Luke 15
1 Now all the tax-farmers and sinners came near to give ear to him.
Then all the tax collectors and ‘sinners’ were getting close to Him to hear Him.
2 And the Pharisees and scribes were angry, saying, This man gives approval to sinners, and takes food with them.
Well the Pharisees and the scribes started complaining, saying, “This man welcomes ‘sinners’ and eats with them.”
3 And he made a story for them, saying,
So He told them this parable, saying:
4 What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if one of them gets loose and goes away, will not let the ninety-nine be in the waste land by themselves, and go after the wandering one, till he sees where it is?
“What man among you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not abandon the ninety-nine in the wild and go after the lost one until he finds it?
5 And when he has got it again, he takes it in his arms with joy.
And upon finding it he joyfully puts it on his shoulders.
6 And when he gets back to his house, he sends for his neighbours and friends, saying to them, Be glad with me, for I have got back my sheep which had gone away.
And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost!’
7 I say to you that even so there will be more joy in heaven when one sinner is turned away from his wrongdoing, than for ninety-nine good men, who have no need of a change of heart.
I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who have no need of repentance.
8 Or what woman, having ten bits of silver, if one bit has gone from her hands, will not get a light, and go through her house, searching with care till she sees it?
“Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?
9 And when she has it again, she gets her friends and neighbours together, saying, Be glad with me, for I have got back the bit of silver which had gone from me.
And when she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I lost!’
10 Even so, I say to you, There is joy among the angels of God, when one sinner is turned away from his wrongdoing.
Just so, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
Then He said: “A certain man had two sons.
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me that part of your property which will be mine. And he made division of his goods between them.
And the younger one said to the father, ‘Father, give me the appropriate share of the estate.’ So he divided the property between them.
13 And not long after, the younger son got together everything which was his and took a journey into a far-away country, and there all his money went in foolish living.
Not many days later the younger son, having converted it all, journeyed to a distant country; and there he squandered his wealth living dissolutely.
14 And when everything was gone, there was no food to be had in that country, and he was in need.
But when he had spent it all, there was a severe famine throughout that country, and he began to be in need.
15 And he went and put himself into the hands of one of the people of that country, and he sent him into his fields to give the pigs their food.
Then he went and attached himself to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
16 And so great was his need that he would have been glad to take the pigs' food, and no one gave him anything.
He would gladly have filled his stomach with the carob pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 But when he came to his senses, he said, What numbers of my father's servants have bread enough, and more, while I am near to death here through need of food!
But when he came to himself he said: ‘How many of my father's hired servants have an abundance of bread, while I am dying of hunger!
18 I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have done wrong, against heaven and in your eyes:
I will get up and go to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,
19 I am no longer good enough to be named your son: make me like one of your servants.
and I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired servants.’
20 And he got up and went to his father. But while he was still far away, his father saw him and was moved with pity for him and went quickly and took him in his arms and gave him a kiss.
“So he got up and went to his own father. But while he was still a good ways off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion—he ran and fell on his neck and kissed him!
21 And his son said to him, Father, I have done wrong, against heaven and in your eyes: I am no longer good enough to be named your son.
Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 But the father said to his servants, Get out the first robe quickly, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet:
But the father said to his slaves: ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.
23 And get the fat young ox and put it to death, and let us have a feast, and be glad.
And bring in and kill the fatted calf, and let us eat and celebrate;
24 For this, my son, who was dead, is living again; he had gone away from me, and has come back. And they were full of joy.
because this son of mine was dead and came to life; he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.
25 Now the older son was in the field: and when he came near the house, the sounds of music and dancing came to his ears.
“Now his older son was in the field; and as he came approaching the house he heard music and dancing.
26 And he sent for one of the servants, questioning him about what it might be.
So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said to him, Your brother has come; and your father has had the young ox put to death because he has come back safely.
He said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’
28 But he was angry and would not go in; and his father came out and made a request to him to come in.
So he became angry and refused to go in. Then his father came out and began to plead with him.
29 But he made answer and said to his father, See, all these years I have been your servant, doing your orders in everything: and you never gave me even a young goat so that I might have a feast with my friends:
But in answer he said to the father: ‘Just look at how many years I have been serving you without ever transgressing your commandment; yet you never gave me even a young goat that I might celebrate with my friends.
30 But when this your son came, who has been wasting your property with bad women, you put to death the fat young ox for him.
But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’
31 And he said to him, Son, you are with me at all times, and all I have is yours.
So he said to him: ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.
32 But it was right to be glad and to have a feast; for this your brother, who was dead, is living again; he had gone away and has come back.
But it was right that we celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and came to life; he was lost and is found.’”
