Luke:15

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* Then all the tax collectors and the sinners came near to Him to hear Him . * And the Pharisees and scribes murmured , saying , This Man receives sinners and eats with them . * So He spoke this parable to them , saying : * What man of you , having a hundred sheep , if he loses one of them , does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness , and go after the one which is lost until he finds it ? * And when he has found it , he lays it on his shoulders , rejoicing . * And when he comes home , he calls together his friends and neighbors , saying to them , Rejoice with me , for I have found my sheep which was lost ! * I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance . * Or what woman , having ten silver coins , if she loses one coin , does not light a lamp , sweep the house , and search carefully until she finds it ? * And when she has found it , she calls her friends and neighbors together , saying , Rejoice with me , for I have found the piece which I lost ! * Likewise , I say to you , there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents . * Then He said : A certain man had two sons . * And the younger of them said to his father , Father , give me the portion of the estate that falls to me . So he divided to them his livelihood . * And not many days after , the younger son gathered all together , journeyed to a far country , and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living . * But when he had spent all , there arose a severe famine in that land , and he began to be destitute . * And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country , and he sent him into his fields to feed swine . * And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the husks that the swine ate , and no one gave to him . * But when he came to himself , he said , How many of my father ’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare , and I perish with hunger . * I will arise and go to my father , and will say to him , Father , I have sinned against Heaven and before you , * and I am no longer worthy to be called your son . Make me like one of your hired servants . * And he arose and came to his father . But when he was still a great way off , his father saw him and was moved with compassion , and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him . * And the son said to him , Father , I have sinned against Heaven and in your sight , and am no longer worthy to be called your son . * But the father said to his servants , Bring out the best robe and put it on him , and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet . * And bring the fatted calf here and kill it , and let us eat and be merry ; * for this my son was dead and is alive again ; he was lost and is found . And they began to be merry . * Now his older son was in the field . And as he came and drew near to the house , he heard music and dancing . * So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant . * And he said to him , Your brother has come , and because he has received him safe and sound , your father has killed the fatted calf . * But he was angry and would not go in . Therefore his father came out and begged him . * So he answered and said to his father , Lo , these many years I have been serving you ; I never transgressed your commandment at any time ; and yet you never gave me a young goat , that I might make merry with my friends . * But as soon as this son of yours came , who has devoured your livelihood with harlots , you killed the fatted calf for him . * And he said to him , Son , you are always with me , and all that I have is yours . * It was right that we should make merry and rejoice , for your brother was dead and is alive again , and was lost and is found .

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