Luke 15:1-30 ▼

1 Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were drawing near to Him to hear Him.

2 And both the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

3 And He spoke to them this parable, saying,

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

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

6 And having come to the house, he calls together the friends and the neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I found my sheep, the lost one!’

7 I say to you? that thus there will be joy in heaven over one sinner repenting, rather than over ninety-nine righteous ones who have no need of repentance.

8 Or what woman having ten drachmas, if she should lose one drachma, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek carefully until she should find it?

9 And having found it, she calls together the friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I found the drachma that I lost.’

10 Thus, I say to you?, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner repenting.”

11 And He said, “A certain man had two sons.

12 And the younger of them said to the father, ‘Father, give to me the portion of the substance falling to me.’ And he divided the livelihood between them.

13 And after not many days, the younger son, having gathered together all, went away into a far country, and there he scattered his substance living prodigally.

14 But on his having spent all, there was a strong famine throughout that country, and he began to lack.

15 And having gone, he joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs.

16 And he was desiring to fill his belly from the pods that the pigs were eating, and no one was giving to him.

17 But having come to himself, he was saying, ‘How many hired men of my father have an abundance of loaves, but here I am perishing with hunger?

18 Having risen up, I will go to my father and I will say to him, “Father, I sinned against heaven and before you;

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

20 And having risen up, he went to his father. But on his still being distant, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and having run, he fell upon his neck and kissed him.

21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I sinned against heaven and before you; no longer am I worthy to be called your son.’

22 And the father said to his servants, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and clothe him, and give a ring for his hand and sandals for his feet;

23 and having brought the fattened calf, kill it, and having eaten, let us be merry,

24 because this son of mine was dead and lived again! He was lost and was found!’ And they began to be merry.

25 And his elder son was in the field; and as, coming, he drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.

26 And having summoned one of the servants, he was inquiring what these things might be.

27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father killed the fattened calf, because he received him back in good health.’

28 But he was angry and was not willing to go in. And his father, having gone, was imploring him.

29 But answering, he said to his father, ‘Behold, so many years I serve you, and never did I transgress a commandment of yours, and never did you give to me a young goat so that I might be merry with my friends.

30 But when this son of yours came, the one having devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’