Luke 15

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

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

3 ¶ And he spoke this parable unto them, saying,

4 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

5 And when he hath found it, he layeth iton his shoulders rejoicing

6 And when he cometh home he calleth together hisfriends and neighbours saying unto them Rejoice with me for I have found my sheep which was lost

7 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

8 ¶ 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 it?

9 And when she hath found it, she calleth herfriends and herneighbours together saying Rejoice with me for I have found the piece which I had lost

10 Likewise I say unto you there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth

11 ¶ And he said, A certain man had two sons

12 And the younger of them said to hisfather Father give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them hisliving

13 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

14 And when he had spent all there arose a mighty famine in that land and he began to be in want

15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country and he sent him into his fields to feed swine

16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat and no man gave unto him

17 And when he came to himself he said How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare and I perish with hunger

18 I will arise and go to my father and will say unto him Father I have sinned against heaven and before thee

19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son make me as one of thy hired servants

20 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

21 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

22 But the father said to his servants Bring forth the best robe and put iton him and put a ring on his hand and shoes on hisfeet

23 And bring hither the fatted calf and kill it; and let us eat and be merry

24 For this my son was dead and is alive again he was lost and is found And they began to be merry

25 Now his elder son was in the field and as he came and drew nigh to the house he heard musick and dancing

26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant

27 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

28 And he was angry and would not go in therefore came his father out and intreated him

29 And he answering said to hisfather 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

30 But as soon as this thy son was come which hath devoured thy living with harlots thou hast killed for him the fatted calf

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

32 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