| Chapter 15
|
| 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, |
| 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. |
| 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? |
| 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. |
| 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! |
| 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 musick 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. |
