Luke, 15

1. Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.

1. Meanwhile tax collectors and sinners were seeking the company of Jesus, all of them eager to hear what he had to say.

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

2. But the Pharisees and the scribes frowned at this, muttering. "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

3. And he spake this parable unto them, saying,

3. So Jesus told them this parable:

4. What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

4. "Who among you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, will not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and seek out the lost one till he finds it?

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

5. And finding it, will he not joyfully carry it home on his shoulders?

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

6. Then he will call his friends and neighbors together and say: 'Celebrate with me for I have found my lost sheep.'

7. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

7. I tell you, just so, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine upright who do not need to repent.

8. Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find [it]?

8. What woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one, will not light a lamp and sweep the house in a thorough search till she finds the lost coin?

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

9. And finding it, she will call her friends and neighbors and say: 'Celebrate with me for I have found the silver coin I lost!'

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

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

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

11. Jesus continued, "There was a man with two sons.

12. And the younger of them said to [his] father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth [to me]. And he divided unto them [his] living.

12. The younger said to his father: 'Give me my share of the estate.' So the father divided his property between them.

13. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

13. Some days later, the younger son gathered all his belongings and started off for a distant land where he squandered his wealth in loose living.

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

14. Having spent everything, he was hard pressed when a severe famine broke out in that land.

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

15. So he hired himself out to a well-to-do citizen of that place and was sent to work on a pig farm.

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

16. So famished was he that he longed to fill his stomach even with the food given to the pigs, but no one offered him anything.

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

17. Finally coming to his senses, he said: 'How many of my father's hired workers have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!

18. I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

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

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

19. I no longer deserve to be called your son. Treat me then as one of your hired servants.' With that thought in mind he set off for his father's house.

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

20. He was still a long way off when his father caught sight of him. His father was so deeply moved with compassion that he ran out to meet him, threw his arms around his neck and kissed him.

21. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

21. The son said: 'Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you. I no longer deserve to be called your son...'

22. But 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:

22. But the father turned to his servants: 'Quick! Bring out the finest robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

23. And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill [it]; and let us eat, and be merry:

23. Take the fattened calf and kill it. We shall celebrate and have a feast,

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

24. for this son of mine was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and is found.' And the celebration began.

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

25. Meanwhile, the elder son had been working in the fields. As he returned and was near the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing.

26. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

26. He called one of the servants and asked what it was all about.

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

27. The servant answered: 'Your brother has come home safe and sound, and your father is so happy about it that he has ordered this celebration and killed the fattened calf.'

28. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

28. The elder son became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and pleaded with him.

29. And he answering said to [his] father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

29. The indignant son said: 'Look, I have slaved for you all these years. Never have I disobeyed your orders. Yet you have never given me even a young goat to celebrate with my friends.

30. But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

30. Then when this son of yours returns after squandering your property with loose women, you kill the fattened calf for him.'

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

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

32. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

32. But this brother of yours was dead, and has come back to life. He was lost and is found. And for that we had to rejoice and be glad.'"