The parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin

15 All the tax-collectors and sinners were coming close to listen to Jesus. ² The Pharisees and the legal experts were grumbling. “This fellow welcomes sinners!” they said. “He even eats with them!”

The parable of the Prodigal: the father and the younger son

¹¹ Jesus went on: “Once there was a man who had two sons. ¹² The younger son said to the father, ‘Father, give me my share in the property.’ So he divided up his livelihood between them. ¹³ Not many days later the younger son turned his share into cash, and set off for a country far away, where he spent his share in having a riotous good time.

¹⁴ “When he had spent it all, a severe famine came on that country, and he found himself destitute. ¹⁵ So he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into the fields to feed his pigs. ¹⁶ He longed to satisfy his hunger with the pods that the pigs were eating, and nobody gave him anything.

¹⁷ “He came to his senses. ‘Just think!’ he said to himself. ‘There are all my father’s hired hands with plenty to eat—and here am I, starving to death! ¹⁸ I shall get up and go to my father, and I’ll say to him: “Father; I have sinned against heaven and before you; ¹⁹ I don’t deserve to be called your son any longer. Make me like one of your hired hands.” ’ ²⁰ And he got up and went to his father.

“While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and his heart was stirred with love and pity. He ran to him, hugged him tight, and kissed him. ²¹ ‘Father,’ the son began, ‘I have sinned against heaven and before you; I don’t deserve to be called your son any longer.’ ²² But the father said to his servants, ‘Hurry! Bring the best clothes and put them on him! Put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet! ²³ And bring the calf that we’ve fattened up, kill it, and let’s eat and have a party! ²⁴ This son of mine was dead, and is alive again! He was lost, and now he’s found!’ And they began to celebrate.”

The parable of the Prodigal: the father and the older son

²⁵ “The older son was out in the fields. When he came home, and got near to the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ He called one of the servants and asked what was going on.

²⁷ “ ‘Your brother’s come home!’ he said. ‘And your father has thrown a great party—he’s killed the fattened calf!—because he’s got him back safe and well!’

²⁸ “He flew into a rage, and wouldn’t go in.

“Then his father came out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ ‘Look here!’ he said to his father, ‘I’ve been slaving for you all these years! I’ve never disobeyed a single commandment of yours. And you never even gave me a young goat so I could have a party with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours comes home, once he’s finished gobbling up your livelihood with his whores, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

³¹ “ ‘My son,’ he replied, ‘you’re always with me. Everything I have belongs to you. ³² But we had to celebrate and be happy! This brother of yours was dead and is alive again! He was lost, and now he’s found!’ ”