< Luke 15 >

1 Then all the tax collectors and ‘sinners’ were getting close to Him to hear Him.
Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners in order to hear him.
2 Well the Pharisees and the scribes started complaining, saying, “This man welcomes ‘sinners’ and eats with them.”
And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receives sinners, and eats with them.
3 So He told them this parable, saying:
And he spoke this parable unto them, saying,
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?
What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, does not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And upon finding it he joyfully puts it on his shoulders.
And when he has found it, he lays 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!’
And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying unto 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 say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repents, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which 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?
Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, does not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find 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!’
And when she has found it, she calls her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece 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.”
Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents.
11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons.
And 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.
And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me. And he divided unto them his living.
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.
And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance 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.
And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in lack.
15 Then he went and attached himself to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 He would gladly have filled his stomach with the carob pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
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!
And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish 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 arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before you,
19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired servants.’
And 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!
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and 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.’
And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight, and am no more 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 forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring in and kill the fatted calf, and let us eat and celebrate;
And bring here the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
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. And they began to be merry.
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: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.
And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
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.’
And he said unto him, Your brother has come; and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.
28 So he became angry and refused to go in. Then his father came out and began to plead with him.
And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and implored 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.
And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve you, neither transgressed I at any time your commandment: and yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry 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 as soon as this your son was come, which has devoured your living with harlots, you have killed for him the fatted calf.
31 So he said to him: ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.
And he said unto him, Son, you are ever with me, and all that I have 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.’”
It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this your brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

< Luke 15 >