19:1 Now all the publicans and sinners were drawing near to him to hear him.
19:2 And both the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, This man receives sinners, and eats with them.
19:3 And he spoke to them this parable, saying,
19:4 What do you+ think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine, and go to search for that which goes astray?
19:5 And if he happens to find it, truly I say to you+, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety and nine which have not gone astray.
19:6 I say to you+, that even so there will be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, [more] than over ninety and nine righteous persons, who need no repentance.
19:7 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
19:8 and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of [your] substance that falls to me. And he divided to them his living.
19:9 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together and took his journey into a far country; and there he wasted his substance with riotous living.
19:10 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that country; and he began to be in want.
19:11 And he went and stuck [close] to one of the citizens of that country; and he sent him into his fields to shepherd swine.
19:12 And he desired to have filled his belly with the pods that the swine ate: and no man gave to him.
19:13 But when he came to himself he said, How many hired workers of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish here with hunger!
19:14 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight:
19:15 I am no more worthy to be called your+ son: make me as one of your hired workers.
19:16 And he arose, and came to his father.
19:17 But while he was yet far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
19:18 And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight: I am no more worthy to be called your son.
19:19 But the father said to his slaves, Bring forth quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and sandals on his feet:
19:20 and bring the fatted calf, [and] kill it, and let us eat, and make merry:
19:21 for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
19:22 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
19:23 And he called to him one of the [household] slaves, and inquired what these things might be.
19:24 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.
19:25 But he was angry, and would not go in: and his father came out, and entreated him.
19:26 But he answered and said to his father, Look, these many years I serve you as a slave, and I never transgressed a commandment of yours; and [yet] you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends:
19:27 but when this your son came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed for him the fatted calf.
19:28 And he said to him, Child, you are ever with me, and all that is mine is yours.
19:29 But it was meet to make merry and be glad: for this your brother was dead, and is alive [again]; and [was] lost, and is found.