Luke 15

¹Now all the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around to listen to [Jesus].

²So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: “This [man] welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

³Then [Jesus] told them this parable:

⁴“What man among you, [if] he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, {does} not leave the ninety-nine in the pasture and go after the [one] that is lost, until he finds it?

⁵And when he finds [it], he joyfully puts [it] on his shoulders,

⁶comes home, [and] calls together [his] friends and neighbors to tell them,‘ Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep!’

⁷I tell you that in the same way there will be [more] joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.

⁸Or what woman who has ten silver coins [and] loses one [of them] {does} not light a lamp, sweep [her] house, and search carefully until she finds it?

⁹And when she finds [it], she calls together [her] friends and neighbors to say,‘ Rejoice with me, for I have found [my] lost coin.’

¹⁰In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”

¹¹Then [Jesus] said, “[There was] a man who had two sons.

¹²The younger [son] said to [him],‘ Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided [his] property between them.

¹³After a few days, the younger son got everything together [and] journeyed to a distant country, [where] he squandered his wealth in wild living.

¹⁴After he had spent all [he had], a severe famine swept through that country, and he began to be in need.

¹⁵[So] he went [and] hired himself out to a citizen of that country, [who] sent him into his fields to feed [the] pigs.

¹⁶He longed to fill his belly with the pods the pigs were eating, but no one would give him [ a thing ].

¹⁷Finally he came to his senses [and] said,‘ How many of my father’s hired servants have plenty of food, but here I {am}, starving to death!

¹⁸I will get up [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 in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran [to his son], embraced him, and kissed him.

²¹The son declared,‘ Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

²²But 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 us 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.

²⁵Meanwhile the older son was in [the] field, and as he approached the house, he heard music and dancing.

²⁶So he called one of the servants [and] asked what was going on.

²⁷‘ Your brother has returned,’ he said,‘ and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and sound.’

²⁸[The older son] became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out [and] pleaded with him.

²⁹But he answered his father,‘ Look, all these years I have served you and never disobeyed a commandment of yours. Yet you never gave me [even] a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.

³⁰But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

³¹‘ Son, you are always with me,’ [the father] said,‘ and all that [is] mine is yours.

³²But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”