Luke · Chapter 15

[ edit] Forſoþe pupplicans and ſynful men weren neiȝinge to him, þat þei ſchulden heere him. And Fariſees and ſcribis grucchiden, ſeyinge, For þis man receyueþ ſynful men, and etiþ wiþ hem. And he ſeiþ to hem þis parable, ſeiynge, What man of ȝou þat haþ an hundrid ſcheep, and if he haþ loſt oon of hem, wher he leeuiþ not nynty and nyne in deſert, and goþ to it þat periſchide, til he fynde it? And whanne he haþ founden it, he ioyinge puttiþ on his ſhuldris; and he comynge hoom clepiþ to gidere his frendis and neiȝebors, ſeyinge to hem, Þanke ȝe me, for I haue founden my ſcheep, which hadde periſchid.

Soþly I ſeye to ȝou, ſo ioye ſchal be in heuene on o ſynful man doynge penaunce, þan of nynti and nyne iuſte, þat han no nede of penaunce. Eþer what womman hauynge ten dragmes, eþer beſauntis, and if ſche haþ loſt o dragme, wher ſhe liȝteþ not a lanterne, and turneþ vpſodoun þe hous, and ſekiþ diligently, til ſche fynde? And whanne ſche haþ founden, ſche clepiþ to gidere frendis and neiȝeboris, ſeyinge, Þanke ȝe me, for I haue founden þe dragme, which I hadde loſt. So I ſeie to ȝou, ioye ſchal be to þe aungels of God on o ſynful man doynge penaunce.

Forſoþe he ſeiþ, Sum man hadde tweye ſones; and þe ȝongere ſeide to þe fadir, Fadir, ȝyue to me þe porcioun of ſubſtaunce, eþir catel, þat byfalliþ to me. And þe fadir departide to him þe ſubſtaunce. And not aftir manye dayes, alle þingis gederid to gidre, þe ȝongere ſone wente in pilgrymage in to a fer cuntree; and þere he waſtide his ſubſtaunce in lyuynge leccherouſly. And aftir þat he hadde endid alle þingis, a ſtrong hungir was maad in þat cuntree, and he bigan to haue nede. And he wente, and cleuyde to oon of þe citeſeyns of þat cuntree. And he ſente him in to his toun, þat he ſchulde feede hoggis.

And he coueitide to fille his wombe of þe coddis whiche þe hoggis eeten, and no man ȝaf to him. Soþli he turned aȝen in to him ſilf, ſeyde, Hou many hirid men in my fadir hous, han plente of looues; forſoþe I periſche here þurȝ hungir. I ſchal ryſe, and I ſchal go to my fadir, and I ſchal ſeie to him, Fadir, I haue ſynned aȝens heuene, and bifore þee; now I am not worþi to be clepid þi ſone, make me as oon of þi hyrid men. And he ryſinge cam to his fadir. Soþli whanne he was ȝit fer, his fadir ſyȝ him, and he was ſtirid by mercy. And he rennynge to, felde on his necke, and kiſte him.

And þe ſone ſeyde to him, Fadir, I haue ſynned aȝens heuene, and bifore þee; and now I am not worþi to be clepid þi ſone. Forſoþ þe fadir ſeyde to his ſeruauntis, Soone bringe ȝe forþ þe firſte ſtoole, and cloþe ȝe him, and ȝyue ȝe a ring in his hond, and ſchoon in to þe feet; and brynge ȝe a calf maad fat, and ſle ȝe, and ete we, and plenteuouſly ete we. For þis my ſone was deed, and haþ lyued aȝen; he periſchide, and is founden. And alle bigunnen to eat plenteuouſly. Forſoþ his eldere ſone was in þe feeld; and whanne he cam, and neiȝede to þe hous, he herde a ſymphonye and a crowde. And he clepide oon of þe ſeruauntis, and axide, what þingis þes weren.

And he ſeide to him, Þi brodir is comen, and þi fadir haþ ſlayn a fat calf, for he receyuede him ſaf. Forſoþ he was wroþ, and wolde not entre. Þerfore his fadir gon out, bigan to preie him. And he anſweringe to his fadir, ſeide, Lo! ſo manye ȝeeris I ſerue to þee, and I brak neuere þi comaundement; þou haſt neuere ȝouun a kyde to me, þat I ſchulde ete largely wiþ my frendis. But aftir þat þis þi ſone, which deuouride his ſubſtaunce wiþ hooris, cam, þou haſt ſlayn to him a fat calf. And he ſeide to him, Sone, þou ert euere wiþ me, and alle myne þingis ben þyne.

Forſoþe it bihofte to ete plenteuouſly, and for to ioye; for þis þi broþer was deed, and lyuede aȝeyn; he peryſchide, and he is founden.