The Parable of the Lost Sheep
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And the Pharisees and the scribes 2grumbled, saying, 3"This man receives sinners and 4eats with them."
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So he told them this parable:
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5"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, 6if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine 7in the open country, and 8go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?
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And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for 10I have found my sheep that was lost.'
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Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who 11repents than over ninety-nine 12righteous persons who need no repentance.
The Parable of the Lost Coin
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"Or what woman, having ten silver coins,a 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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And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.'
The Parable of the Prodigal Son
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And he said, "There was a man who had two sons.
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And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me 14the share of property that is coming to me.' And he divided 15his property between them.
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Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in 16reckless living.
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And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.
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So he went and hired himself out tob one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
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"But 18when he 19came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!
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I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, 20I have sinned against 21heaven and before you.
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And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and 23ran and 24embraced him and 25kissed him.
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And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 26I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'c
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But the father said to his servants,d'Bring quickly 27the best robe, and put it on him, and put 28a ring on his hand, and 29shoes on his feet.
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For this my son 32was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate.
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"Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
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And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.
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And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.'
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But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,
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but he answered his father, 'Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might 33celebrate with my friends.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)