| 章 |
| 15:1 |
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.
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| 15:2 |
And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, 'This man receives sinners and eats with them.'
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| 15:3 |
So he told them this parable:
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| 15:4 |
'What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it?
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| 15:5 |
And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
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| 15:6 |
And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.'
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| 15:7 |
Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
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| 15:8 |
'Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?
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| 15:9 |
And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.'
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| 15:10 |
Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.'
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| 15:11 |
And he said, 'There was a man who had two sons;
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| 15:12 |
and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.' And he divided his living between them.
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| 15:13 |
Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living.
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| 15:14 |
And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want.
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| 15:15 |
So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine.
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| 15:16 |
And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate;and no one gave him anything.
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| 15:17 |
But when he came to himself he said, How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger!
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| 15:18 |
I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you;
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| 15:19 |
I am no longer worthy to be called your son;treat me as one of your hired servants.''
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| 15:20 |
And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
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| 15:21 |
And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you;I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
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| 15:22 |
But the father said to his servants, Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him;and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet;
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| 15:23 |
and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry;
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| 15:24 |
for this my son was dead, and is alive again;he was lost, and is found.' And they began to make merry.
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| 15:25 |
'Now his elder son was in the field;and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
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| 15:26 |
And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant.
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| 15:27 |
And he said to him, Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.'
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| 15:28 |
But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,
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| 15:29 |
but he answered his father, Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command;yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends.
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| 15:30 |
But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!'
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| 15:31 |
And he said to him, Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
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| 15:32 |
It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive;he was lost, and is found.''
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