The Message Bible MSG
King James Version KJV
1 By this time a lot of men and women of doubtful reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently.
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Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
2 The Pharisees and religion scholars were not pleased, not at all pleased. They growled, "He takes in sinners and eats meals with them, treating them like old friends."
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And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3 Their grumbling triggered this story.
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And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
4 "Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one. Wouldn't you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it?
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What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 When found, you can be sure you would put it across your shoulders, rejoicing,
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And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 and when you got home call in your friends and neighbors, saying, 'Celebrate with me! I've found my lost sheep!'
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And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 Count on it - there's more joy in heaven over one sinner's rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue.
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I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
8 "Or imagine a woman who has ten coins and loses one. Won't she light a lamp and scour the house, looking in every nook and cranny until she finds it?
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Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
9 And when she finds it you can be sure she'll call her friends and neighbors: 'Celebrate with me! I found my lost coin!'
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And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
10 Count on it - that's the kind of party God's angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God."
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Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
11 Then he said, "There was once a man who had two sons.
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And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12 The younger said to his father, 'Father, I want right now what's coming to me.'
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And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13 It wasn't long before the younger son packed his bags and left for a distant country. There, undisciplined and dissipated, he wasted everything he had.
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And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14 After he had gone through all his money, there was a bad famine all through that country and he began to hurt.
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And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15 He signed on with a citizen there who assigned him to his fields to slop the pigs.
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And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 He was so hungry he would have eaten the corncobs in the pig slop, but no one would give him any.
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And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17 "That brought him to his senses. He said, 'All those farmhands working for my father sit down to three meals a day, and here I am starving to death.
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And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I'm going back to my father. I'll say to him, Father, I've sinned against God, I've sinned before you;
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I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 I don't deserve to be called your son. Take me on as a hired hand.'
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And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 He got right up and went home to his father. When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him.
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And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 The son started his speech: 'Father, I've sinned against God, I've sinned before you; I don't deserve to be called your son ever again.'
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And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 "But the father wasn't listening. He was calling to the servants, 'Quick. Bring a clean set of clothes and dress him. Put the family ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
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But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 Then get a grain-fed heifer and roast it. We're going to feast! We're going to have a wonderful time!
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And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 My son is here - given up for dead and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!' And they began to have a wonderful time.
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For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25 "All this time his older son was out in the field. When the day's work was done he came in. As he approached the house, he heard the music and dancing.
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Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
26 Calling over one of the houseboys, he asked what was going on.
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And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27 He told him, 'Your brother came home. Your father has ordered a feast - barbecued beef! - because he has him home safe and sound.'
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And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28 "The older brother stalked off in an angry sulk and refused to join in. His father came out and tried to talk to him, but he wouldn't listen.
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And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
29 The son said, 'Look how many years I've stayed here serving you, never giving you one moment of grief, but have you ever thrown a party for me and my friends?
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And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30 Then this son of yours who has thrown away your money on whores shows up and you go all out with a feast!'
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But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31 "His father said, 'Son, you don't understand. You're with me all the time, and everything that is mine is yours -
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And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32 but this is a wonderful time, and we had to celebrate. This brother of yours was dead, and he's alive! He was lost, and he's found!'"
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It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
The King James Version is in the public domain.