1Then all the tax gatherers and sinners drew near to hear him. 2And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receives sinners, and eats with them. 3And he spoke this parable to them, saying, 4What 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 the one that 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 neighbours, saying to them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7I say to you, that likewise there shall be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous persons, who do not need to repent. 8Or what woman, having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, does not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she finds it? 9And when she has found it, she calls her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the coin which I had lost. 10Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. 11And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me my part of the estate. So he divided his property between them. 13And not many days after the younger son gathered everything together, and took a journey into a far country, and there wasted his estate with riotous living. 14And when he had spent everything, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15And he went and hired himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods the swine were eating: but no man gave him anything. 17And when he came to himself, he said, How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight, 19And am no longer worthy to be called your son: treat me as one of your hired servants. 20And he arose, and went to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. 21And 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. 22But the father said to his servants, Bring forth 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 son of mine was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. 25Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26And 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 back safe and sound. 28And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore his father came out, and pleaded with him. 29And he answered his father, Lo, these many years I have served you and never disobeyed your commandment: and yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30But as soon as this son of yours comes home, who has devoured your estate with prostitutes, you kill for him the fatted calf. 31And he said to him, Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32But we had to make merry, and be glad: for this brother of yours was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.