¶¹Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.

²And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

And he spake this parable unto them, saying,

What man³ of you, having⁴ 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 when⁵ he hath found it, he layeth⁶ it on his shoulders, rejoicing⁷.

And when he cometh home, he calleth together his⁸ friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for⁹ I have found my sheep which was lost.

I say unto you, that likewise joy¹⁰ shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which¹¹ need no repentance.

Either what woman having ten pieces¹² of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek¹³ diligently till she find it?

And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice¹⁴ with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.

¶ Likewise, I say unto you, there¹⁵ is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one¹⁶ sinner that repenteth.

¶¹⁷And he said, A certain man had two sons:

And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give¹⁸ me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he¹⁹ divided unto them his living.

And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took²⁰ his journey into a far country, and there wasted²¹ his substance with riotous living.

And when he had spent all, there arose²² a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

And he went²³ and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed²⁴ swine.

And he would²⁵ fain have filled his belly with the husks that²⁶ the swine did eat: and no²⁷ man gave unto him.

And when²⁸ he came to himself, he said, How²⁹ many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

I will arise³⁰ and go to my father³¹, and will say unto him, Father, I have³² sinned against³³ heaven, and before thee,

And am no³⁴ more worthy to be called thy son: make³⁵ me as one of thy hired servants.

¶ And he arose, and came to his father. But³⁶ when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell³⁷ on his neck, and kissed him.

And the son said unto him, Father³⁸, I have sinned against³⁹ 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 best⁴⁰ robe, and put it on him; and put a ring⁴¹ on his hand, and shoes⁴² on his feet:

And bring hither the fatted⁴³ calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

For this⁴⁴ my son was dead, and is alive again; he⁴⁵ was lost, and is found. And they⁴⁶ began to be merry.

Now his⁴⁷ elder son was in the field: and as he⁴⁸ 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 brother⁴⁹ is come; and thy⁵⁰ father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

And he⁵¹ was angry, and would not go in: therefore⁵² came his father out, and intreated him.

And he answering said to his father, Lo⁵³, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet⁵⁴ thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

¶ But as soon as this⁵⁵ thy son was come, which hath devoured⁵⁶ thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

⁵⁷And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

It was meet⁵⁸ that we should make merry, and be glad: for⁵⁹ this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.