Luke 15
1 Then all the tax collectors and ‘sinners’ were getting close to Him to hear Him.
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him.
2 Well the Pharisees and the scribes started complaining, saying, “This man welcomes ‘sinners’ and eats with them.”
The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.”
3 So He told them this parable, saying:
He told them this parable:
4 “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?
“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 upon finding it he joyfully puts it on his shoulders.
When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 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!’
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!’
7 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.
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 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?
“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 finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I lost!’
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!’
10 Just so, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of 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 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons.
He said, “A certain man had two sons.
12 And the younger one said to the father, ‘Father, give me the appropriate share of the estate.’ So he divided the property between 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 later the younger son, having converted it all, journeyed to a distant country; and there he squandered his wealth living dissolutely.
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.
14 But when he had spent it all, there was a severe famine throughout that country, and he began to be in need.
When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need.
15 Then he went and attached himself to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
16 He would gladly have filled his stomach with the carob pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
He wanted to fill his belly with the pods that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any.
17 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!
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 get up and go to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,
I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight.
19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired servants.’
I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.”’
20 “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!
“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 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.’
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 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.
“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 And bring in and kill the fatted calf, and let us eat and celebrate;
Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let’s eat and celebrate;
24 because this son of mine was dead and came to life; he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.
for this, my son, was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.’ Then they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his older son was in the field; and as he came approaching 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 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.
He called one of the servants to him and asked what was going on.
27 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.’
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 So he became angry and refused to go in. Then his father came out and began to plead with him.
But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and begged him.
29 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.
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 livelihood with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’
But when this your son came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’
31 So he said to him: ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.
“He said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
32 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.’”
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.’”
