Luke 15:1-14 ▼

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

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

3 Then 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?

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

6 comes home, and calls together his friends and neighbors to tell them, ‘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-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.

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

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

10 In the same way, I tell you⁺, there is joy in the presence of God’s {Theou} angels (messengers) over one sinner who repents.

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

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

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

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