Luke:15

---

Seeker Overlay ON

* Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were drawing near to Him to hear Him . * And the Pharisees and scribes were grumbling , saying , "This man receives sinners and eats with them ." * And He told them this parable , saying : * What man of you , having a hundred sheep , and loses one of them , does not leave behind the ninety-nine in the wilderness , and goes after the one having been lost until he finds it ? * And having found it , he puts [it ] on his own shoulders , rejoicing . * And coming into the house , he calls together his friends and neighbors , saying to them , 'Rejoice with me , for I have found my sheep which was lost !' * I say to you that likewise [there ] shall be more joy in heaven over one sinner repenting than over ninety-nine righteous who need no repentance . * "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 ]? * And when she finds it , she calls her friends and neighbors together , saying , 'Rejoice with me , for I have found the coin which I lost !' * Just so , I say to you , there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents ." * Then He said : "A certain man had two sons . * And the younger of them said to his father , 'Father , give to me the share of the wealth which falls to [me ].' So he divided to them his livelihood . * And not many days after , having gathered together all things , the younger son went on a journey to a distant country , and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living . * But when he had spent everything , there arose a severe famine throughout that country , and he began to be in need . * Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country , and he sent him into his fields to feed swine . * And he was longing to fill his stomach with the carob pods which the swine were eating , and no one gave him anything . * But having come to himself , he said , 'How many of my father 's hired servants have an abundance of bread , and I am perishing with hunger ! * I will arise and go to my father , and I will say to him , "Father , I have sinned against heaven and before you , * and I am no longer worthy to be called your son . Make me like one of your hired servants ."' * And he arose and went to his father . But when he was still far off , his father saw him and was moved with compassion , and he ran and fell on his neck and kissed him . * And the son said to him , 'Father , I have sinned against heaven and before you , and am no longer worthy to be called your son .' * 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 . * And bring the fatted calf here and slaughter it , and let us eat and be merry ; * for this my son was dead and came to life , and he was lost and was found .' And they began to be merry . * Now his older son was in the field . And as he came and drew near to the house , he heard music and dancing . * And having summoned one of the servants , he was inquiring what these things might be . * And he said to him , 'Your brother has come , and because he has received him back in good health , your father has killed the fatted calf .' * But he was angry and would not go in . Therefore his father came out and began to plead with him . * So he answered and said to his father , 'Lo , so many years I have been serving you and I never transgressed your commandment ; and yet you never gave me a young goat , that I might make merry with my friends . * But when this son of yours came , who has devoured your livelihood with prostitutes , you slaughtered the fatted calf for him .' * And he said to him , 'Son , you are always with me , and all that I have is yours . * But it was necessary to be merry and to rejoice , because your brother was dead and is alive again , and was lost and is found .' "

---