The Parable of the Lost Sheep

15 Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were drawing near to hear him. ² And both the Pharisees and the scribes were complaining, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them!”

³ So he told them this parable, saying, ⁴ “What man of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the grassland and go after the one that was lost until he finds it? ⁵ And when he^[a] has found it,^[b] he places it^[c] on his shoulders, rejoicing. ⁶ And when he^[d] returns to his^[e] home, he calls together his^[f] friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost!’ ⁷ I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

⁸ Or what woman who has ten drachmas, if she loses one drachma, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?^{[g] 9} And when she^[h] has found it,^[i] she calls together her^[j] friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the drachma that I had lost!’ ¹⁰ In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

The Parable of the Lost Son

¹¹ And he said, “A certain man had two sons. ¹² And the younger of them said to his^[k] father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that is coming to me.’ So he divided his^[l] assets between them. ¹³ And after not many days, the younger son gathered everything and^[m] went on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his wealth by^[n] living wastefully. ¹⁴ And after^[o] he had spent everything, there was a severe famine throughout that country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵ And he went and^[p] hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to tend pigs. ¹⁶ And he was longing to fill his stomach with^[q] the carob pods that the pigs were eating, and no one was giving anything^[r] to him.

¹⁷ “But when he^[s] came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have an abundance of food,^[t] and I am dying here from hunger! ¹⁸ I will set out and^[u] go to my father and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight!^{[v] 19} I am no longer worthy to be called your son! Make me like one of your hired workers.’ ²⁰ And he set out and^[w] came to his own father. But while^[x] he was still a long way away, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him^[y] and kissed him. ²¹ And his^[z] son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight!^[aa] I am no longer worthy to be called your son!’ ²² But his^[ab] father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it^[ac] on him, and put a ring on his finger^[ad] and sandals on his^[ae] feet! ²³ And bring the fattened calf—kill it^[af] and let us eat and^[ag] celebrate, ²⁴ because this son of mine was dead, and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.

²⁵ “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and^[ah] approached the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ And he summoned one of the slaves and^[ai] asked what these things meant. ²⁷ And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has gotten him back healthy.’ ²⁸ But he became angry and did not want to go in. So his father came out and^[aj] began to implore^[ak] him. ²⁹ But he answered and^[al] said to his father, ‘Behold, so many years I have served you, and have never disobeyed your command! And you never gave me a young goat so that I could celebrate with my friends! ³⁰ But when this son of yours returned—who has consumed your assets with prostitutes—you killed the fattened calf for him!’ ³¹ But he said to him, ‘Child, you are always with me, and everything I have belongs to you.^{[am] 32} But it was necessary to celebrate and to rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead, and is alive, and was lost, and is found!’”