THE BOOK OF LUKE

 

Luke Chapter 15

1 ¶ Now all the publicans and sinners were coming to hear Jesus.

2 But the scribes and Pharisees grumbled about it, saying, This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.

3 Then Jesus told them this parable, saying,

4 What man among you, who has a hundred sheep, and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety and nine in the fields, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?

5 And when he has found it, lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

6 And when he comes home, calls together his friends and neighbors, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found my lost sheep.

7 I tell you, that in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety and nine just persons, who do not need to repent.

8 Or what woman who has ten pieces of silver, and loses one, does not light a candle, and sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?

9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and her neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I found the coin that I lost.

10 Likewise, I tell you you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

11 ¶ He then said, A certain man had two sons:

12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of the estate that falls to me. So he divided his property between them.

13 Not long after that the younger son got everything together, and left home for a distant country, and there wasted his wealth with wild living.

14 And after he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that land; and he began to be in need.

15 And he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country; who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.

16 And he longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating: but no one gave him anything.

17 And when he came to his senses, he said, How many of my father’s hired servants have food enough to spare, and I am dying with hunger!

18 I will get up and return to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before you,

19 And am no longer worthy to be called your son: make me one of your hired servants.

20 So he got up, and went to his father. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him, and was filled with compassion, and ran to him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him.

21 And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.

22 But the father said to his servants, Get out the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

23 And bring the fatted calf here, and kill it; let us eat, and be merry:

24 For this son of mine was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to celebrate.

25 Now his older son was in the field: and as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.

26 So he called one of the servants, and asked him what was going on.

27 And he said, Your brother has returned; and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has him back safe and sound.

28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore his father came out, and pleaded with him.

29 And he said to his father, Look, I have served you for all these years, and never disobeyed your orders: yet you never even gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends:

30 But as soon as this son of yours arrives, who has wasted your wealth with harlots, you have killed the fatted calf for him.

31 And he said, Son, you have always been with me, and all that I have is yours.

32 But we had to celebrate, and be glad: because your brother was dead, and is alive again; was lost, and is found.