Luke 18:13-17 "But the tax collector (or: tribute contractor), standing far off (= remaining at a distance, in the background), continued unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven (or: unto the atmosphere or sky) – and in contrast kept on beating (striking) his chest, repeatedly saying, 'O God, at your mercy seat let me, the failure (the one who has deviated and missed the goal; the sinner), be sheltered and cleansed!'

JMNT⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹³ "But the tax collector (or: tribute contractor), standing far off (= remaining at a distance, in the background), continued unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven (or: unto the atmosphere or sky) – and in contrast kept on beating (striking) his chest, repeatedly saying, 'O God, at your mercy seat let me, the failure (the one who has deviated and missed the goal; the sinner), be sheltered and cleansed!' ¹⁴ "I am now saying to you folks, this man walked down into his home being one having been rightwised (turned in the right direction and placed in right relationship within the Way pointed out), rather than that one, because everyone [who is] constantly lifting himself up (exalting himself) will be brought low and humbled. Yet the person habitually humbling himself and placing himself in a low position will be lifted up and exalted." ¹⁵ Now at one point, people began bringing (or: carrying) infants (or: new-born children) to Him, also, so that He would, one after another, touch them. Yet, upon seeing [this], the disciples began respectfully giving a stern and discouraging admonition to them. ¹⁶ So Jesus called [the infants] to Him by saying, "Allow the little children to continue coming to Me, and stop hindering and preventing them. You see, of such as these is God's reign (or: the kingdom and influence of God pertains to such as these; God's royal rule and sovereign activity is belonging to such as these). ¹⁷ "Amen (or: It is true; or: Make it so; or: Count on it). I am now saying to you folks, Whoever may not welcome and receive God's reign and kingdom as (or: like; or: in the same way as does) a little child, can in no way (or: may under no circumstances) enter into it."