1Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering round to hear Jesus.2But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.’3Then Jesus told them this parable:4‘Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders6and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.”7I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who do not need to repent.
The parable of the lost coin
8‘Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[1] and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?9And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbours together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.”10In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’
The parable of the lost son
11Jesus continued: ‘There was a man who had two sons.12The younger one said to his father, “Father, give me my share of the estate.” So he divided his property between them.13‘Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no-one gave him anything.17‘When he came to his senses, he said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.”20So he got up and went to his father. ‘But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms round him and kissed him.21‘The 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 servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” So they began to celebrate.25‘Meanwhile, 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 and asked him what was going on.27“Your brother has come,” he replied, “and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.”28‘The elder brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.29But he answered his father, “Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.30But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!”31‘ “My son,” the father said, “you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.32But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and 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)