1 Then many of the Publicans,
and people of a
bad reputation gather'd about
Jesus to hear him;
2 at
which the Pharisees and
Scribes murmured, saying,
this man gives access to men
of bad character, and eats
with them.
3 but he propos'd
to them this parable.
4 who
of you that has an hundred
sheep, will not, upon losing
one, leave the ninety nine in
the desart, to go after that
which is lost, till he finds
it?
5 and when he hath found
it, joyfully lay it upon his
shoulders?
6 and when he
comes home, call his friends
and neighbours together, and
-- --
say to them, rejoice with
me, for I have found my
sheep, that was lost?
7 I tell
you, that there shall likewise
be greater joy in heaven for
one sinner that repents, than
for ninety nine just persons,
that need no repentance.
8 or
if a woman, that has ten
pieces of money, should lose
one of them, will she not
light a lamp, sweep the house,
and carefully search, till
she find it?
9 and when 'tis
found, will she not call her
friends aud neighbours together,
and say, rejoice with
me, for I have found the
piece, I had lost?
10 even so,
I assure you, the angels in
heaven rejoice, when any
one sinner becomes a penitent.
11 Again he said: a certain
man had two sons;
12 the
younger of which said to his
father, father, give me that
portion of the estate which
falls to my share. accordingly
he divided his estate
among them.
13 a little while
after the younger son turn'd
all he had into money, and
travell'd into a foreign country,
where he squander'd away
his fortune in luxurious
living.
14 when he had
spent all, there happen'd to
be a severe famine in that
country;
15 and he was reduced
to want, which forc'd
-- --
him to make his application
to one of the inhabitants
there, who sent him to his
farm to look after his swine.
16 for he would have been contented
to have liv'd upon the
note carruways, with which they
usually fed the swine: but
nobody would supply him.
17 at length coming to himself,
how many, said he, does
my father keep in pay, who
have bread in abundance,
whilst I am dying here with
hunger?
18 I will depart,
and go to my father, and
say to him, father, I have
sinned against heaven, and
against thee;
19 I am no longer
worthy to be called your
son: treat me as one of your
hir'd servants.
20 so he departed
and went to his father.
but while he was yet at a
distance, his father saw him,
and mov'd with compassion,
ran and threw himself upon
his neck, and kissed him.
21 then the son said to him, father,
I have sinned against
heaven, and against you, I
am no longer worthy to be
called your son.
22 but the father
said to his servants,
bring hither the finest robe,
and put it on him: put a
ring on his finger, and shoes
on his feet.
23 take the fatted
calf, and kill it: let us eat
and be merry:
24 for this son
-- --
of mine was dead, and is
come to life: he was lost,
and is found again. and
then they began their feast.
25 In the mean time his elder
son was in the country. at
his return, when he came
near home, he heard the
musick and dancing:
26 and
calling one of the servants,
he ask'd what was the occasion
of it,
27 who reply'd,
your brother is return'd, and
your father has killed the
fatted calf, because he has
received him in good health.
28 upon this he was full of resentment,
and refused to go
in: and when his father
came out to persuade him,
he replied to his father,
29 how
many years have I serv'd
you, without having ever
disobey'd your orders? and
yet you never bestow'd a kid
upon me, to make merry
with my friends:
30 whereas
this son of yours, who has
eat up his fortune among a
pack of loose creatures, is
no sooner come but you must
kill the fatted calf for him.
31 son, said he to him, you
shall continue to be with me,
and all that I have shall be
thine.
32 but it was necessary
to feast and rejoice, because
your brother here was dead,
and is again alive: he was
lost and is now found.
-- --
Mace [1729], THE NEW TESTAMENT IN Greek and English. Containing the ORIGINAL TEXT Corrected from the Authority of the most Authentic Manuscripts: AND A NEW VERSION Form'd agreeably to the Illustrations of the most Learned Commentators and Critics: WITH NOTES and VARIOUS READINGS, AND A Copious Alphabetical Index (Printed for J. ROBERTS [etc.], LONDON) [word count] [B11200].