Luke 15
1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around to listen to Jesus.
THEN drew nigh unto him all the tax-farmers and the sinners to hear him.
2 So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man entertains sinners, and eateth with them.
3 Then Jesus told them this parable:
Then spake he unto them this parable, saying,
4 “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?
What man is there of you, possessing an hundred sheep, though he lose but one of them, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders,
and when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 comes home, and calls together his friends and neighbors to tell them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep!’
And coming home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Congratulate me; for I have found that sheep of mine which was lost.
7 In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.
I tell you, that just so will there be joy in heaven over one repentant sinner, more than over ninety-nine righteous persons, who hold not their need of repentance.
8 Or what woman who has ten silver coins and loses one of them does not light a lamp, sweep her house, and search carefully until she finds it?
Or what woman having ten pieces of silver coin, if she lose one of them, doth she not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and make diligent search until she find it?
9 And when she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors to say, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost coin.’
And having found it, she calleth her female friends and neighbours together, saying, Congratulate me; for I have found the silver piece I had lost.
10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
Even so, I tell you, there is joy among the angels of God, over one repentant sinner.
11 Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons.
Then he said, A certain man had two sons:
12 The younger son said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of substance which falls to my share. And he divided with them his fortune.
13 After a few days, the younger son got everything together and journeyed to a distant country, where he squandered his wealth in wild living.
And not many days after, the younger son, collecting his all, travelled into a far distant country, and there dissipated his substance in a life of debauchery.
14 After he had spent all he had, a severe famine swept through that country, and he began to be in need.
But when he had spent all, there came a terrible famine in that region; and he began to know want.
15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.
And he went and connected himself with one of the citizens of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 He longed to fill his belly with the pods the pigs were eating, but no one would give him a thing.
And he eagerly longed to fill his belly with the charob berries which the swine did eat: and no person gave him a morsel.
17 Finally he came to his senses and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have plenty of food? But here I am, starving to death!
Then coming to himself, he said, How many hirelings of my father abound with loaves of bread, and I am pining away with famine!
18 I will get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’
and I am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hirelings.
20 So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.
And he arose and came to his father. But when he was yet at a considerable distance, his father discovered him, and was moved with compassion, and running, fell on his neck, and kissed him again and again.
21 The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
Then said the son unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
But the father said to his servants, Bring out the best robe, and clothe him; and put a ring on his hand, and sandals on his feet:
23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us feast and celebrate.
and bring hither the stall-fed steer, and kill it; and let us eat, and be joyous.
24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. And they began to be joyous.
25 Meanwhile the older son was in the field, and as he approached the house, he heard music and dancing.
Now his elder brother had been in the field: and when coming home he drew near the house, he heard a concert of music, and the chorus.
26 So he called one of the servants and asked what was going on.
And calling one of the servants, he inquired what these things meant.
27 ‘Your brother has returned,’ he said, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and sound.’
And he said, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed for him the stall-fed steer, because he hath received him in health.
28 The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him.
Then he was in great wrath, and would not enter the doors: therefore his father came out, and entreated him.
29 But he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I have served you and never disobeyed a commandment of yours. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
But he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years I am serving thee, and never have transgressed thy command: yet to me thou hast never once given a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30 But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
but no sooner is this son of thine come, who hath devoured thy substance with whores, than thou hast killed for him the stall-fed steer.
31 ‘Son, you are always with me,’ the father said, ‘and all that is mine is yours.
And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all my possessions are thine.
32 But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
But it was right that we should rejoice, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
