Luke 18, side by side

Two versions of the same chapter. Each row is one verse, so you can see how the wording changes.

Modern

1Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart:

Classic

1And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Modern

2“In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected men.

Classic

2Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

Modern

3And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’

Classic

3And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

Modern

4For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect men,

Classic

4And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

Modern

5yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice. Then she will stop wearing me out with her perpetual requests.’”

Classic

5Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

Modern

6And the Lord said, “Listen to the words of the unjust judge.

Classic

6And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

Modern

7Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He continue to defer their help?

Classic

7And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

Modern

8I tell you, He will promptly carry out justice on their behalf. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”

Classic

8I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Modern

9To some who trusted in their own righteousness and viewed others with contempt, He also told this parable:

Classic

9And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

Modern

10“Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

Classic

10Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

Modern

11The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.

Classic

11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

Modern

12I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’

Classic

12I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

Modern

13But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’

Classic

13And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

Modern

14I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Classic

14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Modern

15Now people were even bringing their babies to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them. And when the disciples saw this, they rebuked those who brought them.

Classic

15And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

Modern

16But Jesus called the children to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Classic

16But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

Modern

17Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Classic

17Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

Modern

18Then a certain ruler asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Classic

18And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

Modern

19“Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good except God alone.

Classic

19And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

Modern

20You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother.’”

Classic

20Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

Modern

21“All these I have kept from my youth,” he said.

Classic

21And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.

Modern

22On hearing this, Jesus told him, “You still lack one thing: Sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”

Classic

22Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

Modern

23But when the ruler heard this, he became very sad, because he was extremely wealthy.

Classic

23And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

Modern

24Seeing the man’s sadness, Jesus said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!

Classic

24And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

Modern

25Indeed, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

Classic

25For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Modern

26Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”

Classic

26And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?

Modern

27But Jesus said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

Classic

27And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

Modern

28“Look,” said Peter, “we have left all we had to follow You.”

Classic

28Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.

Modern

29“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God

Classic

29And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake,

Modern

30will fail to receive many times more in this age—and in the age to come, eternal life.”

Classic

30Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

Modern

31Then Jesus took the Twelve aside and said to them, “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything the prophets have written about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.

Classic

31Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.

Modern

32He will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon.

Classic

32For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:

Modern

33They will flog Him and kill Him, and on the third day He will rise again.”

Classic

33And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.

Modern

34But the disciples did not understand any of these things. The meaning was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend what He was saying.

Classic

34And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

Modern

35As Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting beside the road, begging.

Classic

35And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:

Modern

36When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening.

Classic

36And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.

Modern

37“Jesus of Nazareth is passing by,” they told him.

Classic

37And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.

Modern

38So he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Classic

38And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.

Modern

39Those who led the way admonished him to be silent, but he cried out all the louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Classic

39And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.

Modern

40Jesus stopped and directed that the man be brought to Him. When he had been brought near, Jesus asked him,

Classic

40And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,

Modern

41“What do you want Me to do for you?” “Lord,” he said, “let me see again.”

Classic

41Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.

Modern

42“Receive your sight!” Jesus replied. “Your faith has healed you.”

Classic

42And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.

Modern

43Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, glorifying God. And all the people who saw this gave praise to God.

Classic

43And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

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