1Now all the publicans and sinners were drawing near unto him to hear him . 2And both the Pharisees and the scribes murmured , saying , This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them . 3And he spake unto them this parable , saying , 4What man of you , having a hundred sheep , and having lost one of them , doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness , and go after that which is lost, until he find it ? 5And when he hath found it , he layeth it on his shoulders , rejoicing . 6And when he cometh home , he calleth together his friends and his neighbors , saying unto them , Rejoice with me , for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7I say unto you , that even so there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine righteous persons , who need no repentance .
The Parable of the Lost Coin
8Or what woman having ten pieces of silver , if she lose one piece , doth not light a lamp , and sweep the house , and seek diligently until she find it ? 9And when she hath found it , she calleth together her friends and neighbors , saying , Rejoice with me , for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10Even so , I say unto you , there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
The Parable of the Prodigal Son
11And he said , A certain man had two sons : 12and the younger of them said to his father , Father , give me the portion of thy substance that falleth to me . And he divided unto them his living. 13And not many days after , the younger son gathered all together and took his journey into a far country ; and there he wasted his substance with riotous living . 14And when he had spent all , there arose a mighty famine in that country ; and he began to be in want. 15And he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country ; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine . 16And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat : and no man gave unto him . 17But when he came to himself he said , How many hired servants of my father ’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish here with hunger ! 18I will arise and go to my father , and will say unto him , Father , I have sinned against heaven , and in thy sight : 19I am no more worthy to be called thy son : make me as one of thy hired servants. 20And he arose, and came to his father . But while he was yet afar off , his father saw him , and was moved with compassion , and ran , and fell on his neck , and kissed him . 21And the son said unto him , Father , I have sinned against heaven , and in thy sight : I am no more worthy to be called thy son . 22But the father said to his servants , Bring forth quickly the best robe , and put it on him ; and put a ring on his hand , and shoes on his feet : 23and bring the fatted calf , and kill it , and let us eat , and make merry : 24for this my son was dead , and is alive again ; he was lost, and is found . And they began to be merry . 25Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house , he heard music and dancing . 26And he called to him one of the servants , and inquired what these things might be . 27And he said unto him , Thy brother is come ; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf , because he hath received him safe and sound . 28But he was angry , and would not go in : and his father came out , and entreated him . 29But he answered and said to his father , Lo , these many years do I serve thee, and I never transgressed a commandment of thine; and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends : 30but when this thy son came , who hath devoured thy living with harlots , thou killedst for him the fatted calf . 31And he said unto him , Son , thou art ever with me , and all that is mine is thine . 32But it was meet to make merry and be glad : for this thy brother was dead , and is alive again ; and was lost, and is found .