Luke 15
1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around to listen to Jesus.
And all the publicans and the sinners were drawing near to him, to hear him.
2 So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3 Then Jesus told them this parable:
And he spoke to 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 of you having a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he findeth 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 when he hath come home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep 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 say to you, that in like manner there will be joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety-nine righteous men who have no 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, if she lose one piece, doth not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and search carefully till she findeth 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 when she hath found it, she calleth together her friends and neighbors, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I lost.
10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
I say to you, that thus there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
11 Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons.
He said also, 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 the property that falleth to me. And he divided to them his living.
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 gathered all together, and went abroad into a far country; and there wasted his substance in riotous living.
14 After he had spent all he had, a severe famine swept through that country, and he began to be in need.
And when he had spent all, there arose a great famine in that country; and he began to be in 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 joined himself to 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 longed to fill himself with the husks that the swine ate; and no one gave to him.
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!
And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish here with hunger!
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 to 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.”’
I am no longer worthy to be called thy son; make me as one of thy hired servants.
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 went to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before thee; I am no longer 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 put it on 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 the fatted calf; kill it, and let us eat and make merry.
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; he was lost, and is found. And they began to make merry.
25 Meanwhile the older son was in the field, and as he approached the house, he heard music and dancing.
Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
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 to him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28 The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him.
But he was angry, and would not go in; and 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.
And he answering said to his father, Lo! for so many years have I served thee, and never transgressed thy command; and yet to me thou never gavest 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 as soon as this thy son came, who devoured thy living with harlots, thou didst kill for him the fatted calf.
31 ‘Son, you are always with me,’ the father said, ‘and all that is mine is yours.
And he said to him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is 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.’”
It was meet that we should make merry and be glad; for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.
