Luke 15

1 Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were drawing near to him to hear him. 2 And both the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” [a] 3 So he told them this parable, saying,

4 “Which man among you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing, 6 and coming into the house he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who has a change of mind than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of a change of mind. [b]

8 “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? [c] 9 And when she has found it she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the drachma that I lost.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy before the messengers of God over one sinner who has a change of mind.” [d]

11 And he said, “A certain man had two sons. † 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.’ So he divided his living between them. [e] 13 And not many days later the younger son gathered everything together and went away into a distant country, and there he scattered his property, living recklessly. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine came over that country, and he began to be in need.

15 And he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to fill his belly with the carob pods that the pigs were eating, and no one was giving him anything. 17 But coming to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have bread to spare, and I am perishing here with hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father and 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 men.’

20 And he got up and came to his own father. But while he was still far off his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and he ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ [f] 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quick, bring out the best robe and put it on him, and give a ring for his hand and sandals for his feet; [g] 23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and be glad, 24 because this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to be glad.

25 Now his older son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And calling one of the servant boys to him, he was asking what these things might be. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has got him back in good health.’ 28 But he was angry and did not want to go in. So his father came out and was pleading with him.

29 But he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I have slaved for you, and I never disregarded a command of yours; and you never gave me a goat so that I might be glad with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, the one who has eaten up your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Child, you are always with me, and everything that is mine is yours. 32 But it was fitting to be glad and to rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life, and was lost and has been found.’”