Chapter 15

  Now the publicans and sinners drew near unto him to hear him.  

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

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  And he spoke to them this parable, saying:  

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  What man of you that hath an hundred sheep: and if he shall lose one of them, doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the desert, and go after that which was lost, until he find it?  

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  And when he hath found it, lay it upon his shoulders, rejoicing:  

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  And coming home, call together his friends and neighbours, saying to them: Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost?  

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  I say to you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven upon one sinner that doth penance, more than upon ninety-nine just who need not penance.  

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  Or what woman having ten groats; if she lose one groat, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she find it?  

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  And when she hath found it, call together her friends and neighbours, saying: Rejoice with me, because I have found the groat which I had lost.  

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  So I say to you, there shall be joy before the angels of God upon one sinner doing penance.  

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  And he said: A certain man had two sons:  

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  And the younger of them said to his father: Father, give me the portion of substance that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his substance.  

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  And not many days after, the younger son, gathering all together, went abroad into a far country: and there wasted his substance, living riotously.  

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  And after he had spent all, there came a mighty famine in that country; and he began to be in want.  

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  And he went and cleaved to one of the citizens of that country. And he sent him into his farm to feed swine.  

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

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  And returning to himself, he said: How many hired servants in my father's house abound with bread, and I here perish with hunger?  

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

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  I am not worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.  

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  And rising up he came to his father. And when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and running to him fell upon his neck, and kissed him.  

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  And the son said to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, I am not now worthy to be called thy son.  

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  And the father said to his servants: Bring forth quickly the first robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:  

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  And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat and make merry:  

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  Because this my son was dead, and is come to life again: was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.  

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  Now his elder son was in the field, and when he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing:  

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

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  And he said to him: Thy brother is come, and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe.  

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  And he was angry, and would not go in. His father therefore coming out began to entreat him.  

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  And he answering, said to his father: Behold, for so many years do I serve thee, and I have never transgressed thy commandment, and yet thou hast never given me a kid to make merry with my friends:  

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  But as soon as this thy son is come, who hath devoured his substance with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.  

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  But he said to him: Son, thou art always with me, and all I have is thine.  

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  But it was fit that we should make merry and be glad, for this thy brother was dead and is come to life again; he was lost, and is found.  

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