15
1 Now
all the tax
collectors and sinners
were coming close
to him to hear
him.
2 The
Pharisees and the
scribes murmured,
saying, “This man
welcomes sinners, and
eats with them.”
3 He
told them this
parable:
4 “Which of you
men, if you
had one hundred
sheep and lost
one of them,
wouldn’t leave
the ninety-nine
in the
wilderness and
go after the
one that
was lost, until
he found it?
5 When he has
found it,
he carries it on
his shoulders,
rejoicing.
6 When he comes
home, he calls
together his
friends and his
neighbors, saying
to them, ‘Rejoice
with me, for
I have found
my sheep which
was lost!’
7 I tell you
that even so
there will be
more joy in
heaven over
one sinner who
repents, than
over ninety-nine
righteous people
who need no
repentance.
8 “Or what woman,
if she had
ten drachma
coins, if
she lost one drachma
coin, wouldn’t
light a lamp,
sweep the house,
and seek
diligently until
she found it?
9 When she has
found it, she
calls together
her friends and
neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice
with me, for
I have found
the drachma which
I had lost!’
10 Even so, I
tell you, there
is joy in
the presence of
the angels of
God over
one sinner repenting.”
11 He
said,
“A certain man
had two sons.
12 The younger of
them said to
his father, ‘Father, give me my
share of
your property.’ So
he divided
his livelihood between
them.
13 Not many days
after, the
younger son
gathered all of
this together
and traveled into
a far country.
There he wasted
his property with riotous
living.
14 When he had
spent all of
it, there arose
a severe famine
in that country,
and he began
to be in
need.
15 He went and
joined himself
to one of
the citizens of
that country,
and he sent
him into his
fields to feed
pigs.
16 He wanted to
fill his belly
with the pods
that the pigs
ate, but no
one gave him
any.
17 But when he
came to himself,
he said, ‘How
many hired servants
of my father’s
have bread enough
to spare, and I’m
dying with hunger!
18 I will get
up and go
to my father,
and will tell
him, “Father, I
have sinned against
heaven and in
your sight.
19 I am no
more worthy to
be called your
son. Make me
as one of
your hired servants.” ’
20 “He arose and
came to his
father. But
while he was
still far off,
his father saw
him and was
moved with
compassion, and
ran, fell on
his neck, and
kissed him.
21 The son said
to him, ‘Father,
I have sinned
against heaven
and in your
sight. I am
no longer worthy
to be called
your son.’
22 “But the father
said to his
servants, ‘Bring
out the best
robe and put
it on him.
Put a ring
on his hand
and sandals on
his feet.
23 Bring the
fattened calf,
kill it, and
let’s eat and
celebrate;
24 for this, my
son, was dead
and is alive
again. He
was lost and is
found.’ Then
they began to
celebrate.
25 “Now his elder
son was in
the field. As he
came near to
the house,
he heard music
and dancing.
26 He called one
of the servants
to him and
asked what was
going on.
27 He said to
him, ‘Your brother
has come, and
your father has
killed the
fattened calf,
because he
has received him back
safe and healthy.’
28 But he was
angry and would
not go in.
Therefore his
father came out
and begged him.
29 But he answered
his father, ‘Behold, these many
years I have
served you, and
I never
disobeyed a
commandment of
yours, but you
never gave me
a goat, that
I might
celebrate with
my friends.
30 But when this
your son came,
who has devoured
your living with
prostitutes, you
killed the
fattened calf
for him.’
31 “He said to
him, ‘Son, you
are always with
me, and all
that is mine
is yours.
32 But it
was appropriate to
celebrate and be
glad, for this,
your brother, was
dead, and is
alive again. He
was lost, and is
found.’ ”