Worsley - Luke - 15

15:1  Then drew near unto Him all the publicans and other notorious sinners, to hear Him.

15:2  And the pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man entertaineth wicked persons, and eateth with them.

15:3  But He spake to them this parable,

15:4  saying, What man of you that hath an hundred sheep, and loseth one of them, doth not leave the ninety-nine in the field, and go after that which was lost, till he find it?

15:5  And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders rejoicing:

15:6  and coming home, he calleth his friends and neighbors together and saith unto them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.

15:7  Thus, I tell you, there shall be joy in heaven over one repenting sinner, more than over ninety-nine righteous persons, that have no need of repentance.

15:8  Or what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and search carefully till she find it?

15:9  and when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and neighbors together; saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I had lost.

15:10  Thus, I tell you, there is joy among the angels of God over one repenting sinner.

15:11  And He said, a certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said to his father,

15:12  Father, give me the portion that falleth to my share. And he divided his substance between them.

15:13  And not many days after the younger son gathered all together and went abroad into a distant country, and there squandered away his substance by living luxuriously.

15:14  And when he had spent all, there happen'd a grievous famine in that country, and he began to be in want.

15:15  And he went and let himself to one of the people of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine.

15:16  And he would gladly have filled his belly with the husks which the swine did eat: and no man relieved him.

15:17  But coming to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father have bread enough and to spare, and I am perishing with hunger?

15:18  I will rise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee,

15:19  and am no longer worthy to be called thy son; make me as one of thy hired servants.

15:20  And he rose and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion; and he ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

15:21  And his son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee, and am no longer worthy to be called thy son.

15:22  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 shoes on his feet:

15:23  and bring hither the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and be merry:

15:24  for this my son was dead, and is alive again, and was lost and is found. And they began to be merry.

15:25  But his elder son was out in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing:

15:26  and he called one of the servants to him, and asked what these things meant.

15:27  And he said to him, Thy brother is come, and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and well: but he was angry, and would not go in.

15:28  Therefore his father came out and desired him.

15:29  But he answered and said to his father, Behold so many years as I serve thee, nor have I ever transgressed thy command, and yet thou hast never given me a kid, to be merry with my friends:

15:30  but as soon as this thy son was come, who hath eaten up thy substance with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

15:31  And he said unto him, Son, thou art always with me, and all that I have is thine.

15:32  But it was fit we should be merry and rejoice; for this thy brother was dead, and is come to life again, was lost and is found.