18 ¹ HE SPOKE TO THEM in a parable to show that they should keep on praying and never lose heart: 18 ² 'There was once a judge who cared nothing for God or man, 18 ³ and in the same town there was a widow who constantly came before him demanding justice against her opponent. 18 ⁴ For a long time he refused; but in the end he said to himself, "True, I care nothing for God or man; 18 ⁵ but this widow is so great a nuisance that I will see her righted before she wears me out with her persistence." ' 18 ⁶ The Lord said, 'You hear what the unjust judge says; 18 ⁷ and will not God vindicate his chosen, who cry out to him day and night, while he listens patiently to them? Or: delays to help them. 18 ⁸ I tell you, he will vindicate them soon enough. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?'