1 T hen all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.

2 A nd the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.”

3 S o 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 A nd 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 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. The Parable of the Lost Coin

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 A nd 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 L ikewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The Parable of the Lost Son

11 T hen He said: “A certain man had two sons.

12 A nd 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 A nd not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.

14 B ut when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.

15 T hen 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 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 a nd 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 A nd 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 A nd bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;

24 f or 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 S o he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.

27 A nd 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 S o 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 B ut 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 I t 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.’”