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The Parable of the Lost Sheep

¹ All^(C1) the tax collectors^(C2) and sinners were approaching to listen to him. ² And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners^(C1) and eats with them.”

³ So he told them this parable:^{(C1) 4} “What man among you, who has a hundred sheep and loses one of them,⁵ When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders,⁶ and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’⁷ I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven

The Parable of the Lost Coin

⁸ “Or what woman who has ten silver coins,⁹ When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the silver coin I lost!’¹⁰ I tell you, in the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels

The Parable of the Lost Son

¹¹ He also said: “A man had two sons.¹² The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.’ So he distributed the assets¹³ Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered¹⁴ After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing.¹⁵ Then he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.¹⁶ He longed to eat his fill from¹⁷ When he came to his senses,¹⁸ I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned¹⁹ I’m no longer worthy²⁰ So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion.²¹ The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’

²² “But the father told his servants, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe²³ Then bring the fattened calf²⁴ because this son of mine was dead and is alive again;

²⁵ “Now his older son was in the field; as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.²⁶ So he summoned one of the servants, questioning what these things meant.²⁷ ‘Your brother is here,’ he told him, ‘and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

²⁸ “Then he became angry and didn’t want to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him.²⁹ But he replied to his father, ‘Look, I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me a goat so that I could celebrate with my friends.³⁰ But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets

³¹ “‘Son,’³² But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”