15:1 Now all the tax collectors and the sinners came near Him to listen to Him. |
15:2 Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, "This man receives sinners and dines with them." |
15:3 So He told them this parable, saying, |
15:4 "What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one he has lost until he finds it? |
15:5 "When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. |
15:6 "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 I lost!' |
15:7 "I tell you that in the same way, there will come more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. |
15:8 "Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? |
15:9 "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!' |
15:10 "In the same way, I tell you, we find much joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." |
15:11 And He said, "A man had two sons. |
15:12 "The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.' So he divided his wealth between them. |
15:13 "And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. |
15:14 "Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to feel impoverished. |
15:15 "So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. |
15:16 "And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave anything to him. |
15:17 "But when he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I die here with hunger! |
15:18 'I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; |
15:19 I do not feel any longer worthy for you to call me your son; make me as one of your hired men."' |
15:20 "So he got up and came to his father. But while he walked still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. |
15:21 "And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I feel no longer worthy for you to call me your son.' |
15:22 "But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out 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, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; |
15:24 for this son of mine had died and has come to life again; I lost him and now I found him.' And they began to celebrate. |
15:25 "Now his older son worked in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. |
15:26 "And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could mean. |
15:27 "And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.' |
15:28 "But he became angry and did not feel willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. |
15:29 "But he answered and said to his father, 'Look! For so many years I have served you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; |
15:30 but when this son of yours came, who devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.' |
15:31 "And he said to him, 'Son, you have always remained with me, and all that I have belongs to you. |
15:32 'But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours had figuratively died and has begun to live, and we lost him and now we found him.'" |