^12 (A)“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?

¹² As a ^(A)shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on ^(B)a cloudy and dark day.

^4 (A)“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? ⁵ And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ⁶ And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ^(B)‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep ^(C)which was lost!’ ⁷ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents ^(D)than over ninety-nine ^[a]just persons who ^(E)need no repentance.

^16 (A)“I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy ^(B)the fat and the strong, and feed them ^(C)in judgment.”

²⁸ And they shall no longer be a prey for the nations, nor shall beasts of the land devour them; but ^(A)they shall dwell safely, and no one shall make them afraid.