15:1 Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him.
15:2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
15:3 Then Jesus told them this parable:
15:4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?
15:5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders
15:6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’
15:7 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.
15:8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?
15:9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’
15:10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
15:11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons.
15:12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
15:13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.
15:14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.
15:15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
15:16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
15:17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
15:18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
15:19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’
15:20 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.
15:21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
15:22 “But 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.
15:23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.
15:24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
15:25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.
15:26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.
15:27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
15:28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.
15:29 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.
15:30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
15:31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.
15:32 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.’”
15:1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to Him to hear Him.
15:2 And both the Pharisees and the scribes murmured among themselves, saying, This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.
15:3 And He told them this parable, saying,
15:4 Which man of you, who has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?
15:5 And when he finds it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
15:6 And when he comes into his house, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.
15:7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner repenting than over ninety-nine righteous persons who have no need of repentance.
15:8 Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one silver coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek carefully until she finds it?
15:9 And when she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I lost.
15:10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting.
15:11 And He said, A certain man had two sons.
15:12 And the younger of them said to the father, Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me. And he distributed to them his living.
15:13 And not many days after, the younger son, having gathered everything together, went abroad to a distant country and there squandered his estate by living dissolutely.
15:14 And when he had spent all, a severe famine occurred throughout that country, and he began to be in want.
15:15 And he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed hogs.
15:16 And he longed to be satisfied with the carob pods which the hogs were eating, and no one gave him anything.
15:17 But when he came to himself, he said, How many of my father s hired servants abound in bread, but I am perishing here in famine!
15:18 I will rise up and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.
15:19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.
15:20 And he rose up and came to his own father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and he ran and fell on his neck and kissed him affectionately.
15:21 And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.
15:22 But the father said to his slaves, Bring out quickly the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.
15:23 And bring the fattened calf; slaughter it, and let us eat and be merry,
15:24 Because this son of mine was dead and lives again; he was lost and has been found. And they began to be merry.
15:25 Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing,
15:26 And calling to him one of the servants, he inquired what these things might be.
15:27 And he said to him, Your brother has come, and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has received him back healthy.
15:28 But he became angry and was not willing to enter. And his father came out and entreated him.
15:29 But he answered and said to his father, Behold, so many years I have been slaving for you and have never neglected a command of yours, and you have never given me a goat that I might be merry with my friends;
15:30 But when this son of yours came, who devoured your living with harlots, you slaughtered for him the fattened calf.
15:31 And he said to him, Child, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
15:32 But we had to be merry and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life, and he was lost and has been found.