Luke 15:6-16

6 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.'

7 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.

8 "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?

9 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.'

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

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

12 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.

13 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.

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

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

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