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The Parable of the Lost Sheep

¹ Now ^(a)the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. ² And the Pharisees and the scribes ^(b)grumbled, saying, ^(c)"This man receives sinners and ^(d)eats with them."

³ So he told them this parable: ^4 (e)"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, ^(f)if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine ^(g)in the open country, and ^(h)go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? ⁵ And when he has found it, ⁽ⁱ⁾he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ⁶ And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for ^(j)I have found my sheep that was lost.' ⁷ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who ^(k)repents than over ninety-nine ^(l)righteous persons who need no repentance.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

⁸ "Or what woman, having ten silver coins,^[a] if she loses one coin, 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 together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' ¹⁰ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before ^(m)the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

¹¹ And he said, "There was a man who had two sons. ¹² And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me ⁽ⁿ⁾the share of property that is coming to me.' And he divided ^(o)his property between them. ¹³ Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in ^(p)reckless living. ¹⁴ And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵ So he went and hired himself out to^[b] one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ And he ^(q)was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

¹⁷ "But ^(r)when he ^(s)came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! ¹⁸ I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, ^(t)I have sinned against ^(u)heaven and before you. ^19 (v)I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."' ²⁰ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ^(w)ran and ^(x)embraced him and ^(y)kissed him. ²¹ And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. ^(z)I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'^{[c] 22} But the father said to his servants,^[d] ‘Bring quickly ^(aa)the best robe, and put it on him, and put ^(ab)a ring on his hand, and ^(ac)shoes on his feet. ²³ And bring ^(ad)the fattened calf and kill it, and ^(ae)let us eat and celebrate. ²⁴ For this my son ^(af)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 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 to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.' ²⁸ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, ²⁹ but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might ^(ag)celebrate with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours came, ^(ah)who has devoured ^(ai)your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!' ³¹ And he said to him, ‘Son, ^(aj)you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. ³² It was fitting ^(ak)to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother ^(al)was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"