Luke 15
1 THEN drew nigh unto him all the tax-farmers and the sinners to hear him.
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him.
2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man entertains sinners, and eateth with them.
The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.”
3 Then spake he unto them this parable, saying,
He told them this parable:
4 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?
“Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep and lost one of them, wouldn’t leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that was lost, until he found it?
5 and when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 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.
When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbours, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’
7 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.
I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.
8 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?
“Or what woman, if she had ten drachma coins, if she lost one drachma coin, wouldn’t light a lamp, sweep the house, and seek diligently until she found it?
9 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.
When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I had lost!’
10 Even so, I tell you, there is joy among the angels of God, over one repentant sinner.
Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting.”
11 Then he said, A certain man had two sons:
He said, “A certain man had two sons.
12 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.
The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of your property.’ So he divided his livelihood between them.
13 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.
Not many days after, the younger son gathered all of this together and travelled into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living.
14 But when he had spent all, there came a terrible famine in that region; and he began to know want.
When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need.
15 And he went and connected himself with one of the citizens of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
16 And he eagerly longed to fill his belly with the charob berries which the swine did eat: and no person gave him a morsel.
He wanted to fill his belly with the pods that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any.
17 Then coming to himself, he said, How many hirelings of my father abound with loaves of bread, and I am pining away with famine!
But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare, and I’m dying with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight.
19 and I am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hirelings.
I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.”’
20 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.
“He arose and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and ran, fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 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.
The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 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:
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.
23 and bring hither the stall-fed steer, and kill it; and let us eat, and be joyous.
Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let’s eat and celebrate;
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. And they began to be joyous.
for this, my son, was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.’ Then they began to celebrate.
25 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.
“Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 And calling one of the servants, he inquired what these things meant.
He called one of the servants to him and asked what was going on.
27 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.
He said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and healthy.’
28 Then he was in great wrath, and would not enter the doors: therefore his father came out, and entreated him.
But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and begged him.
29 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:
But he answered his father, ‘Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.
30 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.
But when this your son came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all my possessions are thine.
“He said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
32 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.
But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’”
