Luke 15
1 And publicans and sinners came to him, 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 the Scribes and Pharisees murmured, and said: 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 Jesus spoke to them this similitude:
So in figurative language He asked them,
4 What man among you, that hath a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the desert, and go and seek for 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 findeth it, he rejoiceth, and taketh it upon his shoulders;
And when he has found it, he lifts it on his shoulder, glad at heart.
6 and he cometh home, and he calleth together his friends and neighbors, and saith to them: Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep that 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 to you, that there will thus be joy in heaven, over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just ones, to whom repentance was not necessary.
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 is there, who, if she have ten drachmas, and lose one of them, doth not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and search for it carefully, 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 neighbors, and saith to them: Rejoice with me, for I have found my drachma that was 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 I say to you, That there will thus be joy, before 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 Jesus said to them again: A certain man had two sons.
He went on to say, "There was a man who had two sons.
12 And his younger son said to him: My father, give me the portion that falleth to me from thy house. And he divided to them his property.
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 after a few days, the younger son collected together all that fell to him, and went to a distant place and there squandered his property, by living in dissipation.
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 consumed all that he had, there occurred a great famine in that place; 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 connected himself with one of the citizens of that place: and he sent him into the field to tend 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 longed to fill his belly with those pods which the swine ate: and no one gave to him.
and he longed to make a hearty meal of the pods the swine were eating, but no one gave him any.
17 And when he came to himself, he said: How many hired servants are now at my father's house, who have bread enough, and I am here perishing 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 say to him: My father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee;
I will rise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you:
19 and am no longer worthy to be called thy son. Make me like 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 went towards his father. And he was yet at a distance, when his father saw him; and he pitied him, and ran, and fell upon 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 his son said to him: My father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am not 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 his father said to his servants: Bring forth the best robe, and clothe him, and put a ring on his hand, and supply him with shoes.
"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 forth and slay the fatted bullock; and let us eat, and be 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; 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 But his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard the sound of the singing of many.
"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 one of the boys, and asked him what it meant.
Then he called one of the lads to him and asked what all this meant.
27 And he said to him: Thy brother hath come; and thy father hath killed the fatted bullock, because he hath received him in health.
"'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 And he was angry, and would not go in: and his father went out and entreated him.
"Then he was angry and would not go in. But his father came out and entreated him.
29 And he said to his father: Lo, these many years have I labored in thy service, and never transgressed thy command; and 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 for this thy son, when he had dissipated thy property with harlots, and came home, thou hast slain the fatted bullock for him.
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 His father said to him: My son, thou hast been ever with me, and all that I have, 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 proper for us to be merry, and to rejoice; because this thy brother was dead, and is alive; he 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.'"
