15:1 | Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. |
15:2 | And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, "This Man receives sinners and eats with them." |
15:3 | So He spoke this parable to them, saying: |
15:4 | "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?" |
15:5 | And 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 neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep which was lost!'" |
15:7 | I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety nine just persons who need no repentance." |
15:8 | "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search diligently until she finds it?" |
15:9 | And when she has found it, she calls her friends and her neighbors together, saying, 'Rejoice with me, because I have found the piece which I lost!'" |
15:10 | Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." |
15:11 | Then He said: "A certain man had two sons." |
15:12 | And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.' So he divided to them his livelihood." |
15:13 | And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with reckless living." |
15:14 | But when he had spent everything, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in need." |
15:15 | Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine." |
15:16 | And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave anything to him." |
15:17 | "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have enough bread and to spare, and I perish with hunger!" |
15:18 | I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you," |
15:19 | and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants."' |
15:20 | "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him." |
15:21 | And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.'" |
15:22 | "But the father said to his servants, '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 fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;" |
15:24 | because this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry." |
15:25 | "Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing." |
15:26 | So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant." |
15:27 | And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.'" |
15:28 | "But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him." |
15:29 | So he replied and said to his father, 'Behold, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might be merry with my friends." |
15:30 | But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.'" |
15:31 | "And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours." |
15:32 | It was right that we should make merry and be glad, because that your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.'" |