The Parable of the Lost Sheep

1. And all the tax-collectors and the sinners were drawing near to Him to hear Him.
2. And both the Pharisees and the scribes were murmuring, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3. And He spoke this parable to them, saying:
4. “Which man among you, having a hundred sheep and having lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it.”
5. “And having found it, he places it upon his shoulders rejoicing.”
6. “And having come into the house, he summons together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.’.”
7. “I tell you that in the same way there will be joy in heaven over one sinner repenting, more than over ninety-nine righteous ones who have no need of repentance.”

The Parable of the Lost Coin

8. “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it.”
9. “And having found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the coin that I lost.’”
10. “In the same way, I tell you, joy arises in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting.”

The Parable of the Lost Son

11. And He said, “A certain man had two sons.”
12. “And the younger of them said to the father, ‘Father, give to me the share of the property that falls to me.’ And he divided the living between them.”
13. “And after not many days, the younger son, having gathered everything, journeyed to a distant country, and there scattered his property, living recklessly.”
14. “And when he had spent everything, a severe famine came upon that country, and he began to be in need.”
15. “And having gone, he attached himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs.”
16. “And he was longing to be filled with the pods that the pigs were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.”
17. “But having come to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have an abundance of bread, but I am perishing here with hunger.’”
18. ‘I will rise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.”’
19. ‘“I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired workers.”’
20. “And he rose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and running, he fell upon his neck and kissed him.”
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.’”
22. “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quickly, bring out the foremost robe and clothe him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.’”
23. ‘“And bring the fattened calf, slaughter it, and let us eat and celebrate.”’
24. ‘“Because this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.” And they began to celebrate.’

25. “But his older son was in the field, and as he returned and came near the house, he heard music and dancing.”
26. “And having summoned one of the servants, he inquired what these things might be.”
27. And he said to him, “Your brother has come, and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.”
28. But he became angry and was not willing to enter, and his father came out and urged him.
29. And he answered and said to his father, “Look, for so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours, yet you never gave me a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends.”
30. “But when this son of yours came, who devoured your property with prostitutes, you slaughtered for him the fattened calf.”
31. And he said to him, “Child, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.”
32. “But it was necessary to celebrate and to rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life, and was lost and has been found.”