Chapter 15

Now the publicans and sinners were drawing near to him to listen to him.

And the Pharisees and the Scribes murmured, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

But he spoke to them this parable, saying,

"What man of you having a hundred sheep, and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the desert, and go after that which is lost, until he finds it?

And when he has found it, he lays it upon his shoulders rejoicing.

And on coming home he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost. '

I say to you that, even so, there will be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, more than over ninety-nine just who have no need of repentance. The Lost Coin

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

And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma that I had lost. '

Even so, I say to you, there will be joy among the angels of God over one sinner who repents." The Prodigal Son

And he said, "A certain man had two sons.

And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me. ' And he divided his means between them.

"And not many days later, the younger son gathered up all his wealth, and took his journey into a far country; and there he squandered his fortune in loose living.

And after he had spent all, there came a grievous famine over that country, and he began himself to suffer want.

And he went and joined one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his farm to feed swine.

And he longed to fill himself with the pods that the swine were eating, but no one offered to give them to him.

"But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many hired men in my father's house have bread in abundance, while I am perishing here with hunger!

I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee.

I am no longer worthy to be called thy son; make me as one of thy hired men. '

And he arose and went to his father. "But while he was yet a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and ran and fell upon his neck and kissed him.

And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee. I am no longer worthy to be called thy son. '

But the father said to his servants, 'Fetch quickly the best robe and put it on him, and give him a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet;

and bring out the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry;

because this my son was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and is found. ' And they began to make merry.

"Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.

And calling one of the servants he inquired what this meant.

And he said to him, 'Thy brother has come, and thy father has killed the fattened calf, because he has got him back safe. '

But he was angered and would not go in. "His father, therefore, came out and began to entreat him.

But he answered and said to his father, 'Behold, these many years I have been serving thee, and have never transgressed one of thy commands; and yet thou hast never given me a kid that I might make merry with my friends.

But when this thy son comes, who has devoured his means with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fattened calf. '

"But he said to him, 'Son, thou art always with me, and all that is mine is thine;

but we were bound to make merry and rejoice, for this thy brother was dead, and has come to life; he was lost, and is found. '"