The parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son
15
📚✭Then all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to hear him. 2 📚✭And the Pharisees✭ and scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners, and eats with them”. 3 ✭And he spoke this parable to them, saying, 4 📚✭“What man among you who has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the pasture and go after the lost one until he finds it? 5 📚And when he finds it, he puts it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 📚And when he comes home, he calls his friends and neighbours together and says 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 righteous persons who have no need of repentance.✭
8 📚✭“Or what woman who has ten pieces of silver and loses one piece, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 📚And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbours together, and says, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece that I lost.’
10 📚“I tell you, in the same way there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents”.
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 in the estate coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.
13 📚✭“And not many days later the younger son gathered everything together, and went off to a far country. There he wasted his resources in wild living. 14 📚And when he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in need. 15 📚✭And he went and attached himself to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 📚✭And he longed to fill his stomach with the husks that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
17 📚✭“And when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread and I am dying from hunger! 18 📚✭I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and against you, 19 📚and am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired men.’
20 📚✭“And he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him, was moved with compassion and ran and fell on his neck, and kissed✭ him.
21 📚✭“And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven, and against you, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 📚✭“But the father said to his servants, ‘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 and kill it. And let us eat and celebrate, 24 📚✭for this son of mine was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
25 📚“Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and drew near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 📚And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’
28 📚✭“And he was angry and would not go in. So his father came out, and begged him. 29 📚And in answer he said to his father: ‘Look, all these years I have slaved for you, and never disobeyed an order of yours. And yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 📚But as soon as this son of yours comes, who has consumed your possessions with prostitutes, for him you killed the fattened calf!’