Luke 15
1 The tax collectors and the outcasts were all drawing near to Jesus to listen to him;
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around to listen to Jesus.
2 but the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law found fault. “This man always welcomes outcasts, and takes meals with them!” they complained.
So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 So Jesus told them this parable –
Then Jesus told them this parable:
4 “Who among you who has a hundred sheep, and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine out in the open country, and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?
“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?
5 And, when he has found it, he puts it on his shoulders rejoicing;
And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders,
6 and, on reaching home, he calls his friends and his neighbors together, and says ‘Come and rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.’
comes home, and calls together his friends and neighbors to tell them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep!’
7 So, I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one outcast who repents, than over ninety-nine religious people, who have no need to repent.
In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.
8 Or again, 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 until she finds it?
Or what woman who has ten silver coins and loses one of them does not light a lamp, sweep her house, and search carefully until she finds it?
9 And, when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, and says ‘Come and rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I lost.’
And when she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors to say, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost coin.’
10 So, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of God’s angels over one outcast who repents.”
In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
11 Then Jesus continued, “A man had two sons;
Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons.
12 and the younger of them said to his father ‘Father, give me my share of the inheritance.’ So the father divided the property between them.
The younger son said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 A few days later the younger son got together all that he had, and went away into a distant land; and there he squandered his inheritance by leading a dissolute life.
After a few days, the younger son got everything together and journeyed to a distant country, where he squandered his wealth in wild living.
14 After he has spent all that he had, there was a severe famine through all that country, and he began to be in actual want.
After he had spent all he had, a severe famine swept through that country, and he began to be in need.
15 So he went and engaged himself to one of the people of that country, who sent him into his fields to tend pigs.
So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.
16 He even longed to satisfy his hunger with the bean-pods on which the pigs were feeding; and no one gave him anything.
He longed to fill his belly with the pods the pigs were eating, but no one would give him a thing.
17 But, when he came to himself, he said ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more bread than they can eat, while here am I starving to death!
Finally he came to his senses and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have plenty of food? But here I am, starving to death!
18 I will get up and go to my father, and say to him “Father, I sinned against heaven and against you;
I will get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
19 I am no longer fit to be called your son; make me one of your hired servants.”’
I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’
20 And he got up and went to his father. But, while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was deeply moved; he ran and threw his arms around his neck and kissed him.
So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.
21 ‘Father,’ the son said, ‘I sinned against heaven and against you; I am no longer fit to be called your son; make me one of your hired servants.’
The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 But the father turned to his servants and said ‘Be quick and fetch a robe – the very best – and put it on him; give him a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet;
But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
23 and bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry;
Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us feast and celebrate.
24 for here is my son who was dead, and is alive again, was lost, and is found.’ So they began making merry.
For this son of mine was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.
25 Meanwhile the elder son was out in the fields; but, on coming home, when he got near the house, he heard music and dancing,
Meanwhile the older son was in the field, and as he approached the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 and he called one of the servants and asked what it all meant.
So he called one of the servants and asked what was going on.
27 ‘Your brother has come back,’ the servant told him, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and sound.’
‘Your brother has returned,’ he said, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 This made him angry, and he would not go in. But his father came out and begged him to do so.
The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him.
29 ‘No,’ he said to his father, ‘look at all the years I have been serving you, without ever once disobeying you, and yet you have never given me even a young goat, so that I might have a party with my friends.
But he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I have served you and never disobeyed a commandment of yours. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
30 But, no sooner has this son of yours come, who has eaten up your property in the company of prostitutes, than you have killed the fattened calf for him.’
But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 ‘Child,’ the father answered, ‘you are always with me, and everything that I have is yours.
‘Son, you are always with me,’ the father said, ‘and all that is mine is yours.
32 But how could we not celebrate and rejoice? Here is your brother who was dead and is alive, who was lost and is found.’”
But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
