Luke 15
1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
The tax collectors and the outcasts were all drawing near to Jesus to listen to him;
2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
but the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law found fault. “This man always welcomes outcasts, and takes meals with them!” they complained.
3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
So Jesus told them this parable –
4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
“Who among you who has a hundred sheep, and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine out in the open country, and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
And, when he has found it, he puts in on his shoulders rejoicing;
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
and, on reaching home, he calls his friends and his neighbors together, and says ‘Come and rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.’
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
So, I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one outcast who repents, than over ninety-nine religious people, who have no need to repent.
8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
Or again, what woman who has ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?
9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
And, when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, and says ‘Come and rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I lost.’
10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of YHWH over one sinner that repenteth.
So, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of God’s angels over one outcast who repents.”
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
Then Jesus continued, “A man had two sons;
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
and the younger of them said to his father ‘Father, give me my share of the inheritance.’ So the father divided the property between them.
13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
A few days later the younger son got together all that he had, and went away into a distant land; and there he squandered his inheritance by leading a dissolute life.
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
After he has spent all that he had, there was a severe famine through all that country, and he began to be in actual want.
15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
So he went and engaged himself to one of the people of that country, who sent him into his fields to tend pigs.
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
He even longed to satisfy his hunger with the bean-pods on which the pigs were feeding; and no one gave him anything.
17 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 with hunger!
But, when he came to himself, he said ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more bread than they can eat, while here am I starving to death!
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 say to him “Father, I sinned against heaven and against you;
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
I am no longer fit to be called your son; make me one of your hired servants.”’
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
And he got up and went to his father. But, while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was deeply moved; he ran and threw his arms around his neck and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
‘Father,’ the son said, ‘I sinned against heaven and against you; I am no longer fit to be called your son; make me one of your hired servants.’
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
But the father turned to his servants and said ‘Be quick and fetch a robe – the very best – and put it on him; give him a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet;
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
and bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry;
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
for here is my son who was dead, and is alive again, was lost, and is found.’ So they began making merry.
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
Meanwhile the elder son was out in the fields; but, on coming home, when he got near the house, he heard music and dancing,
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
and he called one of the servants and asked what it all meant.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
‘Your brother has come back,’ the servant told him, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
This made him angry, and he would not go in. But his father came out and begged him to do so.
29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
‘No,’ he said to his father, ‘look at all the years I have been serving you, without ever once disobeying you, and yet you have never given me even a young goat, so that I might have a party with my friends.
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
But, no sooner has this son of yours come, who has eaten up your property in the company of prostitutes, than you have killed the fattened calf for him.’
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
‘Child,’ the father answered, ‘you are always with me, and everything that I have is yours.
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
We could but make merry and rejoice, for here is your brother who was dead, and is alive; who was lost, and is found.’”
