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:

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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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11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

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11 The Pharisee stood by himself(A) and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast(B) twice a week and give a tenth(C) of all I get.’

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17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

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17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’(A) But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.(B)

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17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

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17 Whoever has ears, let them hear(A) what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious,(B) I will give some of the hidden manna.(C) I will also give that person a white stone with a new name(D) written on it, known only to the one who receives it.(E)

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If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

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If we claim to be without sin,(A) we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.(B) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins(C) and purify us from all unrighteousness.(D) 10 If we claim we have not sinned,(E) we make him out to be a liar(F) and his word is not in us.(G)

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Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

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though I myself have reasons for such confidence.(A)

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised(B) on the eighth day, of the people of Israel,(C) of the tribe of Benjamin,(D) a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;(E) as for zeal,(F) persecuting the church;(G) as for righteousness based on the law,(H) faultless.

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For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

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Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.(A)

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For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

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Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died.

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21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.

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21 I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’(A)

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20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.

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20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’[a](A)

21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 18:20 Exodus 20:12-16; Deut. 5:16-20

And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

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The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

To some who were confident of their own righteousness(A) and looked down on everyone else,(B) Jesus told this parable:

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10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

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10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”(A)

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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.

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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.(A)

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