15:1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.
15:1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him.

15:2 And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."
15:2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."

15:3 So he told them this parable:
15:3 So he told them this parable:

15:4 "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it?
15:4 "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?

15:5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
15:5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices.

15:6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, `Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.'
15:6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.'

15:7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
15:7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

15:8 "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?
15:8 "Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?

15:9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, `Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.'
15:9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.'

15:10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
15:10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

15:11 And he said, "There was a man who had two sons;
15:11 Then Jesus said, "There was a man who had two sons.

15:12 and the younger of them said to his father, `Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.' And he divided his living between them.
15:12 The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So he divided his property between them.

15:13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living.
15:13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living.

15:14 And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want.
15:14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need.

15:15 So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine.
15:15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs.

15:16 And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything.
15:16 He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything.

15:17 But when he came to himself he said, `How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger!
15:17 But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger!

15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you;
15:18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you;

15:19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants."'
15:19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands."'

15:20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
15:20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.

15:21 And the son said to him, `Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
15:21 Then the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

15:22 But the father said to his servants, `Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet;
15:22 But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly, bring out a robe--the best one--and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

15:23 and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry;
15:23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;

15:24 for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to make merry.
15:24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate.

15:25 "Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
15:25 "Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.

15:26 And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant.
15:26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on.

15:27 And he said to him, `Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.'
15:27 He replied, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.'

15:28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,
15:28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him.

15:29 but he answered his father, `Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends.
15:29 But he answered his father, 'Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends.

15:30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!'
15:30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!'

15:31 And he said to him, `Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
15:31 Then the father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.

15:32 It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"
15:32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.'"