Luke 18:1-8

English Standard Version

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

18 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought ^(A)always to pray and not ^(B)lose heart. ²He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who ^(C)neither feared God nor respected man. ³And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ ⁴For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ^(D)‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, ⁵yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” ⁶And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. ⁷And ^(E)will not God give justice to ^(F)his elect, ^(G)who cry to him day and night? ^(H)^(I)Will he delay long over them? ⁸I tell you, he will give justice to them ^(J)speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, ^(K)will he find faith on earth?”

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Proverbs 12:15-28

English Standard Version

¹⁵^(A)The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
    but a wise man listens to advice.
¹⁶^(B)The vexation of a fool is known at once,
    but the prudent ignores an insult.
¹⁷^(C)Whoever speaks^[a] the truth gives honest evidence,
    but ^(D)a false witness utters deceit.
¹⁸^(E)There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
    but the tongue of the wise brings ^(F)healing.
¹⁹Truthful lips endure forever,
    but ^(G)a lying tongue is but for a moment.
²⁰Deceit is in the heart of ^(H)those who devise evil,
    but those who plan peace have joy.
²¹^(I)No ill befalls the righteous,
    but the wicked are filled with trouble.
²²^(J)Lying lips are ^(K)an abomination to the Lord,
    ^(L)but those who act faithfully are his delight.
²³^(M)A prudent man conceals knowledge,
    ^(N)but the heart of fools proclaims folly.
²⁴^(O)The hand of the diligent will rule,
    while the slothful will be ^(P)put to forced labor.
²⁵^(Q)Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down,
    but a good word makes him glad.
²⁶One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor,^[b]
    but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
²⁷^(R)Whoever is slothful will not roast his game,
    but the diligent man will get precious wealth.^[c]
²⁸^(S)In the path of righteousness is life,
    and in its pathway there is no death.