¹ THEN drew nigh unto him all the tax-farmers and the sinners to hear him.

² And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man entertains sinners, and eateth with them.

³ Then spake he unto them this parable, saying,

⁴ What man is there of you, possessing an hundred sheep, though he lose but one of them, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

⁵ and when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

⁶ And coming home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Congratulate me; for I have found that sheep of mine which was lost.

⁷ I tell you, that just so will there be joy in heaven over one repentant sinner, more than over ninety-nine righteous persons, who hold not their need of repentance.

⁸ Or what woman having ten pieces of silver coin, if she lose one of them, doth she not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and make diligent search until she find it?

⁹ And having found it, she calleth her female friends and neighbours together, saying, Congratulate me; for I have found the silver piece I had lost.

¹⁰ Even so, I tell you, there is joy among the angels of God, over one repentant sinner.

¹¹ Then he said, A certain man had two sons:

¹² and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of substance which falls to my share. And he divided with them his fortune.

¹³ And not many days after, the younger son, collecting his all, travelled into a far distant country, and there dissipated his substance in a life of debauchery.

¹⁴ But when he had spent all, there came a terrible famine in that region; and he began to know want.

¹⁵ And he went and connected himself with one of the citizens of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

¹⁶ And he eagerly longed to fill his belly with the charob berries which the swine did eat: and no person gave him a morsel.

¹⁷ Then coming to himself, he said, How many hirelings of my father abound with loaves of bread, and I am pining away with famine!

¹⁸ I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

¹⁹ and I am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hirelings.

²⁰ And he arose and came to his father. But when he was yet at a considerable distance, his father discovered him, and was moved with compassion, and running, fell on his neck, and kissed him again and again.

²¹ Then said the son unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

²² But the father said to his servants, Bring out the best robe, and clothe him; and put a ring on his hand, and sandals on his feet:

²³ and bring hither the stall-fed steer, and kill it; and let us eat, and be joyous.

²⁴ For this my son was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. And they began to be joyous.

²⁵ Now his elder brother had been in the field: and when coming home he drew near the house, he heard a concert of music, and the chorus.

²⁶ And calling one of the servants, he inquired what these things meant.

²⁷ And he said, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed for him the stall-fed steer, because he hath received him in health.

²⁸ Then he was in great wrath, and would not enter the doors: therefore his father came out, and entreated him.

²⁹ But he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years I am serving thee, and never have transgressed thy command: yet to me thou hast never once given a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

³⁰ but no sooner is this son of thine come, who hath devoured thy substance with whores, than thou hast killed for him the stall-fed steer.

³¹ And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all my possessions are thine.

³² But it was right that we should rejoice, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.