15:4 “Which man among you, who has a hundred sheep, · should he lose one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?
15:5 And when he finds it, would he not place it on · his shoulders, rejoicing?
15:6 And when he returns to his house, would he not call together his friends and his neighbors, and say to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for 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 who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.
15:8 “Or what woman, who has ten silver coins, should she lose one coin, would not light a lamp, · sweep the house, and search diligently until she finds it?
15:9 And when she finds it, would she not call together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost’?
15:10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
15:12 · The younger of them said to the father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided the estate between them.
15:13 · Not many days later, the younger son gathered up everything and left for a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered · his property by living recklessly.
15:14 When he had spent · everything, there was a severe famine in · that country, and he began to be in need.
15:15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into · his fields to feed pigs.
15:16 · He longed to be fed with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one would give him anything.
15:17 “Coming to himself, · he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but here I am, dying from hunger!
15:18 I will leave this place and go to · my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against · heaven and before you;
15:19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Take me on as one of your hired servants.’
15:20 So he left that place and went to · his father. While he was still · a long way from home, his father saw him · and was filled with compassion; · he ran and fell upon · his neck and kissed him.
15:21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against · heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
15:22 But the father said to · his servants, ‘Quickly bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him, and give him a ring for · his finger, and sandals for his feet.
15:23 · Bring the fattened calf · and make the kill! · Let us eat and celebrate;
15:24 for this, · my son, was dead, and has come back to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ So they began to celebrate.
15:25 “Meanwhile his older son was · · in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
15:26 So calling one of his servants, he asked what this might be.
15:27 The · servant said to him, · ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed · the fattened calf, · because he received him back safe and sound.’
15:28 But the older son became angry and refused to go in. · · His father came out and began to appeal to him,
15:29 but he answered · his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disregarded a command of yours, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with · my friends.
15:30 But when · this son of yours came, who has consumed your · estate with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’
15:31 Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and everything · I have is yours.
15:32 We had to celebrate · and rejoice, because · this brother of yours, was dead and has come alive; · he was lost and has been found.’”
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