Luke 15
1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him.
Now the tax-gatherers and the notorious sinners were everywhere in the habit of coming close to Him to listen to Him;
2 The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.”
and this led the Pharisees and the Scribes indignantly to complain, saying, "He gives a welcome to notorious sinners, and joins them at their meals!"
3 He told them this parable:
So in figurative language He asked them,
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?
"Which of you men, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in their pasture and go in search of the lost one till he finds it?
5 When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
And when he has found it, he lifts it on his shoulder, glad at heart.
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!’
Then coming home he calls his friends and neighbours together, and says, 'Congratulate me, for I have found my sheep--the one I had lost.'
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 in the same way there will be rejoicing in Heaven over one repentant sinner--more rejoicing than over ninety-nine blameless persons who have no need of repentance.
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, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully till 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 has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, and says, "'Congratulate me, for I have found the coin which I had 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 that in the same way there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one repentant sinner."
11 He said, “A certain man had two sons.
He went on to say, "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 of them said to his father, "'Father, give me the share of the property that comes to me.' "So he divided his wealth 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.
No long time afterwards the younger son got all together and travelled to a distant country, where he wasted his money in debauchery and excess.
14 When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need.
At last, when he had spent everything, there came a terrible famine throughout that country, and he began to feel the pinch of want.
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 to one of the inhabitants of that country, who sent him on to his farm to tend swine;
16 He wanted to fill his belly with the pods that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any.
and he longed to make a hearty meal of the pods the swine were eating, but no one gave him any.
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!
"But on coming to himself he said, "'How many of my father's hired men have more bread than they want, while I here am dying of hunger!
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 rise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you:
19 I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.”’
I no longer deserve to be called a son of yours: treat me as one of your hired men.'
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 rose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and pitied him, and ran and threw his arms round his neck and kissed him tenderly.
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.’
"'Father,' cried the son, 'I have sinned against Heaven and before you: no longer do I deserve to be called a son of yours.'
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, "'Fetch a good coat quickly--the best one--and put it on him; and bring a ring for his finger and shoes for his feet.
23 Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let’s eat and celebrate;
Fetch the fat calf and kill it, and let us feast and enjoy ourselves;
24 for this, my son, was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.’ Then they began to celebrate.
for my son here was dead and has come to life again: he was lost and has been found.' "And they began to be merry.
25 “Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
"Now his elder son was out on the farm; and when he returned and came near home, he heard music and dancing.
26 He called one of the servants to him and asked what was going on.
Then he called one of the lads to him and asked what all this meant.
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 come,' he replied; 'and your father has had the fat calf killed, because he has got him home safe and sound.'
28 But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and begged him.
"Then he was angry and would not go in. But his father came out and entreated 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.
"'All these years,' replied the son, 'I have been slaving for you, and I have never at any time disobeyed any of your orders, and yet you have never given me so much as a kid, for me to enjoy myself 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 now that this son of yours is come who has eaten up your property among his bad women, you have killed the fat calf for him.'
31 “He said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
"'You my dear son,' said the father, 'are always with me, and all that is mine is also 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.’”
We are bound to make merry and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has come back to life, he was lost and has been found.'"
