1 Now all the publicans and :sinners were drawing near to him to hear him. 2 And both the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying that, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. 3 And he spake unto them this :parable saying, 4 What man of you, having a hundred sheep, and having lost one of them, leaveth not the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the lost, until he find it? 5 And on finding it, layeth it on his :shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And coming into the house, calleth together his :friends and :neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my :lost :sheep. 7 I say unto you, that thus more joy shall be in :heaven over one repenting sinner, than over ninety-nine righteous, who need no repentance. 8 Or what woman having ten sixpences, if she lose one sixpence, doth not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she find it? 9 And having found it, calleth together her :friends and neighbors, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the sixpence which I had lost. 10 Thus, I say unto you, there is joy before the angels of :God over one repenting sinner. 11 And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 and the younger of them said to the father, Father, give me the portion of the substance that falleth to me. And he divided for them his :living. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together and journeyed into a far country; and there wasted his :substance with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent all, a mighty famine arose in that :country; and HE began to be in want. 15 And he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that :country; and he sent him into his :fields to feed swine. 16 And he would fain have been filled with the husks that the swine did eat: and no one gave to him. 17 But coming to himself he said, How many hired servants of my :father have loaves to spare, and I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my :father, and say to him, Father, I have sinned against :heaven, and in thy sight: 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 unto his own :father. But while he was yet afar off, his :father saw him, and pitied him, and ran, and fell upon his :neck, and kissed him much. 21 And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against :heaven, and in thy sight: I am no more worthy to be called thy son, make me as one of thy hired :servants. 22 But the father said to his :bondmen, Bring forth quickly the †best robe, and put it on him; and put a finger-ring into his :hand, and shoes on his :feet: 23 and bring the fatted :calf, kill it, and let us eat, and make merry: 24 for this my :son was dead, and is revived; was lost, and is found. And they began to make merry. 25 Now his :elder :son was in the field: and as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called to him one of the servants, and inquired what these things might be. 27 And he told him [that], Thy :brother is come; and thy :father hath killed the fatted :calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 28 But he was angry, and would not go in: and his :father came out, and entreated him. 29 But he answered and said to his :father, Lo, these many years I slave it for you, and I never transgressed thy commandment; and never a kid gavest thou me, that I might make merry with my :friends: 30 but when this thy :son came, who hath devoured thy :living with harlots, thou killedst for him the fatted calf. 31 And he said to him, Child, THOU art ever with me, and all :mine are thine. 32 But it was meet to make merry and be glad: because this thy :brother was dead, and is alive; and was lost, and is found.
