Add parallel Print Page Options

15 Then all the tax collectors and sinners came to Him, to hear Him.

Therefore, the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, “He receives sinners, and eats with them.”

Then He spoke this parable to them, saying,

“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after that which is lost until he finds it?

“And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders with joy.

“And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me! For I have found my sheep which was lost!’

“I say to you that joy shall likewise be in Heaven for one sinner who converts, more than for ninety-nine righteous ones who have no need of repentance.

“Or what woman having ten drachmas, if she loses one drachma, does not light a candle and sweep the house and seek diligently till she finds it?

“And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me! For I have found the coin which I had lost!’

10 “Likewise I say to you there is joy in the presence of the angels of God for one sinner who converts.”

11 He said moreover, “A certain man had two sons.

12 “And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of the goods that falls to me.’ So, he divided his livelihood among them.

13 “So, not many days after, when the younger son had gathered everything together, he took his journey into a far country. And there he wasted his goods with riotous living.

14 “Now, when he had spent everything, there arose a great famine throughout that land. And he began to be in want.

15 “Then he went and kept company with a citizen of that country. And he sent him to his farm to feed swine.

16 “And he would have filled his belly with the husks that the swine ate, but no one gave him any.

17 “Then he came to himself and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have enough bread, and I die for hunger?

18 ‘I will rise and go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and before you,

19 “and am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.”’

20 “So he arose and came to his father. And when he was still a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

21 “And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and before you, and am no more worthy to be called your son.’

22 “Then the father said to his servants, ‘Bring forth the best robe and put it on him! And put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet!

23 ‘And bring the fat calf and kill him! And let us eat and be merry!

24 ‘For this my son was dead, and is alive again! And he was lost, but he is found!’ And they began to be merry.

25 “Now the elder brother was in the field. And when he came and drew near to the house, he heard melody and dancing,

26 “And he called one of his servants and asked what those things meant.

27 “And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come. And your father has killed the fat calf because he has received him safe and sound.’

28 “Then he was angry, and would not go in. Therefore, his father came out and implored him.

29 “But he answered, and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have done you service and have always obeyed you! And yet you never gave me a kid that I might make merry with my friends!

30 ‘But when this, your son, had come - who had devoured your goods with harlots - you have killed the fat calf for his sake!’

31 “And he said to him, “Son, you are always with me. And all that I have is yours. It was fitting that we should celebrate and be glad. For this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. And he was lost, but he is found.”

The Parable of the Lost Sheep(A)

15 Now the tax collectors(B) and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”(C)

Then Jesus told them this parable:(D) “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?(E) And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’(F) I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.(G)

The Parable of the Lost Coin

“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’(H) 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”(I)

The Parable of the Lost Son

11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons.(J) 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’(K) So he divided his property(L) between them.

13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth(M) in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.(N) 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned(O) against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.(P)

21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.(Q) I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe(R) and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger(S) and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again;(T) he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.(U)

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

28 “The older brother became angry(V) and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property(W) with prostitutes(X) comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”(Y)

Footnotes

  1. Luke 15:8 Greek ten drachmas, each worth about a day’s wages