Luke 15
1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around to listen to Jesus.
Now the tax-gatherers and the notorious sinners were everywhere in the habit of coming close to Him to listen to Him;
2 So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: “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 Then Jesus told them this parable:
So in figurative language He asked them,
4 “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?
"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 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders,
And when he has found it, he lifts it on his shoulder, glad at heart.
6 comes home, and calls together his friends and neighbors to tell them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep!’
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 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.
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 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?
"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 And when she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors to say, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost coin.’
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 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
"I tell you that in the same way there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one repentant sinner."
11 Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons.
He went on to say, "There was a man who had two sons.
12 The younger son said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property 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 After a few days, the younger son got everything together and journeyed to a distant country, where he squandered his wealth in wild 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 After he had spent all he had, a severe famine swept through 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 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed the 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 longed to fill his belly with the pods the pigs were eating, but no one would give him a thing.
and he longed to make a hearty meal of the pods the swine were eating, but no one gave him any.
17 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!
"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 back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
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 longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like 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 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.
"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 declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 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, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger 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 and kill it. Let us feast and celebrate.
Fetch the fat calf and kill it, and let us feast and enjoy ourselves;
24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’ So 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 Meanwhile the older son was in the field, and as he approached 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 So he called one of the servants and asked what was going on.
Then he called one of the lads to him and asked what all this meant.
27 ‘Your brother has returned,’ he said, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and sound.’
"'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 The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him.
"Then he was angry and would not go in. But his father came out and entreated him.
29 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.
"'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 son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill 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 ‘Son, you are always with me,’ the father said, ‘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 fitting to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours 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.'"
