Luke 15
King James Version
15 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
4 What 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?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 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.
8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
9 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.
10 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, A certain man had two sons:
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 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.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27 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.
28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
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:
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32 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.
Luke 15
Worldwide English (New Testament)
15 The tax collectors and bad people all came close to Jesus to hear him.
2 The Pharisees and scribes did not like it. And they said to each other, `This man is glad to have bad people come. He eats with them.'
3 So Jesus told them this story.
4 He said, `Which one of you will not do this? A man has a hundred sheep. He loses one of them. He leaves the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and he goes to look for the one that is lost. He looks until he finds it.
5 And when he has found it, he is very glad. He carries it on his back.
6 When he comes home, he calls his friends and neighbours to come. He says, "Be glad with me! I have found my lost sheep."
7 `I tell you, the angels in heaven will be glad like that when one bad person stops doing wrong things. The angels will be more glad about that one person than about ninety-nine good people who do not need to change their ways.'
8 `What woman will not do this? She has ten pieces of silver money. If she loses one of them, she lights a lamp and sweeps the house. She looks for the money until she finds it.
9 When she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbours to come. She says, "Be glad with me! I have found the piece of money I lost."
10 I tell you, the angels of God will be glad like that when one bad person stops doing wrong things.'
11 Jesus also said, `A man had two sons.
12 The younger son said to his father, "Father, give me my part of what will belong to me." So his father divided all he had between the two sons.
13 After a few days, the younger son packed up his things. He left home and went to a country far away. There he spent his money in foolish and wrong ways.
14 He spent everything he had. `There was no food in that country for a long time. He began to be in trouble.
15 So he went to stay with a man in the country who had a farm. The man sent him out to his farm to feed the pigs.
16 He would have been glad to eat the food the pigs ate. But no one gave him anything.
17 `Then he started to get sense. He said, "My father has many men who work for him. They have plenty of food. But here I am dying because I have nothing to eat!
18 I will get up and go to my father. I will say to him, "Father I have been a bad son. I have done wrong to God in heaven and to you.
19 I am not good enough now to be called your son. Let me be like one of these men who work for you."
20 `So he got up and went to his father. While he was still far away, his father saw him. He loved him and wanted to share in his troubles. He ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.
21 The son said to him, "Father, I have been a bad son. I have done wrong to God in heaven and to you. I am not good enough now to be called your son. Let me be like one of these men who work for you."
22 `But his father said to his servants, "Go quickly and bring the best clothes. Dress him. Put a ring on his hand. Put shoes on his feet.
23 Bring the fat calf and kill it. Let us have a feast and a good time.
24 This is my son. He was dead and now he is alive again. He was lost and is found." And they began to have a good time.
25 `The older son was out on the farm. When he came home and was near the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 He called one of the servants and said, "What is going on?"
27 The servant said, "Your brother has come home. Your father has killed the fat young cow because your brother is home and he is well."
28 `But the older son was angry. He would not go into the house. His father came out and begged him to come in.
29 But the son said to his father, "Look. I have worked hard for you for many years. I have always done everything you told me to do. And yet you never even gave me a young goat to make a feast with my friends.
30 But now this son of yours has come back. He has spent all your money and was with bad women. And yet you kill the fat calf for him!"
31 `The father said, "Son you have always been with me. And all that I have is yours.
32 But now we should have a good time and be happy. Your brother was dead and now he is alive again. He was lost and is found." '
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