| 章 |
| 15:1 |
Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him.
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| 15:2 |
But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
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| 15:3 |
Then Jesus told them this parable:
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| 15:4 |
"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?
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| 15:5 |
And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders
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| 15:6 |
and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, `Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.
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| 15:7 |
'I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
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| 15:8 |
"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?
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| 15:9 |
And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, `Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.
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| 15:10 |
'In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
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| 15:11 |
Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons.
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| 15:12 |
The younger one said to his father, `Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
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| 15:13 |
"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.
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| 15:14 |
After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.
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| 15:15 |
So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
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| 15:16 |
He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
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| 15:17 |
"When he came to his senses, he said, `How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
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| 15:18 |
I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
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| 15:19 |
I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.
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| 15:20 |
'So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
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| 15:21 |
"The son said to him, `Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.
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| 15:22 |
"'But the father said to his servants, `Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
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| 15:23 |
Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate.
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| 15:24 |
For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
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| 15:25 |
"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.
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| 15:26 |
So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.
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| 15:27 |
`Your brother has come,' he replied, `and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.
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| 15:28 |
"'The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.
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| 15:29 |
But he answered his father, `Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
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| 15:30 |
But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!
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| 15:31 |
"`'My son,' the father said, `you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.
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| 15:32 |
But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "
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