Luke 15

¹ Now all the tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to listen to him.

² And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

³ So he told them this parable:

⁴ "Which man among you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?

⁵ And when he finds it, he puts it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

⁶ And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost!'

⁷ I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who have no need of repentance.

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

⁹ And when she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, because I have found the coin that I lost!'

¹⁰ In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

¹¹ Then he said, "A certain man had two sons.

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 livelihood between them.

¹³ Not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his estate in reckless living.

¹⁴ After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck 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 And he was longing to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, and no one was giving him anything.

¹⁷ When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired workers have more than enough bread, but I am here perishing with hunger!

¹⁸ I will get up and go to my father, and I 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 like one of your hired workers."'

²⁰ So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him.

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.'

²² But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.

²³ And bring the fattened calf, slaughter it, and let us eat and celebrate!

²⁴ Because this son of mine 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 came near the house, he heard music and dancing.

²⁶ He called one of the servants and asked what was going on.

²⁷ The servant told him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he got him back safe and sound.'

²⁸ But he became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and began pleading with him.

²⁹ But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I have been serving you, and I never disobeyed a command of yours. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.

³⁰ But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him!'

³¹ But the father said to him, '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.'"