1Now all the tax collectors and other sinners were coming to Jesus to listen to him.

2Both the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled to each other, saying, “This man welcomes sinners, and even eats with them.”

3Jesus spoke this parable to them, saying,

4“Which one of you, if he has a hundred sheep and then loses one of them, will not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the lost one until he finds it?

5Then when he has found it, he lays it across his shoulders and rejoices.

6When he comes to the house, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep.'

7I say to you that even so, there will be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, more than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

8Or what woman who has ten silver coins, if she were to lose one coin, would not light a lamp, sweep the house, and seek diligently until she has found 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 lost.'

10Even so, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

11Then Jesus said, “A certain man had two sons,

12and the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of the wealth that falls to me.' So he divided his property between them.

13Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he owned and went to a country far away, and there he wasted all his wealth by living recklessly.

14Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine spread through that country, and he began to be in need.

15He went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.

16He would gladly have eaten the carob pods that the pigs ate, because no one gave him anything.

17But when the young son came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough food, and I am here, dying from hunger!

18I will leave here and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired servants.”'

20So the young son left and came toward his father. While he was still far away, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and he ran and embraced him and kissed him.

21The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

22The father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and sandals on his feet.

23Then bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us celebrate with a feast!

24For my son was dead, and now he is alive. He was lost, and now he is found.' Then they began to celebrate.

25Now his older son was out in the field. As he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.

26He called to one of the servants and asked what these things might be.

27The servant said to him, 'Your brother has come home and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has returned safely.'

28The older son was angry and would not go in, and his father came out and begged him.

29But the older son answered and said to his father, 'Look, these many years I slaved for you, and I never broke a rule of yours, and yet you never gave me a young goat that I might celebrate with my friends,

30but when your son came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed for him the fattened calf.'

31The father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.

32But it was proper for us to feast and be happy, for this brother of yours was dead, and is now alive; he was lost, and has now been found.'”