Luke 15:1-20

1Now all the 1tax collectors and the 2sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. 2Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and 3eats with them.”

3So He told them this parable, saying, 4“4What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the 5open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6And 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 was lost!’ 7I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

8“Or what woman, if she has ten 6silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9When 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!’ 10In the same way, I tell you, there is joy 7in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

11And He said, “A man had two sons. 12The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me 8the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his 910wealth between them. 13And 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. 14Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. 15So he went and 11hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the 12pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. 17But when he came to 13his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! 18I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and 14in your sight; 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”’ 20So he got up and came to 15his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and 1617embraced him and kissed him.