1    ^noteAnd there approched Publicans and sinners vnto him for to heare him.

2   And the Pharisees and the Scribes murmured saying, That this man receiueth sinners, and eateth vvith them.

3   And he spake to them this parable, saying,

4    ^noteVvhat ^note man of you hauing an hundred sheepe: and if he hath lost one of them, doth he not leaue the ninetie nine in the desert, and goeth after that vvhich vvas lost vntil he finde it?

5   And vvhen he hath found

it, laieth it vpon his shoulders reioycing:

6   and comming home calleth together his frendes and neighbours, saying to them, Reioyce vvith me, because I haue found my sheepe that vvas lost?

7   I say to you, that euen so there shal be ioy in heauen vpon one sinner that doth penance,09Q0737 then vpon ninetie nine iust that neede not penance.

8   Or vvhat ^note vvoman hauing ten grotes: if she leese one grote, doth she not light a candle, and svveepe the house, and seeke diligently, vntil she finde?

9   And vvhen she hath found, calleth together her frendes and neighbours, saying, Reioyce vvith me, because I haue found the grote vvhich I had lost?

10   So, I say to you, there shal be ioy09Q0738 before the Angels of God vpon one sinner that doth penance. &cross4;

11    ^noteAnd he said, A certaine man had tvvo sonnes:

12   and the yonger of them said to his father, Father, giue me the portion of substance that belongeth to me. And he deuided vnto them the substance.

13   And not many daies after the yonger sonne gathering al his things together vvent from home into a farre countrie: and there he vvasted his substance, liuing riotously. ^note

14   And after he had spent al, there fel a sore famine in that countrie, and he began to be in neede.

15   And he vvent, and cleaued to one of the citizens of that countrie. And he sent him into his farme to feed svvine.

16   And he vvould faine haue filled his bellie of the huskes that the svvine did eate: and no bodie gaue vnto him.

17   And returning to him self he said, Hovv many of my fathers hirelings haue aboundance of bread: and I here perish for famine?

18   I vvil arise, and vvil goe to my father, and say to him, Father, I haue sinned against heauen and before thee:

19   I am not novv vvorthie to be called thy sonne: make me as one of thy hirelings.

20   And rising vp he came to his father. And ^note vvhen he vvas yet farre of, his father savv him, and vvas moued vvith mercie, and running to him fel vpon his necke, and kissed him.

21   And his sonne said to him, Father, I haue sinned against heauen & before thee, I am not novv vvorthie to be called thy sonne.

22   And the father said to his seruants, Quickely bring forth the first stole, and doe it on him, and put a ring vp&obar; his hand, and shoes vpon his feete:

23   and bring09Q0739 the fatted calfe, and kil it, and let vs eate, and make merie:

24   because this my sonne vvas dead, and is reuiued: vvas lost, and is found. And they began to make merie.

25   But his elder sonne vvas in the field.

and vvhen he came and drevv nigh to the house, he heard musicke and dauncing:

26   and he called one of the seruants, and asked vvhat these thinges should be.

27   And he said to him, Thy brother is come, and thy father hath killed the fatted calfe, because he hath receiued him safe.

28   But he had indignation, and vvould not goe in. His father therfore going forth began to desire him.

29   But he ansvvering said to his father, Behold, so many yeres doe I serue thee, and I neuer transgressed thy commaundement, and thou didst neuer giue me a kidde to make merie vvith my frendes:

30   but after that thy sonne, this that hath deuoured his substance vvith whoores, is come, thou hast killed for him the fatted calfe.

31   But he said to him, Sonne, thou art alvvaies vvith me, and al my things are thine.

32   But it behoued vs to make merie and be glad, because this thy brother vvas dead, and is reuiued, vvas lost, and is found. &cross4;

Previous section

Next section