Luke 15
1 Then resorted vnto him all the Publicanes and sinners, to heare him.
Now the tax-gatherers and the notorious sinners were everywhere in the habit of coming close to Him to listen to Him;
2 Therefore the Pharises and Scribes murmured, saying, Hee receiueth sinners, and eateth 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 spake hee this parable to them, saying,
So in figurative language He asked them,
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?
"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 hath found it, he laieth it on his shoulders with ioye.
And when he has found it, he lifts it on his shoulder, glad at heart.
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.
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 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.
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 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, 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 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 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 Likewise I say vnto you, there is ioy in the presence of the Angels of God, for one sinner that conuerteth.
"I tell you that in the same way there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one repentant sinner."
11 He sayde moreouer, A certaine man had two sonnes.
He went on to say, "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 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 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.
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 Nowe when hee had spent all, there arose a great dearth throughout that land, and he began to be in necessitie.
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 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 to one of the inhabitants of that country, who sent him on to his farm to tend swine;
16 And hee would faine haue filled his bellie with the huskes, that the swine ate: but no man gaue them him.
and he longed to make a hearty meal of the pods the swine were eating, but no one gave him any.
17 Then he came to him selfe, and said, Howe many hired seruaunts at my fathers haue bread ynough, and I die for hunger?
"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 wil rise and goe to my father, and say vnto him, Father, I haue sinned against heaue, and before thee,
I will rise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you:
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy sonne: make me as one of thy hired seruants.
I no longer deserve to be called a son of yours: treat me as one of your hired men.'
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 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 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.
"'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 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, "'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 And bring the fat calfe, and kill him, and let vs eate, and be merie:
Fetch the fat calf and kill it, and let us feast and enjoy ourselves;
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 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 Nowe the elder brother was in the fielde, and when he came and drewe neere to the house, he heard melodie, and dauncing,
"Now his elder son was out on the farm; and when he returned and came near home, he heard music and dancing.
26 And called one of his seruaunts, and asked what those things meant.
Then he called one of the lads to him and asked what all this meant.
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 come,' he replied; 'and your father has had the fat calf killed, because he has got him home safe and sound.'
28 Then he was angry, and would not goe in: therefore came his father out and entreated him.
"Then he was angry and would not go in. But his father came out and entreated 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.
"'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 thy sonne was come, which hath deuoured thy good with harlots, thou hast for his sake killed the fat calfe.
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 And he said vnto him, Sonne, thou art euer with me, and al that I haue, is thine.
"'You my dear son,' said the father, 'are always with me, and all that is mine is also 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.
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.'"
