1 Then drew near to him all the publicans and sinners, to hear him.
2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured saying, This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them.
3 And he spake a parable to them, saying,
4 Who of you, having an hundred sheep, and losing one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, till he find it?
5 And having found it, he layeth it on his shoulders rejoicing.
6 And coming home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say to you, Thus joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, who do not need repentance.
8 Or what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
9 And having found it, she calleth her friends and neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I had lost.
10 Thus, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God, over one sinner that repenteth.
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father;
12 Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.
13 And he divided to them his substance. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, and took a journey into a far country, and there squandered away his substance, living riotously.
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that country; and he began to be in want.
15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields, to feed swine.
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine ate: and no man gave to him.
17 And coming to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father have bread enough and to spare, and I am perishing with hunger?
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee:
19 I am no more worthy to be called thy son; make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose and came to his father: But while he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and his bowels yearned, and he ran, and fell on his neck and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat and be merry.
24 For this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.
25 And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field. And as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
26 And calling one of the servants, he asked what these things meant?
27 And he told him, Thy brother is come, and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him in good health.
28 But he was angry, and would not go in: therefore his father coming out intreated him.
29 And he answering said to his father, Lo these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I thy commandment at any time, yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends.
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, who hath devoured thy substance with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.