Luke 15

¹Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him .

²And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled , saying , This man receives sinners and eats with them .

³So he told them this parable :

⁴What man of you , having a hundred sheep , if he has lost one of them , does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country , 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 his neighbors , saying to them , Rejoice with me , for I have found my sheep that was lost .

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

⁸Or what woman , having ten silver coins , if she loses one coin , does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently 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 that I had lost .

¹⁰Just so , I tell you , there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents .

¹¹And 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 is coming to me. And he divided his property between them .

¹³Not many days later , the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country , and there he squandered his property in reckless living .

¹⁴And when he had spent everything , a severe famine arose in that country , and he began to be in need .

¹⁵So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country , who sent him into his fields to feed pigs .

¹⁶And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate , and no one gave him anything.

¹⁷But when he came to himself , he said , How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread , but I perish here with hunger !

¹⁸I will arise and go to my father , and I will say to him , Father , I have sinned against heaven and before you .

¹⁹I am no longer worthy to be called your son . Treat me as one of your hired servants .

²⁰And he arose and came to his father . But while he was still a long way off , his father saw him and felt compassion , and ran and embraced him 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 quickly the best robe , and put it on him , and put a ring on his hand , and shoes on his feet .

²³And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate .

²⁴For this my son was dead , and is alive again ; he was lost , and is found . And they began to celebrate .

²⁵Now his older 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 fattened calf , because he has received him back safe and sound .

²⁸But he was angry and refused to go in . His father came out and entreated him ,

²⁹but he answered his father , Look , these many years I have served you , and I never disobeyed your command , yet you never gave me a young goat , that I might celebrate with my friends .

³⁰But when this son of yours came , who has devoured your property with prostitutes , you killed the fattened calf for him !

³¹And he said to him , Son , you are always with me , and all that is mine is yours .

³²It was fitting to celebrate and be glad , for this your brother was dead , and is alive ; he was lost , and is found .