151 Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. 2 Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble , saying , "This man receives sinners and eats with them." 3 So He told them this parable , saying , 4 " What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine e in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 "When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders , rejoicing . 6 "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 !' 7 "I tell you that in the same way , there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine e righteous persons who need no repentance .
8 "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? 9 "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 !' 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 And He said , "A 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 wealth between them. 13 "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 . 14 "Now when he had spent everything , a severe famine occurred in that country , and he began to be impoverished . 15 "So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country , and he sent him into his fields to feed swine . 16 "And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating , and no one was giving anything to him. 17 "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 ! 18 'I will get up and go to my father , and will say to him, "Father , I have sinned against heaven , and in your sight ; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son ; make me as one of your hired men ."' 20 "So he got up and came to his father . But while he was still a long way off , his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced e e him and kissed him. 21 "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 .' 22 "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 ; 23 and bring the fattened calf , kill it, and let us eat and celebrate ; 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again ; he was lost and has been found .' And they began to celebrate . 25 "Now his older son was in the field , and when he came and approached the house , he heard music and dancing . 26 "And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what e these things could be. 27 "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 .' 28 "But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. 29 "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 young goat , so that I might celebrate with my friends ; 30 but when this son of yours came , who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes , you killed the fattened calf for him.' 31 "And he said to him, 'Son , you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours . 32 'But we had to celebrate and rejoice , for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live , and was lost and has been found .' "
