1 N ow all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him.

¶ Then all the publicans and sinners drew near unto him to hear him.

2 B oth the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receives sinners and eats with them.

3 S o He told them this parable, saying,

And he spoke this parable unto them, saying,

4 “ What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?

What man of you having a hundred sheep if he lose one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after that which is lost until he finds it?

5 W hen he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

6 A nd 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!’

And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.

7 I 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. The Lost Coin

I say unto you that likewise there shall be more joy in heaven over one sinner that repents than over ninety-nine just persons, who need no repentance.

8 “ Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?

Or what woman having ten drachmas, if she loses one drachma, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?

9 W hen 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!’

And when she has found it, she calls her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I had lost.

10 I n the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The Prodigal Son

Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents.

11 A nd He said, “A man had two sons.

¶ And he said, A certain man had two sons;

12 T he younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them.

and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of the estate that falls to me. And he divided unto them his living.

13 A nd not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.

And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together and took his journey into a far country and there wasted his estate with riotous living.

14 N ow when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished.

And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

15 S o he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

16 A nd he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.

And he longed to fill his belly with the husks that the swine ate, but no one gave them unto him.

17 B ut when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger!

And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have abundance of bread, and I perish here with hunger!

18 I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight;

I will arise and go to my father and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee

19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”’

and am no longer worthy to be called thy son; make me as one of thy hired servants.

20 S o he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

And he arose and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

21 A nd the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight and am no longer worthy to be called thy son.

22 B ut the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet;

But the father said to his slaves, Bring forth the best robe and put it on him and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet

23 a nd bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;

and bring here the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;

24 f or this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.

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 when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.

Now his elder son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.

26 A nd he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be.

And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.

27 A nd he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’

And he said unto him, Thy brother is come, and thy father has killed the fatted calf because he has received him safe and sound.

28 B ut he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him.

And he was angry and would not go in, therefore his father came out and intreated him.

29 B ut he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends;

And he, answering, said to his father, Behold, these many years I have served thee, neither at any time have I transgressed thy commandment; and yet thou never gavest me a kid that I might make merry with my friends.

30 b ut when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’

But as soon as this thy son was come who has devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed the fatted calf for him.

31 A nd he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours.

And he said unto him, Son, thou art always with me, and all that I have is thine.

32 B ut we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’”

It was necessary that we should make merry and be glad, for this thy brother was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.