wmth - 15

wmth@Luke:15:1 @ Now the tax-gatherers and the notorious sinners were everywhere in the habit of coming close to Him to listen to Him;

wmth@Luke:15:2 @ and this led the Pharisees and the Scribes indignantly to complain, saying, »He gives a welcome to notorious sinners, and joins them at their meals!«

wmth@Luke:15:3 @ So in figurative language He asked them,

wmth@Luke:15:4 @ »Which of you men, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in their pasture and go in search of the lost one till he finds it?«

wmth@Luke:15:5 @ And when he has found it, he lifts it on his shoulder, glad at heart.

wmth@Luke:15:6 @ Then coming home he calls his friends and neighbours together, and says, `Congratulate me, for I have found my sheep–the one I had lost.'

wmth@Luke:15:7 @ I tell you that in the same way there will be rejoicing in Heaven over one repentant sinner–more rejoicing than over ninety-nine blameless persons who have no need of repentance.

wmth@Luke:15:8 @ »Or what woman who has ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully till she finds it?«

wmth@Luke:15:9 @ And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, and says, »`Congratulate me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.'

wmth@Luke:15:10 @ »I tell you that in the same way there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one repentant sinner.«

wmth@Luke:15:11 @ He went on to say, »There was a man who had two sons.

wmth@Luke:15:12 @ The younger of them said to his father, »`Father, give me the share of the property that comes to me.' «So he divided his wealth between them.

wmth@Luke:15:13 @ No long time afterwards the younger son got all together and travelled to a distant country, where he wasted his money in debauchery and excess.

wmth@Luke:15:14 @ At last, when he had spent everything, there came a terrible famine throughout that country, and he began to feel the pinch of want.

wmth@Luke:15:15 @ So he went and hired himself to one of the inhabitants of that country, who sent him on to his farm to tend swine;

wmth@Luke:15:16 @ and he longed to make a hearty meal of the pods the swine were eating, but no one gave him any.

wmth@Luke:15:17 @ »But on coming to himself he said,« `How many of my father's hired men have more bread than they want, while I here am dying of hunger!

wmth@Luke:15:18 @ I will rise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you:

wmth@Luke:15:19 @ I no longer deserve to be called a son of yours: treat me as one of your hired men.'

wmth@Luke:15:20 @ »So he rose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and pitied him, and ran and threw his arms round his neck and kissed him tenderly.«

wmth@Luke:15:21 @ »`Father,' cried the son, `I have sinned against Heaven and before you: no longer do I deserve to be called a son of yours.'«

wmth@Luke:15:22 @ »But the father said to his servants,« `Fetch a good coat quickly –the best one– and put it on him; and bring a ring for his finger and shoes for his feet.

wmth@Luke:15:23 @ Fetch the fat calf and kill it, and let us feast and enjoy ourselves;

wmth@Luke:15:24 @ for my son here was dead and has come to life again: he was lost and has been found.' »And they began to be merry.

wmth@Luke:15:25 @ »Now his elder son was out on the farm; and when he returned and came near home, he heard music and dancing.«

wmth@Luke:15:26 @ Then he called one of the lads to him and asked what all this meant.

wmth@Luke:15:27 @ »`Your brother has come,' he replied; `and your father has had the fat calf killed, because he has got him home safe and sound.'«

wmth@Luke:15:28 @ »Then he was angry and would not go in. But his father came out and entreated him.«

wmth@Luke:15:29 @ »`All these years,' replied the son, `I have been slaving for you, and I have never at any time disobeyed any of your orders, and yet you have never given me so much as a kid, for me to enjoy myself with my friends;«

wmth@Luke:15:30 @ but now that this son of yours is come who has eaten up your property among his bad women, you have killed the fat calf for him.'

wmth@Luke:15:31 @ »`You my dear son,' said the father, `are always with me, and all that is mine is also yours.«

wmth@Luke:15:32 @ We are bound to make merry and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has come back to life, he was lost and has been found.'«

Luke 15