The Parable of the Lost Sheep

15 All^(A) the tax collectors^(B) and sinners were approaching to listen to him. ² And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, ‘This man welcomes sinners^(C) and eats with them.’

³ So he told them this parable:^{(D) 4} ‘What man among you, who has a hundred sheep and loses one of them,^(E) does not leave the ninety-nine in the open field^[a] and go after the lost one until he finds it? ⁵ When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, ⁶ and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbours together, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep! ” ⁷ I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven^(F) over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who don’t need repentance.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

⁸ ‘Or what woman who has ten silver coins,^[b][c] if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹ When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbours together, saying, “Rejoice with me, because I have found the silver coin I lost! ” ¹⁰ I tell you, in the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels^(G) over one sinner who repents.’

The Parable of the Lost Son

¹¹ He also said, ‘A man had two sons. ¹² The younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.” So he distributed the assets^[d] to them. ¹³ Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and travelled to a distant country, where he squandered^(H) his estate in foolish living.^{(I) 14} After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing.^{[e] 15} Then he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.^{(J) 16} He longed to eat his fill from^[f] the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one would give him anything. ¹⁷ When he came to his senses,^[g] he said, “How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger!^{[h] 18} I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned^(K) against heaven^(L) and in your sight. ¹⁹ I’m no longer worthy^(M) to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.’ ” ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion.^(N) He ran, threw his arms round his neck, and kissed^(O) him. ²¹ The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.”

²² ‘But the father told his servants, “Quick! Bring out the best robe^(P) and put it on him; put a ring^(Q) on his finger and sandals^(R) on his feet. ²³ Then bring the fattened calf^(S) and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, ²⁴ because this son of mine was dead and is alive again;^(T) he was lost and is found! ” So they began to celebrate.

²⁵ ‘Now his elder son was in the field; as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ So he summoned one of the servants, questioning what these things meant. ²⁷ “Your brother is here,” he told him, “and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.”^[i]

²⁸ ‘Then he became angry and didn’t want to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ But he replied to his father, “Look, I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me a goat so that I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets^[j] with prostitutes,^(U) you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.”

³¹ ‘ “Son,”^[k] he said to him, “you are always with me,^(V) and everything I have is yours. ³² But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” ’