New King James Version

King James Bible

1Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.

1Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.

2And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.”

2And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

3So He spoke this parable to them, saying:

3And he spake this parable unto them, saying,

4“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?

4What 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?

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

5And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

6And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’

6And 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.

7I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

7I 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“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?

8Either 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?

9And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’

9And 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.

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

10Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

11Then He said: “A certain man had two sons.

11And he said, A certain man had two sons:

12And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood.

12And 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.

13And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.

13And 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.

14But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.

14And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

15Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

15And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

16And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

16And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

17“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

17And 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!

18I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,

18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

19and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’

19And 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 still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

20And 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.

21And 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.’

21And 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 out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.

22But 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:

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

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

24for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

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

25Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

26So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.

26And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

27And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’

27And 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“But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him.

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

29So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends.

29And 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:

30But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’

30But 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 to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.

31And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

32It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”

32It 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.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.