| 1 | Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. |
| 2 | And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, "This Man receives sinners and eats with them." |
| 3 | So He spoke this parable to them, saying: |
| 4 | "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses 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 neighbors, saying to them, `Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!` |
| 7 | I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. |
| 8 | "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? |
| 9 | And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, `Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!` |
| 10 | Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." |
| 11 | Then He said: "A certain man had two sons. |
| 12 | And the younger of them said to his father, `Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.` So he divided to them his livelihood. |
| 13 | And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. |
| 14 | But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. |
| 15 | Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. |
| 16 | And he would gladly have filled his stomach with 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, and I perish with hunger! |
| 18 | I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, |
| 19 | and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants." ` |
| 20 | And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. |
| 21 | And the son said to him, `Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.` |
| 22 | But the father said to his servants, `Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. |
| 23 | And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; |
| 24 | for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.` And they began to be merry. |
| 25 | Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. |
| 26 | So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. |
| 27 | And he said to him, `Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.` |
| 28 | But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. |
| 29 | So he answered and said to his father, `Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. |
| 30 | But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.` |
| 31 | And he said to him, `Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. |
| 32 | It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.` " |