Luke 15

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

And both the Pharisees and the experts in the law kept grumbling to each other, saying, “This one welcomes sinners, and eats with them.”

And he spoke to them this parable, saying,

“What man among you, having 100 sheep, and having lost one of them, does not leave the 99 in the open country and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?

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

And 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.’

I tell you that in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who have no need of repentance.

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

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

In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

And he said, “A certain man had two sons,

and the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of the property that is coming to me.’ And he divided to them his living.

And not many days after, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a far country, and there he wasted his wealth by living recklessly.

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

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

And he was longing to be fed with the carob pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave anything to him.

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

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

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

And he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and he ran and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

And 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.’

But the father said to his servants, ‘Quickly, bring out a long robe—the best one—and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and sandals on his feet,

and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let’s eat and celebrate,

for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

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

And he called one of the servants to him and inquired what these things meant.

And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf because he has received him safe and sound.’

But he became enraged, and would not go in. And his father came out and pleaded with him.

But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look, these many years I have been serving you, and I never transgressed a commandment of yours, and yet you never gave me a young goat so that I could make merry with my friends.

But when this son of yours came—the one who has devoured your living with prostitutes—you killed the fatted calf for him.’

And he said to him, ‘My child, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.

But it was right to make merry and be glad, for this one—your brother—was dead, and is alive, and was lost, and is found.’”