Luke 15

¹Now all the publicans and sinners were drawing near unto him to hear him.

²And both the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

³And he spake unto them this parable, saying,

⁴What 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?

⁵And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

⁶And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and his neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.

⁷I 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, who need no repentance.

⁸Or 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?

⁹And when she hath found it, she calleth together her friends and neighbors, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I had lost.

¹⁰Even so, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

¹¹And he said, A certain man had two sons:

¹²and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion ofthy substance that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

¹³And 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.

¹⁴And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that country; and he began to be in want.

¹⁵And he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

¹⁶And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

¹⁷But 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!

¹⁸I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight:

¹⁹I am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

²⁰And 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.

²¹And 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.

²²But 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:

²³and bring the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and make merry:

²⁴for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

²⁵Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.

²⁶And he called to him one of the servants, and inquired what these things might be.

²⁷And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

²⁸But he was angry, and would not go in: and his father came out, and entreated him.

²⁹But 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:

³⁰but when this thy son came, who hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou killedst for him the fatted calf.

³¹And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that is mine is thine.

³²But 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.

Luke 15

¹Now all the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around to listen to Jesus.

²So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

³Then Jesus told them this parable:

⁴“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?

⁵And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders,

⁶comes home, and calls together his friends and neighbors to tell them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep!’

⁷In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.

⁸Or what woman who has ten silver coins and loses one of them does not light a lamp, sweep her house, and search carefully until she finds it?

⁹And when she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors to say, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost coin.’

¹⁰In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”

¹¹Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons.

¹²The younger son said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

¹³After a few days, the younger son got everything together and journeyed to a distant country, where he squandered his wealth in wild living.

¹⁴After he had spent all he had, a severe famine swept through that country, and he began to be in need.

¹⁵So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.

¹⁶He longed to fill his belly with the pods the pigs were eating, but no one would give him a thing.

¹⁷Finally he came to his senses and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have plenty of food? But here I am, starving to death!

¹⁸I will get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

¹⁹I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’

²⁰So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.

²¹The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

²²But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

²³Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us feast and celebrate.

²⁴For this son of mine was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.

²⁵Meanwhile the older son was in the field, and as he approached the house, he heard music and dancing.

²⁶So he called one of the servants and asked what was going on.

²⁷‘Your brother has returned,’ he said, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and sound.’

²⁸The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him.

²⁹But he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I have served you and never disobeyed a commandment of yours. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.

³⁰But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

³¹‘Son, you are always with me,’ the father said, ‘and all that is mine is yours.

³²But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”