The Gospel According to Luke

Now all the tax-gatherers and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him.

And both the Pharisees and the scribes [began] to grumble, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."

And He told them this parable, saying,

"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 which is lost, until he finds it?

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

"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 was lost!'

"I 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.

"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?

"And 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!'

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

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 estate that falls to me.' And he divided his wealth between them.

"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.

"Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be in need.

"And he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

"And he was longing to fill his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving [anything] to him.

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

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

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

"And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

"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;

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

for this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.' And they began to be merry.

"Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.

"And he summoned one of the servants and [began] inquiring what these things might be.

"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.'

"But he became angry, and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and [began] entreating him.

"But he answered and said to his father, 'Look! For so many years I have been serving you, and I have never neglected a command of yours; and [yet] you have never given me a kid, that I might be merry with my friends;

but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with harlots, you killed the fattened calf for him.'

"And he said to him, ['My] child, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours.

'But we had to be merry and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and [has begun] to live, and [was] lost and has been found.'"