Luke 18:1-8

1Now Jesus was telling the disciples a parable to make the point that at all times they ought to pray and not give up and lose heart,

2saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and had no respect for man.

3There was a [desperate] widow in that city and she kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice and legal protection from my adversary.’

4For a time he would not; but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man,

5yet because this widow continues to bother me, I will give her justice and legal protection; otherwise by continually coming she [will be an intolerable annoyance and she] will wear me out.’ ”

6Then the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says!

7And will not [our just] God defend and avenge His elect [His chosen ones] who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay [in providing justice] on their behalf?

8I tell you that He will defend and avenge them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find [this kind of persistent] faith on the earth?”