Luke 15

¹Now all the tax collectors and the social outcasts were drawing near to him to listen to him. ²And both the Pharisees and the scholars of the Law were grumbling, saying, “This man welcomes social outcasts and even eats with them.”

³So he told them this parable, saying: ⁴“Which man among you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until he finds it? ⁵And when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ⁶And coming into the house, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep—the one that was lost!’ ⁷I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one social outcast who has a change of heart than over ninety-nine just people who have no need for a change of heart.

⁸Or what woman, having ten silver drachmas, if she loses one drachma, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the drachma which I lost!’ ¹⁰In the same way, I tell you, joy is birthed in the presence of the angels of God over one social outcast who has a change of heart.”

¹¹And he said: “A certain man had two sons. ¹²And the younger of them said to the father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that is falling to me.’ So he divided his livelihood between them. ¹³And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went abroad to a distant country, and there he squandered his estate by living recklessly.

¹⁴When he had spent everything, a severe famine happened throughout that country, and he began to be in want. ¹⁵So he went and hitched himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶And he was longing to fill his belly with the carob pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

¹⁷But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have more than enough bread, but here I am, perishing from hunger! ¹⁸I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. ¹⁹I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired hands.”’

²⁰And he got up and went to his own father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with a deep gut-compassion; he ran and threw his arms around his neck and kissed him tenderly. ²¹And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

²²But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. ²³And bring the fattened calf, slaughter it, and let us eat and celebrate; ²⁴because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and has been found!’ And they began to celebrate.

²⁵Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and approached the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. ²⁶And calling over one of the servants, he began to inquire what these things might be. ²⁷And 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.’

²⁸But he became angry and was not willing to go in. So his father came out and began to plead with him. ²⁹But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been slaving for you and never once did I neglect your command; yet you never once gave me even a young goat so that I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰But when this son of yours came—the one who devoured your livelihood with prostitutes—you slaughtered the fattened calf for him!’

³¹And he said to him, ‘My child, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. ³²But it was necessary to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has lived; he was lost and has been found.’”