Luke 15

1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him.Now all the publicans and sinners were drawing near unto him to hear him. ✦

2 The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.”And both the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. ✦

3 He told them this parable:And he spake unto them this parable, saying, ✦

4 “Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep and lost one of them, wouldn’t leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that was lost, until he found it?What man of you, having a hundred sheep, and having lost one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? ✦

5 When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing.And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ✦

6 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!’And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and his neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost. ✦

7 I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.I say unto you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine righteous persons, who need no repentance. ✦

8 “Or what woman, if she had ten drachma^a coins, if she lost one drachma coin, wouldn’t light a lamp, sweep the house, and seek diligently until she found it?Or what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she find it? ✦

9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I had lost!’And when she hath found it, she calleth together her friends and neighbors, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I had lost. ✦

10 Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting.”Even so, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. ✦

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

12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of your property.’ So he divided his livelihood between them.and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of thy substance that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. ✦

13 Not many days after, the younger son gathered all of this together and traveled into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living.And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together and took his journey into a far country; and there he wasted his substance with riotous living. ✦

14 When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need.And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that country; and he began to be in want. ✦

15 He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs.And he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. ✦

16 He wanted to fill his belly with the pods that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any.And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. ✦

17 But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare, and I’m dying with hunger!But when he came to himself he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish here with hunger! ✦

18 I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight.I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight: ✦

19 I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.”’I am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. ✦

20 “He arose and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and ran, fell on his neck, and kissed him.And he arose, and came to his father. But while he was yet afar off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. ✦

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

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.But the father said to his servants, Bring forth quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: ✦

23 Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let’s eat and celebrate;and bring the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and make merry: ✦

24 for this, my son, was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.’ Then they began to celebrate.for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. ✦

25 “Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing.Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. ✦

26 He called one of the servants to him and asked what was going on.And he called to him one of the servants, and inquired what these things might be. ✦

27 He said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and healthy.’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. ✦

28 But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and begged him.But he was angry, and would not go in: and his father came out, and entreated him. ✦

29 But he answered his father, ‘Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.But he answered and said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, and I never transgressed a commandment of thine; and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: ✦

30 But when this your son came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’but when this thy son came, who hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou killedst for him the fatted calf. ✦

31 “He said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that is mine is thine. ✦

32 But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’”But it was meet to make merry and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. ✦