1Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, »This man receives sinners and eats with them.« 3So he told them this parable: 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? 5And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6And 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.’ 7I tell you that in the same way 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 search carefully until she finds it? 9And 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.’ 10In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.« 11Then he said: »There was a man who had two sons. 12And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.’ So he divided his living between them. 13Not many days after, the younger son gathered together all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. 14And when he had spent everything, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in want. 15So he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. 17But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and here I perish with hunger! 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 like one of your hired servants.«’ 20And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion for him, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22But 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. 23And bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24for 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. 26So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.’ 28But he was angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. 29But he answered his father, ‘Behold, these many years I have been serving you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!’ 31And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’«