4
"1Whatmanamong you, if he has a hundredsheep and has lostone of them, does not leave the ninety-nine* in the openpasture and goafter the one which is lostuntil he finds it?
5
"When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6
"And when he comeshome, he callstogether his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'
7
"I tell you that in the sameway, there will be more joy in heavenoveronesinner who repentsthanoverninety-nine*righteouspersonswhoneednorepentance.
The Lost Coin
8"Orwhatwoman, if she hastensilvercoins and losesonecoin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and searchcarefullyuntil she finds it?
9
"When she has found it, she callstogether her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coinwhich I had lost!'
10
"In the sameway, I tell you, there is joy2in the presence of the angels of Godoveronesinner who repents."
12
"The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me 3the share of the estate that falls to me.' So he divided his 4wealthbetween them.
13
"And not manydayslater, the youngersongatheredeverythingtogether and went on a journey into a distantcountry, and there he squandered his estate with looseliving.
14
"Now when he had spenteverything, a severefamineoccurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished.