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¹ Then drew near to him all the publicans and sinners to hear him.² And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.³ And he spoke this parable to them, saying,⁴ What man of you having a hundred sheep, if he loseth one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he findeth it?⁵ And when he hath found [it], he layeth [it] on his shoulders, rejoicing.⁶ And when he cometh home, he calleth together [his] friends and neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.⁷ I say to you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, who need no repentance.⁸ Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she loseth one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she findeth [it]?⁹ And when she hath found [it], she calleth [her] friends and [her] neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.¹⁰ Likewise, I say to you, There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

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 goods that falleth [to me]. And he divided to 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 substance with riotous living.¹⁴ And when he had spent all, there arose a severe 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 would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat; and no man gave to him.¹⁷ And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father have bread enough and to spare, and I am perishing with hunger!¹⁸ I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,¹⁹ And am no more 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 had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.²¹ And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more 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 hither 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 nigh 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, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him in health.²⁸ And he was angry, and would not go in; therefore his father came out, and entreated him.²⁹ And he answering, said to [his] father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither have I at any time 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 had come, who hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.³¹ And he said to him, Son, thou art ever with me: and all that I have is thine.³² It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.