1

Now all the tax-farmers and sinners came near to give ear to him.

2

And the Pharisees and scribes were angry, saying, This man gives approval to sinners, and takes food with them.

3

And he made a story for them, saying,

4

What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if one of them gets loose and goes away, will not let the ninety-nine be in the waste land by themselves, and go after the wandering one, till he sees where it is?

5

And when he has got it again, he takes it in his arms with joy.

6

And when he gets back to his house, he sends for his neighbours and friends, saying to them, Be glad with me, for I have got back my sheep which had gone away.

7

I say to you that even so there will be more joy in heaven when one sinner is turned away from his wrongdoing, than for ninety-nine good men, who have no need of a change of heart.