Luke 15
1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him.
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around to listen to Jesus.
2 The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.”
So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 He told them this parable:
Then Jesus told them this parable:
4 “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?
“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?
5 When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders,
6 When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’
comes home, and calls together his friends and neighbors to tell them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep!’
7 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.
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.
8 “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?
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?
9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I had lost!’
And when she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors to say, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost coin.’
10 Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting.”
In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
11 He said, “A certain man had two sons.
Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons.
12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of your property.’ So he divided his livelihood between them.
The younger son said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 Not many days after, the younger son gathered all of this together and traveled into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living.
After a few days, the younger son got everything together and journeyed to a distant country, where he squandered his wealth in wild living.
14 When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need.
After he had spent all he had, a severe famine swept through that country, and he began to be in need.
15 He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.
16 He wanted to fill his belly with the pods that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any.
He longed to fill his belly with the pods the pigs were eating, but no one would give him a thing.
17 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!
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!
18 I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight.
I will get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
19 I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.”’
I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’
20 “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.
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.
21 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.’
The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “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.
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.
23 Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let’s eat and celebrate;
Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us feast and celebrate.
24 for this, my son, was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.’ Then they began to celebrate.
For this son of mine was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
Meanwhile the older son was in the field, and as he approached the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 He called one of the servants to him and asked what was going on.
So he called one of the servants and asked what was going on.
27 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.’
‘Your brother has returned,’ he said, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and begged him.
The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him.
29 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.
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.
30 But when this your son came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’
But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “He said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
‘Son, you are always with me,’ the father said, ‘and all that is mine is yours.
32 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.’”
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.’”
