then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him
and the pharisees and scribes murmured saying this man receiveth sinners and eateth with them
and he spake this parable unto them saying
what man of you having an hundred sheep if he lose one of them doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness and go after that which is lost until he find it
and when he hath found it he layeth it on his shoulders rejoicing
and when he cometh home he calleth together his friends and neighbours saying unto them rejoice with me for i have found my sheep which was lost
i say unto you that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance
either what woman having ten pieces of silver if she lose one piece doth not light a candle and sweep the house and seek diligently till she find
and when she hath found it she calleth her friends and her neighbours together saying rejoice with me for i have found the piece which i had lost
likewise i say unto you there is joy in the presence of the angels of god over one sinner that repenteth
and he said a certain man had two sons
and the younger of them said to his father father give me the portion of goods that falleth to me and he divided unto them his living
and not many days after the younger son gathered all together and took his journey into a far country and there wasted his substance with riotous living
and when he had spent all there arose a mighty famine in that land and he began to be in want
and he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country and he sent him into his fields to feed swine
and he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat and no man gave unto him
and when he came to himself he said how many hired servants of my fathers have bread enough and to spare and i perish with hunger
i will arise and go to my father and will say unto him father i have sinned against heaven and before thee
and am no more worthy to be called thy son make me as one of thy hired servants
and he arose and came to his father but when he was yet a great way off his father saw him and had compassion and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him
and the son said unto him father i have sinned against heaven and in thy sight and am no more worthy to be called thy son
but the father said to his servants bring forth the best robe and put it on him and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet
and bring hither the fatted calf and kill it and let us eat and be merry
for this my son was dead and is alive again he was lost and is found and they began to be merry
now his elder son was in the field and as he came and drew nigh to the house he heard musick and dancing
and he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant
and he said unto him thy brother is come and thy father hath killed the fatted calf because he hath received him safe and sound
and he was angry and would not go in therefore came his father out and intreated him
and he answering said to his father lo these many years do i serve thee neither transgressed i at any time thy commandment and yet thou never gavest me a kid that i might make merry with my friends
but as soon as this thy son was come which hath devoured thy living with harlots thou hast killed for him the fatted calf
and he said unto him son thou art ever with me and all that i have is thine
it was meet that we should make merry and be glad for this thy brother was dead and is alive again and was lost and is found