Luke 15
1 Now all the tax-gatherers and sinners continued to draw near him, and to listen to him.
Tax collectors and other “sinners” often used to come and listen to Jesus.
2 And the Pharisees and Scribes began to complain, saying, "He is welcoming sinners and eating with them!"
As a result the Pharisees and the religious teachers complained, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.”
3 And he told them a parable.
So Jesus told them this story as an illustration.
4 "Which one of you men, if he has a hundred sheep, and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety and nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?
“Imagine a man who had a hundred sheep lost one of them. Wouldn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture, and search for the one that's lost until he finds it?
5 "And after he has found it, he lays it on his shoulder, rejoicing.
When he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders.
6 "When he gets home he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying, "Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’
Once he gets home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Come and celebrate with me! I've found my lost sheep!’
7 "I say to you that even so there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, more than over ninety and nine just persons who need no repentance.
I tell you that there's more joy in heaven over a sinner that repents than over ninety-nine good people who don't need to repent.
8 "Or, again, suppose a woman has ten coins. If she loses one, does she not light a lamp and sweep the house, and search anxiously until she finds it?
Imagine a woman who has ten silver coins, and loses one of them. Wouldn't she light a lamp and sweep the house, carefully searching until she finds it?
9 "And when she has found it, she calls together her woman friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.’
When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Come and celebrate with me! I've found the silver coin that I lost.’
10 "Even so I tell you there is joy in the presence of the angels for God over one sinner who repents."
I tell you there is joy in the presence of God's angels over one sinner that repents.
11 And he said. "There was a man who had two sons.
Once there was a man who had two sons,” Jesus explained.
12 "The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of your property which is coming to me.’ So he divided his means among them.
“The younger one told his father, ‘Father, give me my inheritance now.’ So the man divided his property between them.
13 "Not many days after that the younger son gathered everything together and took his journey into a distant country; and there he wasted his money on living unsavingly.
A few days later the younger son packed up what he had and left for a distant country. Here he wasted all his money living a reckless life.
14 "After he had spent everything there came a terrible famine in the land, and he began to be in want.
After he'd spent everything, the country was hit by a severe famine and he was starving.
15 "So he went and hired to one of the citizens of that land, who sent him out into the fields to feed swine.
So he went and took a job with one of the farmers there who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
16 "And he was longing to be filled with the husks which the swine were eating, but no one gave him any.
He was so hungry that he would have eaten even the pig food, but no one gave him anything.
17 "When he came to himself he said. "‘How many of my father’s hired men have bread enough and to spare, while I am perishing of hunger!
When he came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘All of my father's workers have more than enough to eat—why am I dying from hunger here?
18 "‘I will rise and go to my father, and say to him. "Father, I have sinned against Heaven and in your sight,
I'm going home to my father! I'll tell him, Father, I've sinned against heaven and against you.
19 "‘"I am no more worthy to be called your son; only make me like one of your hired men."‘
I'm no longer worthy to be called your son. Please treat me as one of your hired workers.’
20 "So he arose and went to his father; but while he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.
So he left and went home to his father. Even though he was still far away in the distance, his father saw him coming, and his heart went out to his son. The father ran to his son, hugging and kissing him.
21 "The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight and am no more worthy to be called your son.’
The son said to him, ‘Father, I've sinned against heaven and against you. I'm no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 "‘Fetch the best robe, quick,’ said the father to his slaves, ‘and put it on him, and give him a ring on his finger, and shoes on his feet.
But the father told his servants, ‘Quick—bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
23 "‘Bring that fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry,
Bring the calf we've been fattening and kill it. Let's have a feast to celebrate
24 "‘for this son of mine was dead and is alive again - he was lost and is found.’
because this is my son who was dead, but who has returned alive; he was lost but now he's found.’ So they started celebrating.
25 "So they began to make merry. But his elder son was in the field, and as he drew near to the house he heard music and dancing,
Now the older son was working out in the fields. As he walked towards the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 "and he summoned one of the slaves, and began to inquire of him what all this meant.
So he called one of the servants and asked what was going on.
27 "‘Your brother is come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has him safe and sound.’
‘Your brother is back,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he's come home safe and sound.’
28 "But he was angry and would not go in; so his father came out, and attempted to plead with him; but he said to his father.
The brother became angry. He refused to go in. So his father came out to plead with him.
29 "‘All these years I have been slaving for you and never disobeyed a command of yours. Yet you never gave me even a kid so that I might make merry with my friends.
He told his father, ‘Look, all these years I've served you, and never disobeyed you, but you never once gave me even a young goat so I could have a party with my friends.
30 "‘But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with harlots, you have killed him the fatted calf.’
Now this son of yours comes back, having spent your money on prostitutes, and you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 "‘My dear son,’ answered his father, ‘you are always with me and all that is mine is yours.
‘Son,’ the father replied, ‘you are always here with me. Everything I have is yours.
32 "‘But it was fitting that we should make merry and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and is alive; he was lost and is found.’"
But we should be happy and celebrate! This is your brother who was dead, but who has returned alive; he was lost but now he's found!’”
