THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SHEEP

15 Allm the tax collectorsn and sinners were approaching to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinnerso and eats with them.”

3 So he told them this parable:p 4 “What man among you, who has a hundred sheep and loses one of them,q does not leave the ninety-nine in the open fieldC and go after the lost one until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, 6 and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’ 7 I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heavenr over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who don’t need repentance.