< Luke 15 >

1 But all the tax-collectors and the sinners were, unto him, drawing near, to be hearkening unto him;
Now tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to him, so that they might listen to him.
2 and both the Pharisees and the Scribes were murmuring, saying, This man, unto sinners, giveth welcome, and eateth with them.
And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This one accepts sinners and eats with them.”
3 And he spake unto them this parable, saying—
And he told this parable to them, saying:
4 What man from among you, having a hundred sheep, and losing, from among them, one, doth not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go his way after the lost one, until he find it?
“What man among you, who has one hundred sheep, and if he will have lost one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the one whom he had lost, until he finds it?
5 And, finding it, he layeth it upon his shoulders, rejoicing;
And when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 and, coming unto his house, calleth together the friends and the neighbours, saying unto them—Rejoice with me! because I have found my sheep that was lost!
And returning home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them: ‘Congratulate me! For I have found my sheep, which had been lost.’
7 I say unto you—Thus, joy in heaven, will there be, over one sinner repenting, rather than over ninety-nine righteous persons, who indeed have, no need, of repentance.
I say to you, that there will be so much more joy in heaven over one sinner repenting, than over the ninety-nine just, who do not need to repent.
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 carefully, until she find it?
Or what woman, having ten drachmas, if she will have lost one drachma, would not light a candle, and sweep the house, and diligently search until she finds it?
9 And, having found it, she calleth together her female friends and neighbours, saying—Rejoice with me! because I have found the piece of silver which I had lost.
And 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.’
10 Thus, I say unto you, there ariseth joy in presence of the messengers of God, over one sinner repenting.
So I say to you, there will be joy before the Angels of God over even one sinner who is repentant.”
11 And he said—A certain man, had two sons.
And he said: “A certain man had two sons.
12 And the younger of them said unto the father—Father! give me the share that falleth to me, of what there is. And, he, divided unto them the living.
And the younger of them said to the father, ‘Father, give me the portion of your estate which would go to me.’ And he divided the estate between them.
13 And, after not many days, the younger son, gathering all together, left home for a country far away, and, there, squandered his substance with riotous living.
And after not many days, the younger son, gathering it all together, set out on a long journey to a distant region. And there, he dissipated his substance, living in luxury.
14 And, when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine throughout that country, —and, he, began to be in want.
And after he had consumed it all, a great famine occurred in that region, and he began to be in need.
15 And he went his way, and joined himself unto one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to be feeding swine.
And he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that region. And he sent him to his farm, in order to feed the swine.
16 And he used to long to be filled with the pods which the swine were eating; and, no man, was giving unto him.
And he wanted to fill his belly with the scraps that the swine ate. But no one would give it to him.
17 But coming, to himself, he said—How many hired servants of my father, have bread enough and to spare, whereas, I, with famine, here, am perishing!
And returning to his senses, he said: ‘How many hired hands in my father’s house have abundant bread, while I perish here in famine!
18 I will arise, and go unto my father, and will say unto him—Father! I have sinned against heaven, and before thee:
I shall rise up and go to my father, and I will say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.
19 No longer, am I worthy to be called a son of thine, —Make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came unto his own father.
I am not worthy to be called your son. Make me one of your hired hands.’
20 Now, while yet he was holding afar off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and, running, fell upon his neck, and tenderly kissed him.
And rising up, he went to his father. But while he was still at a distance, his father saw him, and he was moved with compassion, and running to him, he fell upon his neck and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him—Father! I have sinned against heaven, and before thee: No longer, am I worthy to be called a son of thine, —[make me as one of thy hired servants.]
And the son said to him: ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. Now I am not worthy to be called your son.’
22 But the father said unto his servants—Quick! bring forth a robe—the best! and put on him, and get out a ring for his hand, and sandals for his feet.
But the father said to his servants: ‘Quickly! Bring out the best robe, and clothe him with it. And put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet.
23 And be bringing the fatted calf, sacrifice! and let us eat and make merry:
And bring the fatted calf here, and kill it. And let us eat and hold a feast.
24 Because, this my son, was, dead, and hath come to life again, was lost, and is found. And they began to be making merry.
For this son of mine was dead, and has revived; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to feast.
25 But his elder son was in a field; and, as, in coming, he drew near unto the house, he heard music and dancing, —
But his elder son was in the field. And when he returned and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 and, calling near one of the youths, he inquired what these things, could be.
And he called one of the servants, and he questioned him as to what these things meant.
27 And, he, said unto him, —Thy brother, hath come, and thy father hath sacrificed the fatted calf, because, safe and sound, hath he received him back.
And he said to him: ‘Your brother has returned, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safely.’
28 But he was provoked to anger, and would not go in. And, his father, coming out, began to entreat him.
Then he became indignant, and he was unwilling to enter. Therefore, his father, going out, began to plead with him.
29 But, he, answering said unto his father—Lo! so many years as these, do I serve thee, and, at no time, a commandment of thine, have I transgressed, —And, unto me, at no time, hast thou given a kid, that, with my friends, I might make merry;
And in response, he said to his father: ‘Behold, I have been serving you for so many years. And I have never transgressed your commandment. And yet, you have never given me even a young goat, so that I might feast with my friends.
30 But, when, this thy son, who had devoured thy living with harlots, came, thou didst sacrifice, for him, the fatted calf;
Yet after this son of yours returned, who has devoured his substance with loose women, you have killed the fatted calf for him.’
31 But, he, said unto him—Child! thou, always, art, with me, and, all that is mine, is, thine;
But he said to him: ‘Son, you are with me always, and all that I have is yours.
32 But, to make merry and rejoice, there was need, because, this thy brother—was, dead, and hath come to life again, and was lost, and is found.
But it was necessary to feast and to rejoice. For this brother of yours was dead, and has revived; he was lost, and is found.’”

< Luke 15 >