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all the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around to listen to Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 So Jesus told them this parable: 4 “What man among you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and goes after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, 6 and when he gets home, he calls together his friends and neighbours and says, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost!’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
8 “Or what woman who has ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours and says, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost’. 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents’.
11 Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that I have coming to me’. So he divided his property between them.
13 “A few days later, the younger son got together all he had and travelled to a distant country, and there squandered his wealth in reckless living. 14 After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he gladly would have filled his stomach with the pods that pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough food, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me like one of your hired servants” ’. 20 So he set off and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; and he ran to his son and threw his arms around him and kissed him.
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’.
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Hurry, bring the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Then bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let’s all eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and he is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Meanwhile, his older son was in the field, and as he came and near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called out to one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come back’, he answered, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and sound’.
28 “But the older son was angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I never disobeyed your orders, yet you have never given me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when the son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’
31 “ ‘Son’, the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and now has been found’.”