Luke 15: 1 - 32
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| 1
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Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.
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| 2
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And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."
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| 3
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So he told them this parable:
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| 4
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"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it?
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| 5
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And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
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| 6
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And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, `Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.'
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| 7
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Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
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| 8
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"Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?
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| 9
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And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, `Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.'
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| 10
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Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
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| 11
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And he said, "There was a man who had two sons;
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| 12
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and the younger of them said to his father, `Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.' And he divided his living between them.
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| 13
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Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living.
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| 14
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And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want.
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| 15
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So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine.
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| 16
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And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything.
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| 17
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But when he came to himself he said, `How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger!
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| 18
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I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you;
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| 19
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I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants."'
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| 20
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And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
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| 21
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And the son said to him, `Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
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| 22
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But the father said to his servants, `Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet;
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| 23
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and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry;
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| 24
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for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to make merry.
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| 25
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"Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
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