Luke 15
1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him.
Now, all the publicans and the sinners resorted to Jesus, to hear him.
2 The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them."
But the Pharisees and the Scribes murmured, saying, This man admits sinners, and eats with them.
3 He told them this parable.
Then he addressed this similitude to them:
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, amongst you, who has a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the desert, to go after that which is lost, till he find it?
5 When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
And having found it, does he not joyfully lay 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.'
and when he is come home, convene his friends and neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost?
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.
Thus, I assure you, there is greater joy in heaven for one sinner who reforms, than for ninety-nine righteous persons, who need no reformation.
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 what woman, who has ten drachmas, if she lose one, does not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and search carefully till she find 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 having found it, does she not assemble her female friends and neighbors, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I had lost!
10 Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting."
Such joy, I assure you, have the angels of God, when any sinner reforms.
11 He said, "A certain man had two sons.
He said, also, A certain man 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.
and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me my portion of the estate. And he allotted to them their shares.
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.
Soon after, the younger son gathered all together, and traveled into a distant country, and there wasted his substance in riot.
14 When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need.
When all was spent, a great famine came upon that land, and he began to be in want.
15 He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
Then he applied to one of the inhabitants of the country, who sent him into his fields to keep swine.
16 And he wanted to fill himself with the carob pods that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any.
And he desired to appease his hunger with the husks on which the swine were feeding; for no person 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.
At length, coming to himself, he said, How many hirelings has my father, who have all more bread than suffices them, 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, and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and you,
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants."'
and am no longer worthy to be called your son.
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.
And he arose, and went to his father. When he was yet afar off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and threw himself upon 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.'
And the son said, Father, I have sinned against heaven and you, and am no longer worthy to be called your 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 here the principal robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his finger, and shoes on his feet:
23 Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat, and celebrate;
bring also the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and be merry;
24 for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.' They began to celebrate.
for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. So they began to be merry.
25 "Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
Now his elder son was in the field, walking home. And as he drew near the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 He called one of the servants to him, and asked what was going on.
He, therefore, called one of the servants, and asked the reason of this.
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.'
He answered, Your brother is returned, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him in health.
28 But he was angry, and would not go in. Therefore his father came out, and pleaded with him.
And he was angry, and would not go in; therefore, his father came out, and entreated 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.
He answering, said to his father, These many years I have served you, without disobeying your command in anything; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might entertain my friends;
30 But when this, your son, came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.'
but no sooner did this, your son, return, who had squandered your living on prostitutes, than you killed for him the fatted calf.
31 "He said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
Son, replied the father, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours:
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.'"
it was but reasonable that we should rejoice and be merry; because this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.
