| 1. | The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to him, |
| 2. | but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." |
| 3. | So to them he addressed this parable. |
| 4. | "What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? |
| 5. | And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy |
| 6. | and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.' |
| 7. | I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance. |
| 8. | "Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it? |
| 9. | And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.' |
| 10. | In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents." |
| 11. | Then he said, "A man had two sons, |
| 12. | and the younger son said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.' So the father divided the property between them. |
| 13. | After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. |
| 14. | When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. |
| 15. | So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. |
| 16. | And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. |
| 17. | Coming to his senses he thought, 'How many of my father's hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. |
| 18. | I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. |
| 19. | I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers."' |
| 20. | So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. |
| 21. | His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.' |
| 22. | But his father ordered his servants, 'Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. |
| 23. | Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, |
| 24. | because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.' Then the celebration began. |
| 25. | Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. |
| 26. | He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. |
| 27. | The servant said to him, 'Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' |
| 28. | He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. |
| 29. | He said to his father in reply, 'Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. |
| 30. | But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.' |
| 31. | He said to him, 'My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. |
| 32. | But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.'" |
