Then drew
near unto him all the publicans and sinners for
to hear him.
02 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured,
saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth
with them.
03 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
04 What man of you, having an
hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not
leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and
go after that which is lost, until he find it?
05 And when he hath found
it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
06 And when he cometh home,
he calleth together his friends and neighbours,
saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have
found my sheep which was lost.
07 I say unto you, that
likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner
that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine
just persons, which need no repentance.
08 Either what woman having
ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth
not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek
diligently till she find it?
09 And when she hath found
it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours
together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have
found the piece which I had lost.
10 Likewise, I say unto
you, there is joy in the presence of the angels
of God over one sinner that repenteth.
11 And he said, A
certain man had two sons:
12 And the younger of them
said to his father, Father, give me the portion
of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto
them his living.
13 And not many days after
the younger son gathered all together, and took
his journey into a far country, and there wasted
his substance with riotous living.
14 And when he had spent
all, there arose a mighty famine in that land;
and he began to be in want.
15 And he went and joined
himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent
him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he would fain have
filled his belly with the husks that the swine
did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17 And when he came to
himself, he said, How many hired servants of my
father's have bread enough and to spare, and I
perish with hunger!
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18 I will arise and go to
my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have
sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to
be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired
servants.
20 And he arose, and came
to his father. But when he was yet a great way
off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and
ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto
him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in
thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy
son.
22 But the father said to
his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put
it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes
on his feet:
23 And bring hither the
fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be
merry:
24 For this my son was
dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is
found. And they began to be merry.
25 Now his elder son was in
the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the
house, he heard music and dancing.
26 And he called one of the
servants, and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said unto him,
Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed
the fatted calf, because he hath received him
safe and sound.
28 And he was angry, and
would not go in: therefore came his father out,
and intreated him.
29 And he answering said to
his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee,
neither transgressed I at any time thy
commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid,
that I might make merry with my friends:
30 But as soon as this thy
son was come, which hath devoured thy living with
harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted
calf.
31 And he said unto him,
Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have
is thine.
32 It was meet that we
should make merry, and be glad: for this thy
brother was dead, and is alive again; and was
lost, and is found.
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