Luke

The Gospel according to Saint Luke, chapter 15, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 15 New English Translation

The Parable of the Lost Sheep and Coin

   1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming to hear him. 2 But the Pharisees and the experts in the law were complaining, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
   3 So Jesus told them this parable: 4 "Which one of you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go look for the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 Then when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 Returning home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, telling them, 'Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.' 7 I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent.
   8 "Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search thoroughly until she finds it? 9 Then when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God's angels over one sinner who repents."

The Parable of the Compassionate Father

   11 Then Jesus said, "A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the estate that will belong to me.' So he divided his assets between them. 13 After a few days, the younger son gathered together all he had and left on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his wealth with a wild lifestyle. 14 Then after he had spent everything, a severe famine took place in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and worked for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He was longing to eat the carob pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to his senses he said, 'How many of my father's hired workers have food enough to spare, but here I am dying from hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father and say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired workers."' 20 So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way from home his father saw him, and his heart went out to him; he ran and hugged his son and kissed him. 21 Then his son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22 But the father said to his slaves, 'Hurry! Bring the best robe, and put it on him! Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet! 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it! Let us eat and celebrate, 24 because this son of mine was dead, and is alive again - he was lost and is found!' So they began to celebrate.
   25 "Now his older son was in the field. As he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the slaves and asked what was happening. 27 The slave replied, 'Your brother has returned, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he got his son back safe and sound.' 28 But the older son became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and appealed to him, 29 but he answered his father, 'Look! These many years I have worked like a slave for you, and I never disobeyed your commands. Yet you never gave me even a goat so that I could celebrate with my friends! 30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!' 31 Then the father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and everything that belongs to me is yours. 32 It was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost and is found.'"

King James Version

   1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
   2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
   3 ¶ And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
   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?
   5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
   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.
   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.
   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?
   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.
   10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
   11 ¶ And he said, A certain man had 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.
   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.
   14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
   15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
   16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
   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!
   18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
   19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
   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.
   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.
   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:
   23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
   24 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: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
   26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
   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.
   28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated 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:
   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.
   31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
   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.