| 章 |
| 15:1 |
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him.
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| 15:2 |
And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."
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| 15:3 |
So he told them this parable:
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| 15:4 |
"Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?
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| 15:5 |
When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices.
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| 15:6 |
And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that 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 of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?
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| 15:9 |
When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.'
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| 15:10 |
Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
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| 15:11 |
Then Jesus said, "There was a man who had two sons.
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| 15:12 |
The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So he divided his property between them.
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| 15:13 |
A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living.
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| 15:14 |
When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need.
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| 15:15 |
So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs.
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| 15:16 |
He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; 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 hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger!
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| 15:18 |
I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you;
|
| 15:19 |
I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands." '
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| 15:20 |
So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.
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| 15:21 |
Then 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 slaves, 'Quickly, bring out a robe-- the best one-- and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
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| 15:23 |
And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;
|
| 15:24 |
for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate.
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| 15:25 |
"Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.
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| 15:26 |
He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on.
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| 15:27 |
He replied, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.'
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| 15:28 |
Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him.
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| 15:29 |
But he answered his father, 'Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends.
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| 15:30 |
But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!'
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| 15:31 |
Then the father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
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| 15:32 |
But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.'"
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