Luke 15:1-23

¹Then drew near to him all the publicans and sinners to hear him.

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

³And he spoke this parable to them, saying,

⁴What man of you having a hundred sheep, if he loseth one of them, doth not leave the ninety and 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 cometh 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 likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, who need no repentance.

⁸Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she loseth one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she findeth it ?

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

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

¹¹And he said, A certain man had two sons:

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

¹³And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

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

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

¹⁶And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat; and no man gave to him.

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

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

¹⁹And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

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

²¹And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy 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 shoes on his feet:

²³And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it ; and let us eat, and be merry: