Luke 15
1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him.
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to Jesus to listen to him.
2 The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them."
But the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
3 He told them this parable.
So Jesus told them this parable:
4 "Which one of you, if you had one hundred sheep, and lost one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one that was lost, until he found it?
“What man among you, who has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the other ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?
5 When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
And when he does find it, he rejoices as he lays it on his shoulders.
6 When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.'
Then he returns home and calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep.’
7 I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.
I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.
8 Or what woman, if she had ten drachma coins, if she lost one drachma coin, would not light a lamp, sweep the house, and seek diligently until she found it?
“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one of them. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?
9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I had lost.'
And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost coin.’
10 Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting."
In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God's angels over one sinner who repents.”
11 He said, "A certain man had two sons.
Then he said, “There was a man who had two sons.
12 The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of your property.' He divided his livelihood between them.
The younger of the two said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that will belong to me.’ So the father divided his assets between his two sons.
13 Not many days after, the younger son gathered all of this together and traveled into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living.
A few days later, the younger son gathered together all that he had and went on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his property by living recklessly.
14 When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need.
When he had spent all that he had, a severe famine arose throughout that country, and he began to be in need.
15 He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
16 And he wanted to fill himself with the carob pods that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any.
The young man longed to fill his belly with the carob pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 But when he came to himself he said, 'How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough to spare, and I'm dying here with hunger.
When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired workers have an abundance of bread, while I perish with hunger!
18 I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight.
I will arise, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before yoʋ.
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants."'
I am no longer worthy to be called yoʋr son; make me like one of yoʋr hired workers.”’
20 "He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
So he arose and went to his father. But while he was still far away, his father saw him and was moved with compassion. So he ran to his son, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him.
21 The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before yoʋ. I am no longer worthy to be called yoʋr son.’
22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Quickly, bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.
But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
23 Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat, and celebrate;
Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us eat and celebrate.
24 for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.' They began to celebrate.
For this son of mine was dead but is now alive again; he was lost but has now been found.’ And they began to celebrate.
25 "Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
“Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 He called one of the servants to him, and asked what was going on.
So he called one of the servants over and asked him what was happening.
27 He said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and healthy.'
The servant said to him, ‘Yoʋr brother has come, and yoʋr father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received yoʋr brother back safe and sound.’
28 But he was angry, and would not go in. Therefore his father came out, and pleaded with him.
But the older son was angry and would not go in. So his father came out and began pleading with him.
29 But he answered his father, 'Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.
But he said to his father in response, ‘Behold, all these years I have served yoʋ and have never disobeyed yoʋr command, yet yoʋ have never given me even a young goat so that I could celebrate with my friends.
30 But when this, your son, came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.'
But when this son of yoʋrs came, who has devoured yoʋr assets with prostitutes, yoʋ killed the fattened calf for him.’
31 "He said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
The father said to him, ‘Son, yoʋ are always with me, and everything I have is yoʋrs.
32 But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this brother of yours was dead and is alive; and he was lost, and is found.'"
But it was proper to celebrate and rejoice, for yoʋr brother was dead but is now alive again; he was lost but has now been found.’”
