1: Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.
2: And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
3: So he told them this parable:
4: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it?
5: And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6: And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, `Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.’
7: Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
8: “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?
9: And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, `Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.’
10: Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
11: And he said, “There was a man who had two sons;
12: and the younger of them said to his father, `Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.’ And he divided his living between them.
13: Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living.
14: And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want.
15: So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16: And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything.
17: But when he came to himself he said, `How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger!
18: I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you;
19: I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.”‘
20: And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
21: And the son said to him, `Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22: But the father said to his servants, `Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet;
23: and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry;
24: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to make merry.
25: “Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
26: And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant.
27: And he said to him, `Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.’
28: But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,
29: but he answered his father, `Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends.
30: But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!’
31: And he said to him, `Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
32: It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'”
