1 N ow all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him.

Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.

2 T he Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.”

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

3 H e told them this parable.

So He spoke this parable to them, saying:

4 “ Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep, and lost one of them, wouldn’t leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one that was lost, until he found it?

“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 W hen he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

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

6 W hen 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 neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’

7 I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.

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 O r what woman, if she had ten drachma coins, if she lost one drachma coin, wouldn’t light a lamp, sweep the house, and seek diligently until she found it?

“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 W hen she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I had lost.’

And 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 E ven so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting.”

Likewise, 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 H e said, “A certain man had two sons.

Then He said: “A certain man had two sons.

12 T he younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of your property.’ He divided his livelihood between them.

And 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 N ot many days after, the younger son gathered all of this together and traveled into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living.

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

14 W hen he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need.

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

15 H e went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs.

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

16 H e wanted to fill his belly with the husks that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any.

And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

17 B ut when he came to himself he said, ‘How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare, and I’m dying with hunger!

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

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

19 I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.”’

and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’

20 “ He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

“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 T he 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 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. Put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.

“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 B ring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat, and celebrate;

And 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.’ 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 elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing.

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

26 H e called one of the servants to him, and asked what was going on.

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

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

And 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 B ut he was angry, and would not go in. Therefore his father came out, and begged him.

“But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him.

29 B ut he answered his father, ‘Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.

So 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 when this, your son, came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’

But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’

31 “ He said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.

“And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.

32 B ut it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’”

It 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.’”