THE GOSPEL ACCORDING to
*LUKE

Luke 15 ©

1 The Pharisees murmur because Christ receives sinners. 3 Which Christ defends by the similitude of a strayed sheep. 8 And of a lost penny, both which are sought with diligence, and found again with joy. 11 And further, by the similitude of the prodigal son, whom, returning with sorrow, the father receives joyfully. 25 And defends such doing against the murmuring of the eldest brother.

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THENa drew near unto him 1all the publicans and 2sinners for to hear him.

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And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

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¶And he spake this 3parable unto them, saying,

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Whatb 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?

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And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

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And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep whichc was lost.

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I say unto you, that likewise joy 4shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nined5just persons, which need no repentance.

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¶Either what woman having ten 6pieces 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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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.

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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, 7A certain man had two sons:

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And the 8younger of them said to his father, Father, give me 9the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his 10living.

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And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there 11wasted his substance with riotouse living.

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And when he had spent all, there arose a 12mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

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And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his 13fields to feed swine.

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And he would fainf have filled his belly with the 14husks that the swine 15did eat: and no man gave unto him.

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And when he came 16to 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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I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against 17heaven, and before thee,

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And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

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And he arose, and came to his father. But wheng 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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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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But the father said to his servants, Bring forth 18the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

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And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

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For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

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Now his 19elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and 20dancing.

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And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

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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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And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and 21intreated him.

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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:

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But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath 22devoured thy 23living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

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And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is 24thine.

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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.