Luke 15
1 Now all the tax-gatherers and sinners continued to draw near him, and to listen to him.
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him.
2 And the Pharisees and Scribes began to complain, saying, "He is welcoming sinners and eating with them!"
The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.”
3 And he told them a parable.
He told them this parable:
4 "Which one of you men, if he has a hundred sheep, and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety and nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds 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 after he has found it, he lays it on his shoulder, rejoicing.
When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 "When he gets home he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying, "Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that 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 say to you that even so there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, more than over ninety and nine just persons who need no 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, again, suppose a woman has ten coins. If she loses one, does she not light a lamp and sweep the house, and search anxiously until she finds 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 when she has found it, she calls together her woman friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which 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 in the presence of the angels for God over one sinner who repents."
Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting.”
11 And he said. "There was a man who had two sons.
He said, “A certain man had two sons.
12 "The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of your property which is coming to me.’ So he divided his means among them.
The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of your property.’ So he divided his livelihood between them.
13 "Not many days after that the younger son gathered everything together and took his journey into a distant country; and there he wasted his money on living unsavingly.
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 "After he had spent everything there came a terrible famine in the land, and he began to be in want.
When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need.
15 "So he went and hired to one of the citizens of that land, who sent him out into the 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 was longing to be filled with the husks which the swine were eating, but no one gave him any.
He wanted to fill his belly with the pods that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any.
17 "When he came to himself he said. "‘How many of my father’s hired men have bread enough and to spare, while I am perishing of hunger!
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 rise and go to my father, and say to him. "Father, I have sinned against Heaven and in your sight,
I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight.
19 "‘"I am no more worthy to be called your son; only make me like one of your hired men."‘
I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.”’
20 "So he arose and went to his father; but while 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.
“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 "The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight and am no more worthy to be called your 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 "‘Fetch the best robe, quick,’ said the father to his slaves, ‘and put it on him, and give him a ring on his finger, and shoes 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 "‘Bring that fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry,
Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let’s eat and celebrate;
24 "‘for this son of mine was dead and is alive again - he was lost and is found.’
for this, my son, was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.’ Then they began to celebrate.
25 "So they began to make merry. But his elder son was in the field, and as he drew near to the house he heard music and dancing,
“Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 "and he summoned one of the slaves, and began to inquire of him what all this meant.
He called one of the servants to him and asked what was going on.
27 "‘Your brother is come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has him safe and sound.’
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 "But he was angry and would not go in; so his father came out, and attempted to plead with him; but he said to his father.
But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and begged him.
29 "‘All these years I have been slaving for you and never disobeyed a command of yours. Yet you never gave me even a kid so 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 when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with harlots, you have killed him the fatted calf.’
But when this your son came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’
31 "‘My dear son,’ answered his father, ‘you are always with me and all that is mine is yours.
“He said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
32 "‘But it was fitting that we should make merry and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and is alive; he 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.’”
