Luke 15:1-23

¹And all the publicans and the sinners were drawing near to him, to hear him.

²And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

³And he spoke to them this parable, saying,

⁴What man of you having a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he findeth it?

⁵And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

⁶And when he hath come home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.

⁷I say to you, that in like manner there will be joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety-nine righteous men who have no need of repentance.

⁸Or what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and search carefully till she findeth it?

⁹And when she hath found it, she calleth together her friends and neighbors, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I lost.

¹⁰I say to you, that thus there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

¹¹He said also, A certain man had two sons.

¹²And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of the property that falleth to me. And he divided to them his living.

¹³And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, and went abroad into a far country; and there wasted his substance in riotous living.

¹⁴And when he had spent all, there arose a great famine in that country; and he began to be in want.

¹⁵And he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

¹⁶And he longed to fill himself with the husks that the swine ate; and no one gave to him.

¹⁷And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish here with hunger!

¹⁸I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before thee;

¹⁹I am no longer worthy to be called thy son; make me as one of thy hired servants.

²⁰And he arose, and went to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

²¹And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before thee; I am no longer worthy to be called thy son.

²²But 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.

²³And bring the fatted calf; kill it, and let us eat and make merry.