15:4 ‘Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?
15:5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders
15:6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.”
15:7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who do not need to repent.
15:8 ‘Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?
15:9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbours together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.”
15:10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’
15:11 Jesus continued: ‘There was a man who had two sons.
15:12 The younger one said to his father, “Father, give me my share of the estate.” So he divided his property between them.
15:13 ‘Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.
15:14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.
15:15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
15:16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
15:17 ‘When he came to his senses, he said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
15:18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
15:19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.”
15:20 So he got up and went to his father. ‘But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms round him and kissed him.
15:21 ‘The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”
15:22 ‘But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
15:23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.
15:24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” So they began to celebrate.
15:25 ‘Meanwhile, the elder son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.
15:26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.
15:27 “Your brother has come,” he replied, “and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.”
15:28 ‘The elder brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.
15:29 But he answered his father, “Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
15:30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!”
15:31 ‘“My son,” the father said, “you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.
15:32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”’
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