1But Tax Collectors and sinners were approaching to hear him. 2And the Scribes and Pharisees were complaining and they were saying, “This one receives sinners, and he eats with them.”

3And Yeshua told them this parable: 4“What man among you has a hundred sheep, and if one of them should be lost, would not leave the ninety nine in the wilderness and go seek that one which is lost until he would find it?” 5“And whenever he has found it he rejoices and carries it on his shoulder.” 6“And he comes to his house and he calls his friends and his neighbors and he says to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.” 7“I say to you that there shall be joy like this in Heaven over one sinner who returns home, more than over ninety nine righteous ones who do not need a homecoming.”

8“And who is the woman who has ten quarter shekels and will lose one of them and does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search for it carefully until she finds it?” 9“When she has found it, she calls her friends and her neighbors, and she says to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I found my quarter shekel that was lost.' “ 10“I say to you that there will be joy like this before the Angels of God over one sinner who returns home.”

11And Yeshua said to them again, “One man had two sons.” 12“And his younger son said to him, 'My father, give me the portion that befalls me from your estate.' Then he divided to them his wealth.” 13“And after a few days his younger son gathered everything that was coming to him and he went to a distant country, and there he squandered his wealth while living wastefully.” 14“And when he had spent everything that he had, there was a great famine in that country and he began to be wanting.” 15And he joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him to a field to herd pigs. 16And he longed to fill his belly from the carob pods that the pigs were eating, and no man was giving anything to him. 17And when he came to himself, he said, 'Now, how many hired servants are in my father's house who have plenteous bread for themselves, and here I am dying with hunger!' 18'I shall arise and go to my father and say to him, “My father, I have sinned toward Heaven, and before you.' 19“Now I am not worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.” 20“And rising, he came to his father, and while he was still distant, his father saw him and he was moved with compassion for him and he ran and fell on his neck and he kissed him.” 21And his son said to him, “My father, I have sinned toward Heaven and before you, and I am not worthy that I should be called your son.” 22But his father said to his servants, 'Bring the best robe and clothe him and put a ring on his hand and put shoes on him.' 23'Bring and kill the fattened ox; let us eat and celebrate.' 24'Because this, my son, was dead, and he is alive; he was lost, and now he is found.' And they began to celebrate.

25But his older son was in the field and as he came, he approached the house and he heard the sound of many people singing. 26He called one of the boys and he asked him, “What is this?” 27And he said to him, “Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened ox, because he has received him well.” 28And he was angry and he did not want to enter and his father went out pleading with him. 29But he said to his father, “Behold, I have served you for many years of servitude, and I have never transgressed your command, and you never gave a goat to me that I may celebrate with my friends.” 30“But when this your son, who had wasted your money with whores, has come back, you killed for him the fattened ox.” 31His father said to him, “My son, you are always with me and everything that I have is yours.” 32“But it is right for us to celebrate and to rejoice. For this your brother was dead, and he is alive. He was lost, and he is found.”