Luke 18 – NIRV & CCL

New International Reader’s Version

Luke 18:1-43

The Story of the Widow Who Would Not Give Up

1Jesus told his disciples a story. He wanted to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2He said, “In a certain town there was a judge. He didn’t have any respect for God or care about what people thought. 3A widow lived in that town. She came to the judge again and again. She kept begging him, ‘Make things right for me. Someone is treating me badly.’

4“For some time the judge refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t have any respect for God. I don’t care about what people think. 5But this widow keeps bothering me. So I will see that things are made right for her. If I don’t, she will someday come and attack me!’ ”

6The Lord said, “Listen to what the unfair judge says. 7God’s chosen people cry out to him day and night. Won’t he make things right for them? Will he keep putting them off? 8I tell you, God will see that things are made right for them. He will make sure it happens quickly. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find people on earth who have faith?”

The Story of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

9Jesus told a story to some people who were sure they were right with God. They looked down on everyone else. 10He said to them, “Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee. The other was a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed. ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people,’ he said. ‘I am not like robbers or those who do other evil things. I am not like those who commit adultery. I am not even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week. And I give a tenth of all I get.’

13“But the tax collector stood farther away than the Pharisee. He would not even look up to heaven. He brought his hand to his heart and prayed. He said, ‘God, have mercy on me. I am a sinner.’

14“I tell you, the tax collector went home accepted by God. But not the Pharisee. All those who lift themselves up will be made humble. And those who make themselves humble will be lifted up.”

Little Children Are Brought to Jesus

15People were also bringing babies to Jesus. They wanted him to place his hands on the babies. When the disciples saw this, they told the people to stop. 16But Jesus asked the children to come to him. “Let the little children come to me,” he said. “Don’t keep them away. God’s kingdom belongs to people like them. 17What I’m about to tell you is true. Anyone who will not receive God’s kingdom like a little child will never enter it.”

Rich People and the Kingdom of God

18A certain ruler asked Jesus a question. “Good teacher,” he said, “what must I do to receive eternal life?”

19“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good except God. 20You know what the commandments say. ‘Do not commit adultery. Do not commit murder. Do not steal. Do not be a false witness. Honor your father and mother.’ ” (Exodus 20:12–16; Deuteronomy 5:16–20)

21“I have obeyed all those commandments since I was a boy,” the ruler said.

22When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You are still missing one thing. Sell everything you have. Give the money to those who are poor. You will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.”

23When the ruler heard this, he became very sad. He was very rich. 24Jesus looked at him. Then he said, “How hard it is for rich people to enter God’s kingdom! 25Is it hard for a camel to go through the eye of a needle? It is even harder for someone who is rich to enter God’s kingdom!”

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

27Jesus replied, “Things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”

28Peter said to him, “We have left everything we had in order to follow you!”

29“What I’m about to tell you is true,” Jesus said to them. “Has anyone left home or wife or husband or brothers or sisters or parents or children for God’s kingdom? 30They will receive many times as much in this world. In the world to come they will receive eternal life.”

Jesus Speaks a Third Time About His Coming Death

31Jesus took the 12 disciples to one side. He told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem. Everything that the prophets wrote about the Son of Man will come true. 32He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will make fun of him. They will laugh at him and spit on him. 33They will whip him and kill him. On the third day, he will rise from the dead!”

34The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them. So they didn’t know what Jesus was talking about.

A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight

35Jesus was approaching Jericho. A blind man was sitting by the side of the road begging. 36The blind man heard the crowd going by. He asked what was happening. 37They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”

38So the blind man called out, “Jesus! Son of David! Have mercy on me!”

39Those who led the way commanded him to stop. They told him to be quiet. But he shouted even louder, “Son of David! Have mercy on me!”

40Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When the man came near, Jesus spoke to him. 41“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked.

“Lord, I want to be able to see,” the blind man replied.

42Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you.” 43Right away he could see. He followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero

Luka 18:1-43

Fanizo la Mayi Wakhama pa Kupempha

1Kenaka Yesu anawuza ophunzira ake fanizo kuwaonetsa kuti iwo ayenera kumapemphera nthawi zonse ndikuti asafowoke. 2Iye anati, “Mʼmudzi wina munali woweruza wosaopa Mulungu ngakhalenso kulabadira za anthu. 3Ndipo panali mkazi wamasiye mʼmudzimo amene ankabwerabwera kwa iye ndi dandawulo lake kuti, ‘Mundiweruze mlandu mwachilungamo pakati pa ine ndi otsutsana nane.’

4“Kwa nthawi yayitali woweruzayo ankakana. Koma pa mapeto analingalira nati, ‘Ngakhale kuti sindiopa Mulungu kapena kulabadira za anthu, 5koma chifukwa chakuti mkazi wamasiyeyu akundivutitsa, ine ndimuweruzira mlandu wake mwachilungamo kuti asanditopetse ndi kubwerabwera kwakeko!’ ”

6Ndipo Ambuye anati, “Tamvani zimene woweruza wopanda chilungamoyu wanena. 7Tsono chingamuletse nʼchiyani Mulungu kubweretsa chilungamo kwa osankhika ake, amene amalira kwa Iye usana ndi usiku? Kodi adzapitirirabe osawalabadira? 8Ine ndikukuwuzani inu, adzaonetsetsa kuti alandire chilungamo, ndiponso mofulumira. Komabe, pamene Mwana wa Munthu akubwera, kodi adzapeza chikhulupiriro pa dziko lapansi?”

Fanizo la Mfarisi ndi Wolandira Msonkho

9Yesu ananena fanizoli kwa amene amadzikhulupirira mwa iwo okha kuti anali wolungama nanyoza ena onse. 10“Anthu awiri anapita ku Nyumba ya Mulungu kukapemphera, wina Mfarisi ndi winayo wolandira msonkho. 11Mfarisiyo anayimirira ndipo anapemphera za iye mwini kuti, ‘Mulungu, ine ndikuyamika kuti sindili ngati anthu ena onse, achifwamba, ochita zoyipa, achigololo, sindilinso ngati wolandira msonkhoyu. 12Ine ndimasala kudya kawiri pa Sabata ndipo ndimapereka chakhumi pa zonse ndimapeza.’

13“Koma wolandira msonkhoyo ali chiyimire potero, sanathe nʼkomwe kuyangʼana kumwamba; koma anadziguguda pachifuwa ndipo anati, ‘Mulungu, chitireni chifundo, ine wochimwa.’

14“Ine ndikukuwuzani kuti munthu wolandira msonkhoyu, osati Mfarisiyu, anapita kwawo atalungamitsidwa pamaso pa Mulungu. Chifukwa chake, aliyense wodzikweza adzachepetsedwa, ndipo wodzichepetsa adzakwezedwa.”

Yesu Adalitsa Ana Aangʼono

15Anthu amabweretsanso ana aangʼono kwa Yesu kuti awadalitse. Ophunzira ataona izi, anawadzudzula. 16Koma Yesu anayitana anawo kuti abwere kwa Iye nati, “Lolani ana abwere kwa Ine ndipo musawatsekereze, pakuti ufumu wa Mulungu uli wa anthu otere. 17Zoonadi, Ine ndikukuwuzani kuti aliyense amene salandira ufumu wa Mulungu ngati mwana wamngʼono, sadzalowamo.”

Munthu Wachuma ndi Ufumu wa Mulungu

18Oweruza wina wake anamufunsa Iye kuti, “Aphunzitsi abwino, ndichite chiyani kuti ndilandire moyo wosatha?”

19Yesu anamuyankha kuti, “Chifukwa chiyani ukunditcha wabwino, palibe wabwino kupatula Mulungu yekha. 20Iwe umadziwa malamulo: ‘Usachite chigololo, usaphe, usabe, usapereke umboni wonama, lemekeza abambo ndi amayi ako.’ ”

21Iye anati, “Zonsezi ndinasunga kuyambira ndili mnyamata.”

22Yesu atamva izi, anati kwa iye, “Ukusowabe chinthu chimodzi: Gulitsa zonse zimene uli nazo ndipo uzipereke kwa osauka, ndipo udzakhala ndi chuma kumwamba. Kenaka ubwere, nunditsate ine.”

23Atamva zimenezi, anakhumudwa kwambiri chifukwa anali munthu wachuma chambiri. 24Yesu anamuyangʼana nati, “Nʼkwapatali kwambiri kuti anthu achuma akalowe mu ufumu wa Mulungu! 25Ndithudi, nʼkwapafupi kuti ngamira idutse pa kabowo ka zingano kusiyana ndi munthu wachuma kulowa mu ufumu wa Mulungu.”

26Amene anamva izi anafunsa kuti, “Nanga ndani amene angapulumuke?”

27Yesu anayankha kuti, “Zinthu zosatheka ndi anthu zimatheka ndi Mulungu.”

28Petro anati kwa Iye, “Ife tinasiya zonse tinali nazo kutsatira Inu!”

29Yesu anawawuza kuti, “Zoonadi, Ine ndikukuwuzani kuti palibe amene anasiya nyumba kapena mkazi kapena abale kapena makolo kapena ana chifukwa cha ufumu wa Mulungu 30adzalephera kulandira mowirikiza mʼmoyo uno, ndi mʼmoyo ukubwerawo, moyo wosatha.”

Yesu Aneneratu za Imfa Yake Kachitatu

31Yesu anatengera khumi ndi awiriwo pambali ndi kuwawuza kuti, “Taonani ife tikupita ku Yerusalemu, ndipo zonse zimene zalembedwa ndi Aneneri za Mwana wa Munthu zidzakwaniritsidwa. 32Iye adzaperekedwa kwa anthu a mitundu ina. Ndipo adzamuchita chipongwe, adzamunyoza, adzamulavulira, 33adzamukwapula ndi kumupha. Tsiku lachitatu Iye adzaukanso.”

34Ophunzira sanazindikire china chilichonse cha izi. Tanthauzo lake linabisika kwa iwo, ndipo sanadziwe chimene Iye amayankhula.

Yesu Achiritsa Wosaona

35Yesu atayandikira ku Yeriko, munthu wina wosaona amene amakhala pambali pa msewu namapempha, 36anamva gulu la anthu likudutsa. Iye anafunsa chomwe chimachitika. 37Iwo anamuwuza kuti “Yesu wa ku Nazareti akudutsa.”

38Iye anayitana mofuwula, “Yesu Mwana wa Davide, mundichitire chifundo!”

39Iwo amene amamutsogolera njira anamudzudzula ndi kumuwuza kuti akhale chete, koma iye anafuwulabe, “Mwana wa Davide, chitireni chifundo!”

40Yesu anayima nalamula kuti abwere naye kwa Iye. Atabwera pafupi, Yesu anamufunsa kuti, 41“Kodi ukufuna kuti ndikuchitire chiyani?”

Iye anayankha kuti, “Ambuye, ine ndifuna ndionenso.”

42Yesu anati kwa iye, “Onanso; chikhulupiriro chako chakupulumutsa.” 43Nthawi yomweyo anaonanso ndipo anayamba kumutsatira Yesu, akulemekeza Mulungu. Anthu onse ataona izi, iwonso analemekeza Mulungu.