Luke, 15

1. The tax collectors and sinners, however, were all crowding round to listen to him,

1. Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.

2. and the Pharisees and scribes complained saying, 'This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.'

2. And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."

3. So he told them this parable:

3. So he told them this parable:

4. 'Which one of you with a hundred sheep, if he lost one, would fail to leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the missing one till he found it?

4. "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he 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?

5. And when he found it, would he not joyfully take it on his shoulders

5. And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

6. and then, when he got home, call together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, "Rejoice with me, I have found my sheep that was lost."

6. And 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. In the same way, I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner repenting than over ninety-nine upright people who have no need of repentance.

7. Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

8. 'Or again, what woman with ten drachmas would not, if she lost one, light a lamp and sweep out the house and search thoroughly till she found it?

8. "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?

9. And then, when she had found it, call together her friends and neighbours, saying to them, "Rejoice with me, I have found the drachma I lost."

9. And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, `Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.'

10. In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing among the angels of God over one repentant sinner.'

10. Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

11. Then he said, 'There was a man who had two sons.

11. And he said, "There was a man who had two sons;

12. The younger one said to his father, "Father, let me have the share of the estate that will come to me." So the father divided the property between them.

12. and the younger of them said to his father, `Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.' And he divided his living between them.

13. A few days later, the younger son got together everything he had and left for a distant country where he squandered his money on a life of debauchery.

13. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living.

14. 'When he had spent it all, that country experienced a severe famine, and now he began to feel the pinch;

14. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want.

15. so he hired himself out to one of the local inhabitants who put him on his farm to feed the pigs.

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

16. And he would willingly have filled himself with the husks the pigs were eating but no one would let him have them.

16. And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything.

17. Then he came to his senses and said, "How many of my father's hired men have all the food they want and more, and here am I dying of hunger!

17. But when he came to himself he said, `How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger!

18. I will leave this place and go to my father and say: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;

18. I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you;

19. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired men."

19. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants."'

20. So he left the place and went back to his father. 'While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran to the boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him.

20. And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

21. Then his son said, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son."

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.'

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

22. But the father said to his servants, `Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet;

23. Bring the calf we have been fattening, and kill it; we will celebrate by having a feast,

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

24. because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found." And they began to celebrate.

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

25. 'Now the elder son was out in the fields, and on his way back, as he drew near the house, he could hear music and dancing.

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

26. Calling one of the servants he asked what it was all about.

26. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant.

27. The servant told him, "Your brother has come, and your father has killed the calf we had been fattening because he has got him back safe and sound."

27. And he said to him, `Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.'

28. He was angry then and refused to go in, and his father came out and began to urge him to come in;

28. But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,

29. but he retorted to his father, "All these years I have slaved for you and never once disobeyed any orders of yours, yet you never offered me so much as a kid for me to celebrate with my friends.

29. but he answered his father, `Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends.

30. But, for this son of yours, when he comes back after swallowing up your property -- he and his loose women -- you kill the calf we had been fattening."

30. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!'

31. 'The father said, "My son, you are with me always and all I have is yours.

31. And he said to him, `Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.

32. But it was only right we should celebrate and rejoice, because your brother here was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found." '

32. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"