Common - Luke - 15

15:1  Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.

15:2  And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."

15:3  So he told them this parable:

15:4  "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?

15:5  And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

15:6  And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.’

15:7  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.

15:8  "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?

15:9  And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.’

15:10  In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

15:11  Then he said: "There was a man who had two sons.

15:12  And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.’ So he divided his living between them.

15:13  Not many days after, the younger son gathered together all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living.

15:14  And when he had spent everything, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in want.

15:15  So he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine.

15:16  And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

15:17  But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and here I perish with hunger!

15:18  I will arise and go to my father and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.

15:19  I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants."‘

15:20  And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion for him, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

15:21  And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

15:22  But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.

15:23  And bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;

15:24  for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

15:25  "Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.

15:26  So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.

15:27  And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.’

15:28  But he was angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him.

15:29  But he answered his father, ‘Behold, these many years I have been serving you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends.

15:30  But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!’

15:31  And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.

15:32  It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’"