Luke 15:4-14

4 "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them - what do you do? You leave the other ninety-nine sheep in the pasture and go looking for the one that got lost until you find it.

5 When you find it, you are so happy that you put it on your shoulders

6 and carry it back home. Then you call your friends and neighbors together and say to them, "I am so happy I found my lost sheep. Let us celebrate!'

7 In the same way, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine respectable people who do not need to repent.

8 "Or suppose a woman who has ten silver coins loses one of them - what does she do? She lights a lamp, sweeps her house, and looks carefully everywhere until she finds it.

9 When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, and says to them, "I am so happy I found the coin I lost. Let us celebrate!'

10 In the same way, I tell you, the angels of God rejoice over one sinner who repents."

11 Jesus went on to say, "There was once a man who had two sons.

12 The younger one said to him, "Father, give me my share of the property now.' So the man divided his property between his two sons.

13 After a few days the younger son sold his part of the property and left home with the money. He went to a country far away, where he wasted his money in reckless living.

14 He spent everything he had. Then a severe famine spread over that country, and he was left without a thing.