ Even though you are ·bad [sinful; evil], you know how to give good ·things [^Lgifts] to your children. How much more your heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Ask God for What You Need^(A)

⁷ “·Ask [Keep asking], and ·God will give [^Lit will be given; ^Cthe passive verb implies God as subject] to you. ·Search [Seek; Keep seeking], and you will find. ·Knock [Keep knocking], and the door will open for you. ⁸ ·Yes, [^LFor; Because] everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who ·searches [seeks] will find. And everyone who knocks will have the door opened.

⁹ “If your children ask for bread, which of you would give them a stone? ¹⁰ Or [^Lwhich of you] if your ·children ask [or son asks] for a fish, would you give them a snake? ¹¹ ·Even though you are bad, you [If you, being evil,] know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more your heavenly Father will give good things to those who ask him!