Luke 15
1 Then resorted vnto him all the Publicanes and sinners, to heare him.
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around to listen to Jesus.
2 Therefore the Pharises and Scribes murmured, saying, Hee receiueth sinners, and eateth with them.
So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 Then spake hee this parable to them, saying,
Then Jesus told them this parable:
4 What man of you hauing an hundreth sheepe, if hee lose one of them, doeth not leaue ninetie and nine in the wildernesse, and goe after that which is lost, vntill he finde it?
“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?
5 And when he hath found it, he laieth it on his shoulders with ioye.
And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders,
6 And when he commeth home, he calleth together his friendes and neighbours, saying vnto them, Reioyce with mee: for I haue founde my sheepe which was lost.
comes home, and calls together his friends and neighbors to tell them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep!’
7 I say vnto you, that likewise ioy shall be in heauen for one sinner that conuerteth, more then for ninetie and nine iust men, which neede none amendment of life.
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.
8 Either what woman hauing ten groates, if she lose one groate, doth not light a candle, and sweepe the house, and seeke diligently till shee finde it?
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?
9 And when shee hath found it, shee calleth her friendes, and neighbours, saying, Reioyce with me: for I haue found the groate which I had lost.
And when she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors to say, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost coin.’
10 Likewise I say vnto you, there is ioy in the presence of the Angels of God, for one sinner that conuerteth.
In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
11 He sayde moreouer, A certaine man had two sonnes.
Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons.
12 And the yonger of them sayde to his father, Father, giue mee the portion of the goods that falleth to mee. So he deuided vnto them his substance.
The younger son said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 So not many daies after, when the yonger sonne had gathered all together, hee tooke his iourney into a farre countrey, and there hee wasted his goods with riotous liuing.
After a few days, the younger son got everything together and journeyed to a distant country, where he squandered his wealth in wild living.
14 Nowe when hee had spent all, there arose a great dearth throughout that land, and he began to be in necessitie.
After he had spent all he had, a severe famine swept through that country, and he began to be in need.
15 Then hee went and claue to a citizen of that conntrey, and hee sent him to his farme, to feede swine.
So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.
16 And hee would faine haue filled his bellie with the huskes, that the swine ate: but no man gaue them him.
He longed to fill his belly with the pods the pigs were eating, but no one would give him a thing.
17 Then he came to him selfe, and said, Howe many hired seruaunts at my fathers haue bread ynough, and I die for hunger?
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!
18 I wil rise and goe to my father, and say vnto him, Father, I haue sinned against heaue, and before thee,
I will get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy sonne: make me as one of thy hired seruants.
I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’
20 So hee arose and came to his father, and when hee was yet a great way off, his father sawe him, and had compassion, and ranne and fell on his necke, and kissed him.
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.
21 And the sonne sayde vnto him, Father, I haue sinned against heauen, and before thee, and am no more worthie to be called thy sonne.
The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 Then the father said to his seruaunts, Bring foorth the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feete,
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.
23 And bring the fat calfe, and kill him, and let vs eate, and be merie:
Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us feast and celebrate.
24 For this my sonne was dead, and is aliue againe: and he was lost, but he is found. And they began to be merie.
For this son of mine was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.
25 Nowe the elder brother was in the fielde, and when he came and drewe neere to the house, he heard melodie, and dauncing,
Meanwhile the older son was in the field, and as he approached the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 And called one of his seruaunts, and asked what those things meant.
So he called one of the servants and asked what was going on.
27 And hee sayde vnto him, Thy brother is come, and thy father hath killed the fatte calfe, because he hath receiued him safe and sound.
‘Your brother has returned,’ he said, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 Then he was angry, and would not goe in: therefore came his father out and entreated him.
The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him.
29 But he answered and said to his father, Loe, these many yeeres haue I done thee seruice, neither brake I at any time thy commadement, and yet thou neuer gauest mee a kidde that I might make merie with my friends.
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.
30 But when this thy sonne was come, which hath deuoured thy good with harlots, thou hast for his sake killed the fat calfe.
But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 And he said vnto him, Sonne, thou art euer with me, and al that I haue, is thine.
‘Son, you are always with me,’ the father said, ‘and all that is mine is yours.
32 It was meete that we shoulde make merie, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is aliue againe: and hee was lost, but he is found.
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.’”
