15:1 Now all the tax collectors 1 and sinners were coming 2 to hear him. 15:2 But 3 the Pharisees 4 and the experts in the law 5 were complaining, 6 “This man welcomes 7 sinners and eats with them.”
15:3 So 8 Jesus 9 told them 10 this parable: 11 15:4 “Which one 12 of you, if he has a hundred 13 sheep and loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture 14 and go look for 15 the one that is lost until he finds it? 16 15:5 Then 17 when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 15:6 Returning 18 home, he calls together 19 his 20 friends and neighbors, telling them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 15:7 I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner 21 who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people 22 who have no need to repent. 23
15:8 “Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins 24 and loses 25 one of them, 26 does not light a lamp, sweep 27 the house, and search thoroughly until she finds it? 15:9 Then 28 when she has found it, she calls together her 29 friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice 30 with me, for I have found the coin 31 that I had lost.’ 15:10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels 32 over one sinner who repents.”
15:11 Then 33 Jesus 34 said, “A man had two sons. 15:12 The 35 younger of them said to his 36 father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate 37 that will belong 38 to me.’ So 39 he divided his 40 assets between them. 41 15:13 After 42 a few days, 43 the younger son gathered together all he had and left on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered 44 his wealth 45 with a wild lifestyle. 15:14 Then 46 after he had spent everything, a severe famine took place in that country, and he began to be in need. 15:15 So he went and worked for 47 one of the citizens of that country, who 48 sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 49 15:16 He 50 was longing to eat 51 the carob pods 52 the pigs were eating, but 53 no one gave him anything. 15:17 But when he came to his senses 54 he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have food 55 enough to spare, but here I am dying from hunger! 15:18 I will get up and go to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned 56 against heaven 57 and against 58 you. 15:19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me 59 like one of your hired workers.”’ 15:20 So 60 he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way from home 61 his father saw him, and his heart went out to him; 62 he ran and hugged 63 his son 64 and kissed him. 15:21 Then 65 his son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven 66 and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 67 15:22 But the father said to his slaves, 68 ‘Hurry! Bring the best robe, 69 and put it on him! Put a ring on his finger 70 and sandals 71 on his feet!