15:1  Now all the tax collectors and the sinners came near Him to listen to Him.

15:2  Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, "This man receives sinners and dines with them."

15:3  So He told them this parable, saying,

15:4  "What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one he has lost until he finds it?

15:5  "When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

15:6  "And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which I lost!'

15:7  "I tell you that in the same way, there will come more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

15:8  "Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?

15:9  "When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!'

15:10  "In the same way, I tell you, we find much joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

15:11  And He said, "A man had two sons.

15:12  "The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.' So he divided his wealth between them.

15:13  "And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.

15:14  "Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to feel impoverished.

15:15  "So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

15:16  "And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave anything to him.

15:17  "But when he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I die here with hunger!

15:18  'I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight;

15:19  I do not feel any longer worthy for you to call me your son; make me as one of your hired men."'

15:20  "So he got up and came to his father. But while he walked still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

15:21  "And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I feel no longer worthy for you to call me your son.'

15:22  "But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet;

15:23  and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;

15:24  for this son of mine had died and has come to life again; I lost him and now I found him.' And they began to celebrate.

15:25  "Now his older son worked in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.

15:26  "And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could mean.

15:27  "And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.'

15:28  "But he became angry and did not feel willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him.

15:29  "But he answered and said to his father, 'Look! For so many years I have served you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends;

15:30  but when this son of yours came, who devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.'

15:31  "And he said to him, 'Son, you have always remained with me, and all that I have belongs to you.

15:32  'But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours had figuratively died and has begun to live, and we lost him and now we found him.'"