Luke 15
1 Now all the publicans and sinners were drawing near unto him for to hear him.
Now the tax-gatherers and the notorious sinners were everywhere in the habit of coming close to Him to listen to Him;
2 And both the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
and this led the Pharisees and the Scribes indignantly to complain, saying, "He gives a welcome to notorious sinners, and joins them at their meals!"
3 And he spake unto them this parable, saying,
So in figurative language He asked them,
4 What man of you, having a hundred sheep, and having lost one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
"Which of you men, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in their pasture and go in search of the lost one till he finds it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
And when he has found it, he lifts it on his shoulder, glad at heart.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and his neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.
Then coming home he calls his friends and neighbours together, and says, 'Congratulate me, for I have found my sheep--the one I had lost.'
7 I say unto you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, [more] than over ninety and nine righteous persons, which need no repentance.
I tell you that in the same way there will be rejoicing in Heaven over one repentant sinner--more rejoicing than over ninety-nine blameless persons who have no need of repentance.
8 Or what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she find it?
"Or 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 till she finds it?
9 And when she hath found it, she calleth together her friends and neighbours, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I had lost.
And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, and says, "'Congratulate me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.'
10 Even so, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
"I tell you that in the same way there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one repentant sinner."
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
He went on to say, "There was a man who had two sons.
12 and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of [thy] substance that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
The younger of them said to his father, "'Father, give me the share of the property that comes to me.' "So he divided his wealth between them.
13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country; and there he wasted his substance with riotous living.
No long time afterwards the younger son got all together and travelled to a distant country, where he wasted his money in debauchery and excess.
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that country; and he began to be in want.
At last, when he had spent everything, there came a terrible famine throughout that country, and he began to feel the pinch of want.
15 And he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
So he went and hired himself to one of the inhabitants of that country, who sent him on to his farm to tend swine;
16 And he would fain have been filled with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
and he longed to make a hearty meal of the pods the swine were eating, but no one gave him any.
17 But when he came to himself he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish here with hunger!
"But on coming to himself he said, "'How many of my father's hired men have more bread than they want, while I here 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 in thy sight:
I will rise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you:
19 I am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
I no longer deserve to be called a son of yours: treat me as one of your hired men.'
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But while he was yet afar off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
"So he rose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and pitied him, and ran and threw his arms round his neck and kissed him tenderly.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight: I am no more worthy to be called thy son.
"'Father,' cried the son, 'I have sinned against Heaven and before you: no longer do I deserve to be called a son of yours.'
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
"But the father said to his servants, "'Fetch a good coat quickly--the best one--and put it on him; and bring a ring for his finger and shoes for his feet.
23 and bring the fatted calf, [and] kill it, and let us eat, and make merry:
Fetch the fat calf and kill it, and let us feast and enjoy ourselves;
24 for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
for my son here was dead and has come to life again: he was lost and has been found.' "And they began to be merry.
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.
"Now his elder son was out on the farm; and when he returned and came near home, he heard music and dancing.
26 And he called to him one of the servants, and inquired what these things might be.
Then he called one of the lads to him and asked what all this meant.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
"'Your brother has come,' he replied; 'and your father has had the fat calf killed, because he has got him home safe and sound.'
28 But he was angry, and would not go in: and his father came out, and entreated him.
"Then he was angry and would not go in. But his father came out and entreated him.
29 But he answered and said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, and I never transgressed a commandment of thine: and [yet] thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
"'All these years,' replied the son, 'I have been slaving for you, and I have never at any time disobeyed any of your orders, and yet you have never given me so much as a kid, for me to enjoy myself with my friends;
30 but when this thy son came, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou killedst for him the fatted calf.
but now that this son of yours is come who has eaten up your property among his bad women, you have killed the fat calf for him.'
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that is mine is thine.
"'You my dear son,' said the father, 'are always with me, and all that is mine is also yours.
32 But it was meet to make merry and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive [again]; and [was] lost, and is found.
We are bound to make merry and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has come back to life, he was lost and has been found.'"
