A Lost Sheep, a Lost Coin^(A)

15 The tax collectors [^Cwho were despised because they worked for the Roman rulers and were notorious for corruption and extortion] and sinners all ·came [drew near] to listen to Jesus. ² But the Pharisees and the ·teachers of the law [scribes] began to ·complain [murmur; grumble]: “Look, this man ·welcomes [associates with; receives] sinners and even eats with them [^Cindicating social acceptance].”

³ ·Then [So] Jesus told them this ·story [parable]: ⁴ “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep but loses one of them. ·Then he will [^LWon’t he…?] leave the other ninety-nine sheep in the ·open field [wilderness; desert] and go out and look for the lost sheep until he finds it. ⁵ And when he finds it, he ·happily [joyfully] puts it on his shoulders ⁶ and goes home. He calls ·to [together] his friends and neighbors and says, ‘·Be happy [Rejoice] with me because I found my lost sheep.’ ⁷ In the same way, I tell you there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who ·changes his heart and life [repents], than over ninety-nine ·good [righteous; ^Cself-righteous] people who don’t need to ·change [repent].

¹² “[^LWhat do you think?] If a man has a hundred sheep but one of the sheep ·gets lost [goes astray; wanders off], ·he will [^Lwon’t he…?] leave the other ninety-nine on the ·hill [^Lhills; mountains] and go to look for the lost sheep. ¹³ I tell you the truth, if he finds it he ·is happier about [rejoices more over] that one sheep than ·about [over] the ninety-nine that ·were never lost [never went astray/wandered off]. ¹⁴ In the same way, your Father in heaven ·does not want [is not willing that] any of these little children to ·be lost [perish].