1 ALL the tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to him in order to hear him.

2 The Pharisees and the scribes grumbled to one another, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

3 He gave them this illustration:

4 "What man of you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until he has found it?

5 And when he has found it he lays it on his shoulders with joy,

6 and when he comes home he calls together his friends and neighbors and says, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost!'

7 I tell you there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner whose heart is changed than over ninety-nine righteous men who have no need to change.

8 "Or what woman who has ten shillings, if she loses one shilling, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and look for it carefully until she finds it?

9 And when she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the shilling that I lost.'

10 So I tell you there springs joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner whose heart is changed."

11 He said further, "A certain man had two sons.

12 And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of the property that is coming to me.' So he divided his wealth between them.

13 Not many days later, the younger son got everything together and went away to a far country and there squandered his property in a dissolute life.

14 When he had spent everything, there came a terrible famine in that land and he began to be in want.

15 So he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that country who sent him into his fields to feed swine.

16 And he would fain have filled his stomach with the pods the swine were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17 Then, coming to himself, he said, 'How many hired men of my father have bread more than enough, and here I am perishing with famine.

18 I will arise and go to my father and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.

19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired men.'

20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and pitied him, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him tenderly.

21 The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son' \'97

22 But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out quickly the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet;

23 and bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry.

24 For this, my son, was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.' And they began to be merry.

25 Now his older son was in the field, and when on returning he drew near the house he heard music and dancing.

26 Calling to him one of the servants, he inquired what this was. The servant said to him,

27 'Your brother has come and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back in health.'

28 But he grew angry, and would not go in. Then his father came out and begged him.

29 But he answered his father, 'See, all these years I have been serving you, and I never broke a command of yours, yet you have never given me a kid to make merry with my friends.

30 But when this son of yours, who has wasted your property with bad women, came, you have killed for him the fattened calf.'

31 But the father said to him, 'Child, you are always with me and all that I have is yours.

32 We could not but make merry and rejoice, for your brother here was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found.'