Luke 15
1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him.
Tax collectors and other “sinners” often used to come and listen to Jesus.
2 The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.”
As a result the Pharisees and the religious teachers complained, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.”
3 He told them this parable:
So Jesus told them this story as an illustration.
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?
“Imagine a man who had a hundred sheep lost one of them. Wouldn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture, and search for the one that's lost until he finds it?
5 When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
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!’
Once he gets home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Come and celebrate with me! I've 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.
I tell you that there's more joy in heaven over a sinner that repents than over ninety-nine good people who don't 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?
Imagine a woman who has ten silver coins, and loses one of them. Wouldn't she light a lamp and sweep the house, carefully searching 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!’
When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Come and celebrate with me! I've found the silver coin that I lost.’
10 Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting.”
I tell you there is joy in the presence of God's angels over one sinner that repents.
11 He said, “A certain man had two sons.
Once there was a man who had two sons,” Jesus explained.
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 one told his father, ‘Father, give me my inheritance now.’ So the man 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.
A few days later the younger son packed up what he had and left for a distant country. Here he wasted all his money living a reckless life.
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'd spent everything, the country was hit by a severe famine and he was starving.
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 took a job with one of the farmers there who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
16 He wanted to fill his belly with the pods that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any.
He was so hungry that he would have eaten even the pig food, but no one gave him anything.
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!
When he came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘All of my father's workers have more than enough to eat—why am I dying from hunger here?
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'm going home to my father! I'll tell him, Father, I've 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'm no longer worthy to be called your son. Please treat me as one of your hired workers.’
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 left and went home to his father. Even though he was still far away in the distance, his father saw him coming, and his heart went out to his son. The father ran to his son, hugging and kissing 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 said to him, ‘Father, I've sinned against heaven and against you. I'm 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 told 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 calf we've been fattening and kill it. Let's have a feast to celebrate
24 for this, my son, was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.’ Then they began to celebrate.
because this is my son who was dead, but who has returned alive; he was lost but now he's found.’ So they started celebrating.
25 “Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
Now the older son was working out in the fields. As he walked towards 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 is back,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he's come home safe and sound.’
28 But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and begged him.
The brother became angry. He refused to go in. So his father came out to plead 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.
He told his father, ‘Look, all these years I've served you, and never disobeyed you, but you never once gave me even a young goat so I could have a party with my friends.
30 But when this your son came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’
Now this son of yours comes back, having spent your money on prostitutes, and 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,’ the father replied, ‘you are always here with me. Everything I have 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 we should be happy and celebrate! This is your brother who was dead, but who has returned alive; he was lost but now he's found!’”
