15:1Now the tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to him, so that they might hear him. 15:2And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling, saying: "This man receives sinners, and eats with them." 15:3And he spoke to them this parable, saying: "What man of you, who has a hundred sheep, and if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the desert, and go to that one which had been lost, until he finds it? 15:5And when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing: and coming home he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to them: 'Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep, which had been lost.' 15:7I say to you that so there will be joy in heaven over one sinner doing penance, more than over ninety-nine just who do not need penance.
15:8Or what woman, having ten drachmas, if she has lost one drachma, does not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and search carefully, until she finds it? 15:9And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying: 'Rejoice with me, because I have found the drachma which I had lost.' 15:10So, I say to you, there will be joy before the angels of God over one sinner doing penance." 15:11And he said: "A certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said to his father: 'Father, give me the portion of the property which falls to me.' 15:12And he divided the property between them.
15:13And not after many days, everything having been gathered together, the younger son set out abroad into a far-off region, and there he squandered his property by living extravagantly. 15:14And after he had used up everything, a severe famine came about in that region, and he himself began to be in need. 15:15And he went away, and attached himself to one of the citizens of that region: and he sent him into his farm to feed pigs. 15:16And he was longing to fill his belly with the pods which the pigs were eating: and no one was giving to him. 15:17But coming back to himself, he said: 'How many hired men in my father's house have plenty of bread, but I here am perishing with hunger!
15:18I will get up, and I will go to my father, and I will say to him: "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before you: I am no longer worthy to be called your son: make me as one of your hired men."' 15:20And getting up, he came to his father. 15:20But when he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with pity, and running up he fell upon his neck, and kissed him. 15:21And the son said to him: 'Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before you: I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 15:22But the father said to his servants: 'Quickly bring out the first robe, and clothe him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring the fattened calf, and kill it, and let us eat and feast: because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again: he had been lost, and has been found.' 15:24And they began to feast.
15:25Now his elder son was in the field: and when he was coming, and drawing near to the house, he heard music and dancing: and he called one of the servants, and asked what these things were. 15:27And he said to him: 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe.' 15:28But he was indignant, and was unwilling to go in. 15:28His father, therefore, having gone out, began to plead with him. 15:29But he, answering, said to his father: 'Look, for so many years I have been serving you, and never have I passed over your command: and never have you given me a young goat so that I might feast with my friends.
15:30But after this son of yours, who has devoured his property with prostitutes, came, you killed for him the fattened calf.' 15:31But he said to him: 'Son, you are always with me, and all my things are yours: but it was right to feast and to rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead, and has come to life again; 15:32He had been lost, and has been found.'"