15:1 NOW THE tax collectors and [notorious and especially wicked] sinners were all coming near to [Jesus] to listen to Him. |
15:2 And the Pharisees and the scribes kept muttering {and} indignantly complaining, saying, This man accepts {and} receives {and} welcomes [preeminently wicked] sinners and eats with them. |
15:3 So He told them this parable: |
15:4 What man of you, if he has a hundred sheep and should lose one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness (desert) and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? |
15:5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his [own] shoulders, rejoicing. |
15:6 And when he gets home, he summons together [his] friends and [his] neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep which was lost. |
15:7 Thus, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one [especially] wicked person who repents (changes his mind, abhorring his errors and misdeeds, and determines to enter upon a better course of life) than over ninety-nine righteous persons who have no need of repentance. |
15:8 Or what woman, having ten [silver] drachmas [each one equal to a day's wages], if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and look carefully {and} diligently until she finds it? |
15:9 And when she has found it, she summons her [women] friends and neighbors, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the silver coin which I had lost. |
15:10 Even so, I tell you, there is joy among {and} in the presence of the angels of God over one [especially] wicked person who repents (changes his mind for the better, heartily amending his ways, with abhorrence of his past sins). |
15:11 And He said, There was a certain man who had two sons; |
15:12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the part of the property that falls [to me]. And he divided the estate between them. |
15:13 And not many days after that, the younger son gathered up all that he had and journeyed into a distant country, and there he wasted his fortune in reckless {and} loose [from restraint] living. |
15:14 And when he had spent all he had, a mighty famine came upon that country, and he began to fall behind {and} be in want. |
15:15 So he went and forced (glued) himself upon one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed hogs. |
15:16 And he would gladly have fed on {and} {filled his belly with} the carob pods that the hogs were eating, but [they could not satisfy his hunger and] nobody gave him anything [better]. |
15:17 Then when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father have enough food, and [even food] to spare, but I am perishing (dying) here of hunger! |
15:18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. |
15:19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; [just] make me like one of your hired servants. |
15:20 So he got up and came to his [own] father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity {and} tenderness [for him]; and he ran and embraced him and kissed him [fervently]. |
15:21 And 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 [I no longer deserve to be recognized as a son of yours]! |
15:22 But the father said to his bond servants, Bring quickly the best robe (the festive robe of honor) and put it on him; and give him a ring for his hand and sandals for his feet. |
15:23 And bring out that [wheat-]fattened calf and kill it; and let us revel {and} feast {and} be happy {and} make merry, |
15:24 Because this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found! And they began to revel {and} feast {and} make merry. |
15:25 But his older son was in the field; and as he returned and came near the house, he heard music and dancing. |
15:26 And having called one of the servant [boys] to him, he began to ask what this meant. |
15:27 And he said to him, Your brother has come, and your father has killed that [wheat-]fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and well. |
15:28 But [the elder brother] was angry [with deep-seated wrath] and resolved not to go in. Then his father came out and began to plead with him, |
15:29 But he answered his father, Look! These many years I have served you, and I have never disobeyed your command. Yet you never gave me [so much as] a [little] kid, that I might revel {and} feast {and} be happy {and} make merry with my friends; |
15:30 But when this son of yours arrived, who has devoured your estate with immoral women, you have killed for him that [wheat-] fattened calf! |
15:31 And the father said to him, Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. |
15:32 But it was fitting to make merry, to revel {and} feast and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found! |