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Chapter 15 |
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1 | Then drew near unto him all the
publicans and sinners for to hear him. |
| 2 | And the Pharisees and scribes
murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. |
| 3 |
And he spake this parable unto them, saying, |
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4 | 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? |
| 5 |
And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. |
| 6 |
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.
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| 7 | 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. |
| 8
| 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? |
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9 | 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.
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| 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. |
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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. |
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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: |
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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
musick and dancing. |
| 26 | And he called one of the servants, and asked
what these things meant. |
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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. |
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28 | And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore
came his father out, and intreated him. |
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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. |
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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. |
