Luke 15
1 Now the tax-gatherers and the notorious sinners were everywhere in the habit of coming close to Him to listen to Him;
But all the tax-collectors and the sinners were, unto him, drawing near, to be hearkening unto him;
2 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!"
and both the Pharisees and the Scribes were murmuring, saying, This man, unto sinners, giveth welcome, and eateth with them.
3 So in figurative language He asked them,
And he spake unto them this parable, saying—
4 "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?
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?
5 And when he has found it, he lifts it on his shoulder, glad at heart.
And, finding it, he layeth it upon his shoulders, rejoicing;
6 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.'
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!
7 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.
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.
8 "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?
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?
9 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.'
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.
10 "I tell you that in the same way there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one repentant sinner."
Thus, I say unto you, there ariseth joy in presence of the messengers of God, over one sinner repenting.
11 He went on to say, "There was a man who had two sons.
And he said—A certain man, had two sons.
12 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.
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.
13 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.
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.
14 At last, when he had spent everything, there came a terrible famine throughout that country, and he began to feel the pinch of want.
And, when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine throughout that country, —and, he, began to be in want.
15 So he went and hired himself to one of the inhabitants of that country, who sent him on to his farm to tend swine;
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.
16 and he longed to make a hearty meal of the pods the swine were eating, but no one gave him any.
And he used to long to be filled with the pods which the swine were eating; and, no man, was giving unto him.
17 "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!
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!
18 I will rise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you:
I will arise, and go unto my father, and will say unto him—Father! I have sinned against heaven, and before thee:
19 I no longer deserve to be called a son of yours: treat me as one of your hired men.'
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.
20 "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.
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.
21 "'Father,' cried the son, 'I have sinned against Heaven and before you: no longer do I deserve to be called a son of yours.'
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.]
22 "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.
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.
23 Fetch the fat calf and kill it, and let us feast and enjoy ourselves;
And be bringing the fatted calf, sacrifice! and let us eat and make merry:
24 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.
Because, this my son, was, dead, and hath come to life again, was lost, and is found. And they began to be making merry.
25 "Now his elder son was out on the farm; and when he returned and came near home, he heard music and dancing.
But his elder son was in a field; and, as, in coming, he drew near unto the house, he heard music and dancing, —
26 Then he called one of the lads to him and asked what all this meant.
and, calling near one of the youths, he inquired what these things, could be.
27 "'Your brother has come,' he replied; 'and your father has had the fat calf killed, because he has got him home safe and sound.'
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.
28 "Then he was angry and would not go in. But his father came out and entreated him.
But he was provoked to anger, and would not go in. And, his father, coming out, began to entreat him.
29 "'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;
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;
30 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.'
But, when, this thy son, who had devoured thy living with harlots, came, thou didst sacrifice, for him, the fatted calf;
31 "'You my dear son,' said the father, 'are always with me, and all that is mine is also yours.
But, he, said unto him—Child! thou, always, art, with me, and, all that is mine, is, thine;
32 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.'"
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.
