1Then drew near unto himall the publicansandsinners for to hearhim.
2And the Phariseesandscribesmurmured, saying, This manreceivethsinners, andeateth with them.
3And he spakethisparableuntothem, saying,
4Whatmanofyou, having an hundredsheep, if he loseoneofthem, dothnotleave the ninety andninein the wilderness, andgoafter that which is lost, until he findit?
5And when he hath found it, he layeth it onhisshoulders, rejoicing.
6And when he comethhome, he calleth together his friendsandneighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have foundmysheepwhich was lost.
7
I say unto you, thatlikewisejoy shall beinheavenoveronesinnerthatrepenteth, more thanover ninety and nine just persons, whichneednorepentance.
8Eitherwhatwomanhavingten pieces of silver, if she loseonepiece, doth notlight a candle, andsweep the house, andseekdiligentlytill she find it?
9And when she hath found it, she calleth her friendsand her neighbourstogether, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piecewhich I had lost.
10Likewise, I say unto you, there isjoy in the presence of the angels of Godoveronesinner that repenteth.
11And he said, A certainmanhadtwosons:
12And the younger of themsaid to his father, Father, giveme the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13Andnotmanydaysafter the youngersongatheredalltogether, and took hisjourneyinto a farcountry, andtherewastedhissubstance with riotousliving.
14And when he had spentall, there arose a mightyfamineinthatland; andhebegan to be inwant.
15And he wentand joined himselfto a citizen of thatcountry; and he senthimintohisfieldstofeedswine.
16And he would fain have filledhisbellywith the husksthat the swine did eat: and no mangave unto him.
17And when he cametohimself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough andtospare, andIperish with hunger!
18
I will ariseandgotomyfather, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinnedagainstheaven, andbeforethee,
19Andam no moreworthy to be calledthyson: makemeasone of thy hired servants.
20Andhearose, andcametohisfather. But when he was yet a great wayoff, hisfathersawhim, and had compassion, andran, andfellonhisneck, andkissedhim.
21And the sonsaid unto him, Father, I have sinnedagainstheaven, andinthysight, andam no moreworthy to be calledthyson.
22But the fathersaidtohisservants, Bring forth the bestrobe, andput it onhim; andput a ringonhishand, andshoesonhisfeet:
23And bring hither the fattedcalf, andkill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24Forthismysonwasdead, and is alive again; he waslost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25Nowhiseldersonwasin the field: andas he cameand drew nigh to the house, he heardmusickanddancing.
26And he calledone of the servants, andaskedwhat these thingsmeant.
27And he said unto him, Thybrother is come; andthyfather hath killed the fattedcalf, because he hath receivedhim safe andsound.
28And he was angry, andwouldnot go in: thereforecamehisfatherout, andintreatedhim.
29And he answeringsaid to his father, Lo, these manyyears do Iservethee, neither transgressed I at any timethycommandment: andyetthounevergavestme a kid, thatI might make merrywithmyfriends:
30Butas soon asthisthyson was come, which hath devouredthylivingwithharlots, thou hast killed for him the fattedcalf.
31And he said unto him, Son, thouarteverwithme, andall that I haveisthine.
32
It wasmeet that we should make merry, and be glad: forthisthybrotherwasdead, and is alive again; andwaslost, and is found.