Biblia the Byble, that is, the holy Scrypture of the Olde and New Testament, faithfully translated in to Englyshe.

The XV. Chapter.

[ A] THere resorted vnto him all the pub∣licans and synners, that they might heare him. And y^e Pharises and scry¦bes murmured, and sayde: * 1.1 This man recea∣ueth synners, and eateth with them. But he tolde thē this symilitude, and sayde: What man is he amonge you, that hath an hun∣dreth shepe, and yf he loose one of thē, that leaueth not the nyne and nyentye in the wyl¦dernesse,* 1.2 and goeth after that which is lost tyll he fynde it? And whan he hath founde it, he layeth it vpon his shulders with ioye: and whan he commeth home, he calleth his frēdes and neghbours, and sayeth vnto thē: Reioyce with me, for I haue founde my she¦pe, y^t was lost. I saye vnto you: Euē so shal there be ioye in heauen ouer one synner that doth pennaunce, more then ouer nyne and nyentye righteous, which * 1.3 nede not repen••taunce.

Or what woman is it that hath ten gro¦tes, [ B] yf she loose one of them, that lighteth not a candell, and swepeth the house, and se∣keth diligently, tyll she fynde it? And whan she hath founde it, she calleth hir frendes & neghbouresses, and sayeth: Reioyce with me, for I haue foūde my grote, which I had lost. Euen so (I tell you) shal there be ioye before the angels of God, ouer one synner y^t doth pennaunce.

And he sayde: A certayne man had two sonnes, and the yonger of them sayde vnto the father: Father, geue me the porcion of y^e goodes, that belongeth vnto me. And he de∣uyded the good vnto them. And not longe therafter, gathered the yonger sonne all to∣gether, & toke his iourney in to a farre coun¦tre, and there waisted he his goodes with ryotous lyuynge. Now whan he had spent all that he had, there was a greate derth thorow out all the same lōde. And he begāne to lacke, and wente his waye, and claue to a cytesin of that same countre, which sent him in to his felde, to kepe swyne. And he wolde fayne haue fylled his bely with the coddes, that the swyne ate. And noman ga∣ue him them.

Then came he to him self, and sayde: How [ C] many hyred seruauntes hath my father, which haue bred ynough, and I perish of honger? I wil get vp, and go to my father, and saye vnto him: Father, I haue synned agaynst heauen and before the, and am no∣more worthy to be called thy sonne, make me as one of thy hyred seruauntes. And he gat him vp, & came vnto his father. But whan he was yet a greate waye of,* 1.4 his father sawe him, and had cōpassion, and ranne, and fell aboute his neck, and kyssed him. Then say∣de the sonne vnto him: Father, I haue syn∣ned agaynst heauē, and before the, I am no more worthy to be called thy sonne. But the

father sayde vnto his seruauntes: Brynge forth the best garment, and put it vpon him, and geue him a rynge vpon his hande, and shues on his fete, and brynge hither a fed calfe, and kyll it, lat vs eate and be mery: for this my sonne was deed, and is alyue agay∣ne: he was lost, and is founde. And they be∣ganne to be mery.

[ D] But the elder sonne was in the felde. And whan he came, and drewe nye to the house, he herde y^e mynstrelsye and daunsynge, and called one of the seruauntes vnto him, and axed what it was. He sayde vnto him: Thy brother is come, and thy father hath slayne a fed calfe, because he hath receaued him safe and sounde. Then was he angrie, and wolde not go in. Then wente his father out, and prayed him. But he answered, and say∣de vnto his father: Lo, thus many yeares haue I done the seruyce, nether haue I yet broken thy commaundement, and thou ga∣uest me neuer one kydd, y^t I might make me∣ry with my frendes. But now that this thy sonne is come, which deuoured his goodes with harlottes, thou hast slayne a fed cal∣fe. But he sayde vnto him: My sonne, thou art allwaye with me, and all that is myne, is thine: thou shuldest be mery and glad, for this y^e brother was deed, and is alyue agay∣ne: he was lost, and is founde agayne.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mat. 9. a Marc. 2. b Luc. 5. d Luc. 5. d ••nd 7. c
• * 1.2

  Mat. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.3

  Luc. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.4

  〈…〉〈…〉