ⲖⲞⲨⲔⲞⲚ 18
Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and never despair.
2 ⲃ̅ ⲉϥϫⲱ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ. ⲛⲉⲩⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲕⲣⲓⲧⲏⲥ ϩⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ ⲉⲛϥ̅ⲣϩⲟⲧⲉ ⲁⲛ ϩⲏⲧϥ̅ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲛϥ̅ϣⲓⲡⲉ ⲁⲛ ϩⲏⲧϥ̅ ⲣ̅ⲣⲱⲙⲉ.
‘There was,’ he said, ‘in a certain town a judge, who had no fear of God nor regard for people.
In the same town there was a widow who went to him again and again, and said “Grant me justice against my opponent.”
4 ⲇ̅ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲙ̅ⲡϥ̅ⲟⲩⲱϣ ϩⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲟⲓ̈ϣ. ⲙⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲥⲁⲛⲁⲓ̈ ⲇⲉ ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ϩⲣⲁⲓ̈ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧϥ̅ ϫⲉ. ⲉϣϫⲉⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲛϯⲣ̅ϩⲟⲧⲉ ϩⲏⲧϥ̅ ⲁⲛ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛ̅ϯϣⲓⲡⲉ ⲁⲛ ϩⲏⲧϥ̅ ⲣ̅ⲣⲱⲙⲉ
For a time the judge refused, but afterwards he said to himself “Although I am without fear of God or regard for people,
yet, as this widow is so troublesome, I will grant her justice, to stop her from plaguing me with her endless visits.”’
Then the Master added, ‘Listen to what this iniquitous judge says!
7 ⲍ̅ ⲉⲓ̈ⲉⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ϭⲉ ⲛⲁⲣ̅ⲡϩⲁⲡ ⲁⲛ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲡ̅ ⲉⲧⲱϣ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ϩⲙ̅ⲡⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲛⲙ̅ⲧⲉⲩϣⲏ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛϥ̅ϩⲣⲟϣ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧʾ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ̈ ⲉϫⲱⲟⲩ
And God – won’t he see that his own people, who cry to him night and day, have justice done them – though he holds his hand?
He will, I tell you, give them justice soon enough! Yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?’
9 ⲑ̅ ⲁϥϫⲱ ⲇⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲓ̈ⲡⲁⲣⲁⲃⲟⲗⲏ ⲉϩⲟⲓ̈ⲛⲉ ⲉⲩⲕⲱ ⲛ̅ϩⲧⲏⲩ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ ⲟⲩⲁⲁⲧⲟⲩ ϫⲉ ϩⲉⲛⲇⲓⲕⲁⲓⲟⲥ ⲛⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲩⲥⲱϣϥ̅ ⲙ̅ⲡⲕⲉⲥⲉⲉⲡⲉ.
Another time, speaking to people who were satisfied that they were religious, and who regarded everyone else with scorn, Jesus told this parable –
‘Two men went up into the Temple Courts to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax-gatherer.
11 ⲓ̅ⲁ̅ ⲁⲡⲉⲫⲁⲣⲓⲥⲥⲁⲓⲟⲥ ⲇⲉ ⲁϩⲉⲣⲁⲧϥ̅ ⲁϥϫⲉⲛⲁⲓ̈ ⲉϥϣⲗⲏⲗ ϫⲉ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ϯϣⲡ̅ϩⲙⲟⲧʾ ⲛ̅ⲧⲟⲟⲧⲕ̅ ϫⲉ ⲛϯⲟ̅ ⲁⲛ ⲛⲑⲉ ⲙⲡⲕⲉⲥⲉⲉⲡⲉ ⲛⲣ̅ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲣ̅ⲣⲉϥⲧⲱⲣⲡ̅. ⲣ̅ⲣⲉϥϫⲓ ⲛϭⲟⲛⲥ̅. ⲛ̅ⲛⲟⲓ̈ⲕ. ⲏ ⲛⲑⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲓ̈ⲕⲉⲧⲉⲗⲱⲛⲏⲥ.
The Pharisee stood forward and began praying to himself in this way – “God, I thank you that I am not like other men – thieves, rogues, adulterers – or even like this tax-gatherer.
I fast twice a week, and give a tenth of everything I get to God.”
13 ⲓ̅ⲅ̅ ⲁⲡⲕⲉⲧⲉⲗⲱⲛⲏⲥ ⲇⲉ ⲁϥⲁϩⲉⲣⲁⲧϥ̅ ⲙ̅ⲡⲟⲩⲉ ⲟⲩⲧⲉ̅ ⲙ̅ⲡϥ̅ⲟⲩⲉϣϥⲓⲛⲉϥⲃⲁⲗ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲧⲡⲉ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲁϥϩⲓⲟⲩⲉ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉϩⲛ̅ⲧⲉϥⲙⲉⲥⲑⲏⲧ ⲉϥϫⲱ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲕⲱ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲁⲓ̈ ⲁⲛⲟⲕⲡⲓⲣⲉϥⲣ̅ⲛⲟⲃⲉ.
Meanwhile the tax-gatherer stood at a distance, not venturing even to raise his eyes to heaven, but he kept striking his breast and saying “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
14 ⲓ̅ⲇ̅ ϯϫⲱ ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ⲛⲏⲧⲛ̅ ϫⲉ ⲁⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲉ͡ⲓ ⲉⲡⲉⲥⲏⲧ ⲉⲡⲉϥⲏⲓ̈ ⲉϥⲧⲙⲁⲓ̈ⲏⲟⲩ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲉⲡⲏ. ϫⲉ ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲉⲧϫⲓⲥⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ. ⲥⲉⲛⲁⲑⲃ̅ⲃⲓⲟϥ. ⲡⲉⲧⲛⲁⲑⲃ̅ⲃⲉ͡ⲓⲟ ⲇⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ. ⲥⲉⲛⲁϫⲁⲥⲧϥ̅·
This man, I tell you, went home pardoned, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, while everyone who humbles himself will be exalted.’
Some of the people were bringing even their babies to Jesus, for him to touch them; but, when the disciples saw it, they began to find fault with those who had brought them.
16 ⲓ̅ⲋ̅ ⲁⲓ̅ⲥ̅ ⲇⲉ ⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ ⲉϥϫⲱ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲕⲁⲛ̅ϣⲏⲣⲉ ϣⲏⲙ ⲛ̅ⲥⲉⲉ͡ⲓ ⲉⲣⲁⲧʾ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲙ̅ⲡⲣ̅ⲕⲱⲗⲩ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲟⲩ. ⲧⲁⲛⲁⲓ̈ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲓ̈ⲙⲓⲛⲉ ⲧⲉ ⲧⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲣⲟ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ.
Jesus, however, called the little children to him. ‘Let the little children come to me,’ he said, ‘and do not hinder them, for it is to the childlike that the kingdom of God belongs.
17 ⲓ̅ⲍ̅ ϩⲁⲙⲏⲛ ϯϫⲱ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲥ ⲛⲏⲧⲛ̅ ϫⲉ ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲛϥ̅ⲛⲁϣⲉⲡⲧⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲣⲟ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲁⲛ ϩⲱⲥϣⲏⲣⲉ ϣⲏⲙ. ⲛ̅ⲛⲉϥⲃⲱⲕ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲣⲟⲥ.
I tell you, unless a man receives the kingdom of God like a child, he will not enter it at all.’
18 ⲓ̅ⲏ̅ ⲁⲩⲁⲣⲭⲱⲛ ⲇⲉ ϫⲛⲟⲩϥ ⲉϥϫⲱ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ. ⲡⲥⲁϩ ⲛ̅ⲁⲅⲁⲑⲟⲥ ⲉⲓ̈ⲛⲁⲣⲟⲩ ⲧⲁⲕⲗⲏⲣⲟⲛⲟⲙⲓ ⲙ̅ⲡⲱⲛϩ̅ ϣⲁⲉⲛⲉϩ (aiōnios g166)
And one of the leaders asked Jesus this question – ‘Good teacher, what must I do if I am to gain eternal life?’ (aiōnios g166)
‘Why do you call me good?’ answered Jesus. ‘No one is good but God.
20 ⲕ̅ ⲕⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲛⲧⲟⲗⲏ. ⲙ̅ⲡⲣ̅ⲣ̅ⲛⲟⲓ̈ⲕ. ⲙ̅ⲡⲣ̅ϩⲱⲧⲃ̅. ⲙ̅ⲡⲣ̅ϩⲱϥⲧ̅ʾ. ⲙ̅ⲡⲣ̅ⲣ̅ⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲣⲉ ⲛ̅ⲛⲟⲩϫ ⲙⲁⲧⲁⲓ̈ⲉⲡⲉⲕⲓ̈ⲱⲧʾ ⲛⲙ̅ⲧⲉⲕⲙⲁⲁⲩ.
You know the commandments – Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not say what is false about others, Honour your father and your mother.’
‘I have observed all these,’ he replied, ‘from childhood.’
22 ⲕ̅ⲃ̅ ⲁⲓ̅ⲥ̅ ⲇⲉ ⲟⲩⲱϣⲃ̅ ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ⲛⲁϥ ϫⲉ ⲕⲉⲩⲁ ⲡⲉⲧⲕ̅ϣⲁⲁⲧʾ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ. ϯ ⲛⲅ̅ⲕⲁ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲉⲧⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲕ ⲛⲅ̅ⲧⲁⲁⲩ ⲛⲛ̅ϩⲏⲕⲉ ⲛⲅ̅ⲕⲱ ⲛⲁⲕ ⲛⲟⲩⲁϩⲟ ϩⲛⲙ̅ⲡⲏⲩⲉ ⲛⲅ̅ⲉ͡ⲓ ⲛⲅ̅ⲟⲩⲁϩⲕ̅ ⲛ̅ⲥⲱⲓ̈
Hearing this, Jesus said to him, ‘There is one thing still lacking in you; sell everything that you have, and distribute to the poor, and you will have wealth in heaven; then come and follow me.’
But the man became greatly distressed on hearing this, for he was extremely rich.
24 ⲕ̅ⲇ̅ ⲁⲓ̅ⲥ̅ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ϫⲉ. ⲁⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲑⲉ ⲉⲧⲥ̅ⲙⲟⲕϩ̅ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲛⲉ(ⲧⲉ)ⲩⲛⲧⲟⲩⲭⲣⲏⲙⲁ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲩ ⲃⲱⲕ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲧⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲣⲟ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ.
Seeing this, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘How hard it is for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!
25 ⲕ̅ⲉ̅ ⲥⲙⲟⲧⲛ̅ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲟⲩϭⲁⲙⲟⲩⲗ ⲉ͡ⲓ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲛ̅ⲧⲟⲩⲁⲧϥⲉ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩϩⲁⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲱⲡ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲉⲟⲩⲣⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲟ̅ ⲛϥ̅ⲃⲱⲕ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲧⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲣⲟ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ.
It is easier, indeed, for a camel to get through a needle’s eye than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God!’
‘Then who can be saved?’ asked those who heard this.
But Jesus said, ‘What is impossible with people is possible with God.’
‘But we,’ said Peter, ‘we left what belonged to us and followed you.’
29 ⲕ̅ⲑ̅ ⲛ̅ⲧⲟϥ ⲇⲉ ⲡⲉϫⲁⲩ ⲛⲁⲩ ϫⲉ. ϩⲁⲙⲏⲛ ϯϫⲱ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲥ ⲛⲏⲧⲛ̅ ϫⲉ. ⲙ̅ⲙⲛ̅ⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲉⲁϥⲕⲁⲏⲓ̈ ⲛ̅ⲥⲱϥ ⲏ ⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ. ⲏ ⲥⲟⲛ. ⲏ ⲛⲉϥⲓ̈ⲟⲧⲉ. ⲏ ⲛⲉϥϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲉⲧⲃⲉⲧⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲣⲟ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ
‘I tell you,’ he answered, ‘that there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,
31 ⲗ̅ⲁ̅ ⲁϥϫⲓ ⲇⲉ ⲙⲡⲙⲧ̅ⲥⲛⲟⲟⲩⲥ ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ⲛⲁⲩ ϫⲉ. ⲉⲓⲥϩⲏⲏⲧⲉ ϯⲛⲁⲃⲱⲕ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲑⲓⲉⲣⲟⲩⲥⲁⲗⲏⲙ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲛⲉⲧⲥⲏϩ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ϩⲓⲧⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲡⲣⲟⲫⲏⲧⲏⲥ ϫⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙ̅ⲡϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ.
Gathering the Twelve round him, Jesus said to them, ‘Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem; and there everything that is written in the prophets will be done to the Son of Man.
For he will be given up to the Gentiles, mocked, insulted and spat on;
they will scourge him, and then put him to death; and on the third day he will rise again.’
The apostles did not comprehend any of this. His meaning was unintelligible to them and they did not understand what he was saying.
As Jesus was getting near Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside, begging.
Hearing a crowd going by, the man asked what was the matter;
and, when people told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing,
he shouted out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, take pity on me!’
39 ⲗ̅ⲑ̅ ⲁⲛⲉⲧⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲑⲏ ⲉⲡⲓⲧⲓⲙⲁ ⲛⲁϥ ϫⲉ ⲉϥⲉⲕⲁⲣⲱϥ ⲛ̅ⲧⲟϥ ⲇⲉ ⲁϥⲁϣⲕⲁⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛϩⲟⲩⲟ ⲉϥϫⲱ ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲡϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲛ̅ⲇⲁⲩⲉⲓⲇ ⲛⲁ ⲛⲁⲓ̈.
Those who were in front kept telling him to be quiet, but he continued to call out the louder, ‘Son of David, take pity on me!’
Then Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. And, when he had come close up to him, Jesus asked him,
‘What do you want me to do for you?’ ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I want to recover my sight.’
And Jesus said, ‘Recover your sight, your faith has delivered you.’
43 ⲙ̅ⲅ̅ ⲁϥⲛⲁⲩ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲧⲉⲩⲛⲟⲩ ⲁϥⲟⲩⲁϩϥ̅ ⲛ̅ⲥⲱϥ ⲉϥϯⲉⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲣⲉⲡⲗⲁⲟⲥ ⲧⲏⲣϥ ⲛⲁⲩ ⲁⲩⲥⲙⲟⲩ ⲉⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ.
Instantly he recovered his sight, and began to follow Jesus, praising God. And all the people, on seeing it, gave glory to God.
