1 Aproximavam-se de Jesus todos os publicanos e pecadores para o ouvir.2 Os fariseus e os escribas murmuravam: Este recebe pecadores e come com eles.3 Jesus propôs-lhes esta parábola:4 Qual de vós é o homem que, possuindo cem ovelhas e tendo perdido uma delas, não deixa as noventa e nove no deserto, e não vai em busca da que se havia perdido até achá-la?5 Quando a tiver achado, põe-na cheio de júbilo sobre os seus ombros;6 e chegando à casa, reúne os seus amigos e vizinhos e diz-lhes: Regozijai-vos comigo, porque achei a minha ovelha que se havia perdido.7 Digo-vos que assim haverá maior júbilo no céu por um pecador que se arrepende, do que por noventa e nove justos, que não necessitam de arrependimento.8 Ou qual é a mulher que, tenho dez dracmas e perdendo uma, não acende a candeia, não varre a casa e não a procura diligentemente até achá-la?9 Quando a tiver achado, reúne as suas amigas e vizinhas, dizendo: Regozijai-vos comigo, porque achei a dracma que eu tinha perdido.10 Assim, digo-vos, há júbilo na presença dos anjos de Deus por um pecador que se arrepende.11 Continuou: Um homem tinha dois filhos.12 Disse o mais moço a seu pai: Meu pai, dá-me a parte dos bens que me toca. Ele repartiu os seus haveres entre ambos.13 Poucos dias depois o filho mais moço, ajuntando tudo o que era seu, partiu para um país longínquo, e lá dissipou todos os seus bens, vivendo dissolutamente.14 Depois de ter consumido tudo, sobreveio àquele país uma grande fome, e ele começou a passar necessidades.15 Foi encostar-se a um dos cidadãos daquele país, e este o mandou para os seus campos guardar porcos.16 Ali desejava ele fartar-se das alfarrobas que os porcos comiam, mas ninguém lhas dava.17 Caindo, porém, em si, disse: Quantos jornaleiros de meu pai têm pão com fartura, e eu aqui estou morrendo de fome!18 Levantar-me-ei, irei a meu pai e dir-lhe-ei: Pai, pequei contra o céu e diante de ti:19 já não sou digno de ser chamado teu filho; trata-me como um dos teus jornaleiros.20 Levantando-se, foi para seu pai. Estando ele ainda longe, seu pai viu-o e teve compaixão dele e, correndo, o abraçou e beijou.21 Disse-lhe o filho: Pai, pequei contra o céu e diante de ti; já não sou digno de ser chamado teu filho.22 O pai, porém, disse aos seus servos: Trazei-me depressa a melhor roupa e vesti-lha, e ponde-lhe um anel no dedo e sandálias nos pés;23 trazei também o novilho cevado, matai-o, comamos e regozijemo-nos,24 porque este meu filho era morto e reviveu, estava perdido e se achou. E começaram a regozijar-se.25 Seu filho mais velho estava no campo; quando voltou e foi chegando à casa, ouviu a música e a dança:26 e chamando um dos criados, perguntou-lhe que era aquilo.27 Este lhe respondeu: Chegou teu irmão, e teu pai mandou matar o novilho cevado, porque o recuperou com saúde.28 Ele se indignou, e não queria entrar; e saindo seu pai, procurava conciliá-lo.29 Mas ele respondeu a seu pai: Há tantos anos que te sirvo, sem jamais transgredir uma ordem tua, e nunca me deste um cabrito para eu me regozijar com os meus amigos;30 mas quando veio este teu filho, que gastou os teus bens com meretrizes, tu mandaste matar para ele o novilho cevado.31 Replicou-lhe o pai: Filho, tu sempre estás comigo, e tudo o que é meu é teu;32 entretanto cumpria regozijarmo-nos e alegrarmo-nos, porque este teu irmão era morto e reviveu, estava perdido e se achou.

1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners kept coming to listen to Jesus.2 But the Pharisees and the scribes kept complaining, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."3 So he told them this parable:4 "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. He leaves the ninety-nine in the wilderness and looks for the one that is lost until he finds it, doesn't he?5 When he finds it, he puts it on his shoulders and rejoices.6 Then he goes home, calls his friends and neighbors together, and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep!’7 In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance."8 "Or suppose a woman has ten coins and loses one of them.She lights a lamp, sweeps the house, and searches carefully until she finds it, doesn't she?9 When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I lost!’10 In the same way, I tell you that there is joy in the presence of God's angels over one sinner who repents."11 Then Jesus said,"A man had two sons.12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So the fatherdivided his property between them.13 A few days later, the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country. There he wasted his possessions on wild living.14 After he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need.15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.16 He would gladly have filled himself with the husks the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.17 "Then he came to his senses and said, ‘How many of my father's hired men have more food than they can eat, and here I am starving to death!18 I will get up, go to my father, and say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heavenand you.19 I don't deserve to be called your son anymore. Treat me like one of your hired men."’20 "So he got up and went to his father. While he was still far away, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son,threw his arms around him, and kissed him affectionately.21 Then his son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heavenand you. I don't deserve to be called your son anymore.’22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Hurry! Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let's eat and celebrate!24 For my son was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.25 "Now his older son was in the field. As he was coming back to the house, he heard music and dancing.26 So he called to one of the servants and asked what was happening.27 The servanttold him, ‘Your brother has come home, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he got him back safely.’28 "Then the older sonbecame angry and wouldn't go into the house.So his father came out and began to plead with him.29 But he answered his father, "Listen! All these years I've worked like a slave for you. I've never disobeyed a command of yours. Yet you've never given me so much as a young goat so that I could celebrate with my friends.30 But this son of yours spent your money on prostitutes, and when he came back, you killed the fattened calf for him!’31 "His fathersaid to him, ‘My child, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and has been found.’"