1 ALSO [Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not to 1 turn coward (faint, lose heart, and give up). 2 He said, In a certain city there was a judge who neither reverenced and feared God nor respected or considered man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, Protect and defend and give me justice against my adversary. 4 And for a time he would not; but later he said to himself, Though I have neither reverence or fear for God nor respect or consideration for man, 5 Yet because this widow continues to bother me, I will defend and protect and avenge her, lest she give me 2 intolerable annoyance and wear me out by her continual coming or 3 at the last she come and rail on me or 4 assault me or 5 strangle me. 6 Then the Lord said, Listen to what the unjust judge says! 7 And will not [our just] God defend and protect and avenge His elect (His chosen ones), who cry to Him day and night? Will He 6 defer them and 7 delay help on their behalf? 8 I tell you, He will defend and protect and avenge them speedily. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find [ 8 persistence in] faith on the earth?