Part 26

015:001 Now the tax-gatherers and the notorious sinners were everywhere in the habit of coming close to Him to listen to Him;

015:002 and this led the Pharisees and the Scribes indignantly to complain, saying, "He gives a welcome to notorious sinners, and joins them at their meals!"

015:003 So in figurative language He asked them,

015:004 "Which of you men, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in their pasture and go in search of the lost one till he finds it?

015:005 And when he has found it, he lifts it on his shoulder, glad at heart.

015:006 Then coming home he calls his friends and neighbours together, and says, `Congratulate me, for I have found my sheep-- the one I had lost.'

015:007 I tell you that in the same way there will be rejoicing in Heaven over one repentant sinner--more rejoicing than over ninety-nine blameless persons who have no need of repentance.

015:008 "Or what woman who has ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully till she finds it?

015:009 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, and says, "`Congratulate me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.'

015:010 "I tell you that in the same way there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one repentant sinner."

015:011 He went on to say, "There was a man who had two sons.

015:012 The younger of them said to his father, "`Father, give me the share of the property that comes to me.' "So he divided his wealth between them.

015:013 No long time afterwards the younger son got all together and travelled to a distant country, where he wasted his money in debauchery and excess.

015:014 At last, when he had spent everything, there came a terrible famine throughout that country, and he began to feel the pinch of want.

015:015 So he went and hired himself to one of the inhabitants of that country, who sent him on to his farm to tend swine;

015:016 and he longed to make a hearty meal of the pods the swine were eating, but no one gave him any.

015:017 "But on coming to himself he said, "`How many of my father's hired men have more bread than they want, while I here am dying of hunger!

015:018 I will rise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you:

015:019 I no longer deserve to be called a son of yours: treat me as one of your hired men.'

015:020 "So he rose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and pitied him, and ran and threw his arms round his neck and kissed him tenderly.

015:021 "`Father,' cried the son, `I have sinned against Heaven and before you: no longer do I deserve to be called a son of yours.'

015:022 "But the father said to his servants, "`Fetch a good coat quickly-- the best one--and put it on him; and bring a ring for his finger and shoes for his feet.

015:023 Fetch the fat calf and kill it, and let us feast and enjoy ourselves;

015:024 for my son here was dead and has come to life again: he was lost and has been found.' "And they began to be merry.

015:025 "Now his elder son was out on the farm; and when he returned and came near home, he heard music and dancing.

015:026 Then he called one of the lads to him and asked what all this meant.

015:027 "`Your brother has come,' he replied; `and your father has had the fat calf killed, because he has got him home safe and sound.'

015:028 "Then he was angry and would not go in. But his father came out and entreated him.