Luke 15
1 THEN drew nigh unto him all the tax-farmers and the sinners to hear him.
Then all the tax collectors and ‘sinners’ were getting close to Him to hear Him.
2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man entertains sinners, and eateth with them.
Well the Pharisees and the scribes started complaining, saying, “This man welcomes ‘sinners’ and eats with them.”
3 Then spake he unto them this parable, saying,
So He told them this parable, saying:
4 What man is there of you, possessing an hundred sheep, though he lose but one of them, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
“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?
5 and when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
And upon finding it he joyfully puts it on his shoulders.
6 And coming home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Congratulate me; for I have found that sheep of mine which was lost.
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!’
7 I tell you, that just so will there be joy in heaven over one repentant sinner, more than over ninety-nine righteous persons, who hold not their need of repentance.
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.
8 Or what woman having ten pieces of silver coin, if she lose one of them, doth she not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and make diligent search until she find it?
“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?
9 And having found it, she calleth her female friends and neighbours together, saying, Congratulate me; for I have found the silver piece I had lost.
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!’
10 Even so, I tell you, there is joy among the angels of God, over one repentant sinner.
Just so, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
11 Then he said, A certain man had two sons:
Then He said: “A certain man had two sons.
12 and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of substance which falls to my share. And he divided with them his fortune.
And the younger one said to the father, ‘Father, give me the appropriate share of the estate.’ So he divided the property between them.
13 And not many days after, the younger son, collecting his all, travelled into a far distant country, and there dissipated his substance in a life of debauchery.
Not many days later the younger son, having converted it all, journeyed to a distant country; and there he squandered his wealth living dissolutely.
14 But when he had spent all, there came a terrible famine in that region; and he began to know want.
But when he had spent it all, there was a severe famine throughout that country, and he began to be in need.
15 And he went and connected himself with one of the citizens of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
Then he went and attached himself to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
16 And he eagerly longed to fill his belly with the charob berries which the swine did eat: and no person gave him a morsel.
He would gladly have filled his stomach with the carob pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 Then coming to himself, he said, How many hirelings of my father abound with loaves of bread, and I am pining away with famine!
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!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
I will get up and go to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,
19 and I am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hirelings.
and I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired servants.’
20 And he arose and came to his father. But when he was yet at a considerable distance, his father discovered him, and was moved with compassion, and running, fell on his neck, and kissed him again and again.
“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!
21 Then said the son unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
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.’
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring out the best robe, and clothe him; and put a ring on his hand, and sandals on his feet:
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.
23 and bring hither the stall-fed steer, and kill it; and let us eat, and be joyous.
And bring in and kill the fatted calf, and let us eat and celebrate;
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. And they began to be joyous.
because this son of mine was dead and came to life; he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.
25 Now his elder brother had been in the field: and when coming home he drew near the house, he heard a concert of music, and the chorus.
“Now his older son was in the field; and as he came approaching the house he heard music and dancing.
26 And calling one of the servants, he inquired what these things meant.
So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed for him the stall-fed steer, because he hath received him in health.
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.’
28 Then he was in great wrath, and would not enter the doors: therefore his father came out, and entreated him.
So he became angry and refused to go in. Then his father came out and began to plead with him.
29 But he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years I am serving thee, and never have transgressed thy command: yet to me thou hast never once given a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
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.
30 but no sooner is this son of thine come, who hath devoured thy substance with whores, than thou hast killed for him the stall-fed steer.
But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all my possessions are thine.
So he said to him: ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.
32 But it was right that we should rejoice, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
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.’”
