1ALL the tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to him in order to hear him. 2The Pharisees and the scribes grumbled to one another, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." 3He gave them this illustration: 4"What man of you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until he has found it? 5And when he has found it he lays it on his shoulders with joy, 6and when he comes home he calls together his friends and neighbors and says, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost!' 7I tell you there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner whose heart is changed than over ninety-nine righteous men who have no need to change. 8"Or what woman who has ten shillings, if she loses one shilling, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and look for it carefully until she finds it? 9And when she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the shilling that I lost.' 10So I tell you there springs joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner whose heart is changed." 11He said further, "A certain man had two sons. 12And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of the property that is coming to me.' So he divided his wealth between them. 13Not many days later, the younger son got everything together and went away to a far country and there squandered his property in a dissolute life. 14When he had spent everything, there came a terrible famine in that land and he began to be in want. 15So he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that country who sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16And he would fain have filled his stomach with the pods the swine were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17Then, coming to himself, he said, 'How many hired men of my father have bread more than enough, and here I am perishing with famine. 18I will arise and go to my father and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired men.' 20And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and pitied him, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him tenderly. 21The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son' \'97 22But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out quickly the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; 23and bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry. 24For this, my son, was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.' And they began to be merry. 25Now his older son was in the field, and when on returning he drew near the house he heard music and dancing. 26Calling to him one of the servants, he inquired what this was. The servant said to him, 27'Your brother has come and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back in health.' 28But he grew angry, and would not go in. Then his father came out and begged him. 29But he answered his father, 'See, all these years I have been serving you, and I never broke a command of yours, yet you have never given me a kid to make merry with my friends. 30But when this son of yours, who has wasted your property with bad women, came, you have killed for him the fattened calf.' 31But the father said to him, 'Child, you are always with me and all that I have is yours. 32We could not but make merry and rejoice, for your brother here was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found.'