1The tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus.2But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were whispering among themselves. They said, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’3Then Jesus told them a story.4He said, ‘Suppose one of you has 100 sheep and loses one of them. Won’t he leave the 99 in the open country? Won’t he go and look for the one lost sheep until he finds it?5When he finds it, he will joyfully put it on his shoulders6and go home. Then he will call his friends and neighbours together. He will say, “Be joyful with me. I have found my lost sheep.”7I tell you, it will be the same in heaven. There will be great joy when one sinner turns away from sin. Yes, there will be more joy than for 99 godly people who do not need to turn away from their sins.
The story of the lost coin
8‘Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the house? Won’t she search carefully until she finds the coin?9And when she finds it, she will call her friends and neighbours together. She will say, “Be joyful with me. I have found my lost coin.”10I tell you, it is the same in heaven. There is joy in heaven over one sinner who turns away from sin.’
The story of the lost son
11Jesus continued, ‘There was a man who had two sons.12The younger son spoke to his father. He said, “Father, give me my share of the family property.” So the father divided his property between his two sons.13‘Not long after that, the younger son packed up all he had. Then he left for a country far away. There he wasted his money on wild living.14He spent everything he had. Then the whole country ran low on food. So the son didn’t have what he needed.15He went to work for someone who lived in that country. That person sent the son to the fields to feed the pigs.16The son wanted to fill his stomach with the food the pigs were eating. But no one gave him anything.17‘Then he began to think clearly again. He said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough food! But here I am dying from hunger!18I will get up and go back to my father. I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven. And I have sinned against you.19I am no longer fit to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.’ ”20So he got up and went to his father. ‘While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him. He was filled with tender love for his son. He ran to him. He threw his arms around him and kissed him.21‘The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son.”22‘But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.23Bring the fattest calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.24This son of mine was dead. And now he is alive again. He was lost. And now he is found.” So they began to celebrate.25‘The elder son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.26So he called one of the servants. He asked him what was going on.27“Your brother has come home,” the servant replied. “Your father has killed the fattest calf. He has done this because your brother is back safe and sound.”28‘The older brother became angry. He refused to go in. So his father went out and begged him.29But he answered his father, “Look! All these years I’ve worked like a slave for you. I have always obeyed your orders. You never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.30But this son of yours wasted your money with some prostitutes. Now he comes home. And for him you kill the fattest calf!”31‘ “My son”, the father said, “you are always with me. Everything I have is yours.32But we had to celebrate and be glad. This brother of yours was dead. And now he is alive again. He was lost. And now he is found.” ’
Luke 15
English Standard Version
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
1Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. (Mt 11:19)2And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” (Ex 16:2; Ex 16:7; Nu 14:2; Jos 9:18; Mt 9:11; Mt 11:19; Mr 2:16; Lu 5:30; Lu 7:39; Lu 19:7; Ac 11:3; 1Co 5:11; Ga 2:12)3So he told them this parable:4“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? (Ex 3:1; 1Sa 17:28; Eze 34:4; Eze 34:6; Eze 34:11; Eze 34:16; Mt 18:12; Lu 19:10; 1Pe 2:25)5And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. (Isa 40:11; Isa 49:22; Isa 60:4; Isa 66:12)6And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ (1Pe 2:25)7Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. (Mt 9:13; Lu 5:32; Lu 15:10)
The Parable of the Lost Coin
8“Or what woman, having ten silver coins,[1] if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?9And 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.’10Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Lu 12:8)
The Parable of the Prodigal Son
11And he said, “There was a man who had two sons.12And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. (De 21:17; Mr 12:44; Lu 15:30)13Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. (Eph 5:18; Tit 1:6; 1Pe 4:4)14And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.15So he went and hired himself out to[2] one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.16And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. (Lu 16:21)17“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! (1Ki 8:47; Ac 12:11)18I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. (Ex 10:16; Mt 21:25; Joh 3:27)19I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ (Lu 7:6)20And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. (Ge 33:4; 2Sa 14:33; Ac 20:37; Jas 4:8)21And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’[3] (Lu 15:19)22But the father said to his servants,[4] ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. (Ge 41:42; Es 3:10; Es 8:2; Eze 16:10; Zec 3:3)23And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. (1Sa 28:24; Lu 12:19)24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. (Lu 15:32; Ro 11:15; Eph 2:1; Col 2:13; Re 3:1)25“Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.26And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.27And 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.’28But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,29but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. (Lu 15:23)30But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ (Pr 29:3; Lu 15:12)31And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. (Joh 8:35)32It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’” (Lu 15:24; Lu 15:29)