¹ Then all the publicans and sinners drew near unto him to hear him.

² And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receives sinners and eats with them.

³ And he spoke this parable unto them, saying,

⁴ What man of you having a hundred sheep if he lose one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after that which is lost until he finds it?

⁵ And when he has found [it], he lays [it] on his shoulders, rejoicing.

⁶ And when he comes home, he calls together [his] friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.

⁷ I say unto you that likewise there shall be more joy in heaven over one sinner that repents than over ninety-nine just persons, who need no repentance.

⁸ Or what woman having ten drachmas, if she loses one drachma, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds [it]?

⁹ And when she has found [it], she calls [her] friends and [her] neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I had lost.

¹⁰ Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that 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 portion of the estate that falls [to me]. And he divided unto them [his] living.

¹³ And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together and took his journey into a far country and there wasted his estate with riotous living.

¹⁴ And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

¹⁵ And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

¹⁶ And he longed to fill his belly with the husks that the swine ate, but no one gave [them] unto him.

¹⁷ And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have abundance of bread, and I perish [here] with hunger!

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 am no longer worthy to be called thy son; make me as one of thy hired servants.

²⁰ And he arose and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

²¹ And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight and am no longer worthy to be called thy son.

²² But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe and put [it] on him and put a ring on his hand and shoes on [his] feet

²³ and bring here the fatted calf and kill [it], and let us eat and be merry;

²⁴ for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. And they began to be merry.

²⁵ Now his elder son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to 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 unto him, Thy brother is come, and thy father has killed the fatted calf because he has received him safe and sound.

²⁸ And he was angry and would not go in, therefore his father came out and intreated him.

²⁹ And he, answering, said to [his] father, Behold, these many years I have served thee, neither at any time have I transgressed thy commandment; and yet thou never gavest me a kid that I might make merry with my friends.

³⁰ But as soon as this thy son was come who has devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed the fatted calf for him.

³¹ And he said unto him, Son, thou art always with me, and all that I have is thine.

³² It was necessary that we should make merry and be glad, for this thy brother was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.: