Luke 15

1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners kept coming to listen to Jesus. ^{a15:1 Lit. him}ISV — Luke 15:1

2 But the Pharisees and the scribes kept complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”ISV — Luke 15:2

3 So he told them this parable:ISV — Luke 15:3

4 “Suppose one of you has 100 sheep and loses one of them. He leaves the 99 in the wilderness and looks for the one that is lost until he finds it, doesn’t he?ISV — Luke 15:4

5 When he finds it, he puts it on his shoulders and rejoices.ISV — Luke 15:5

6 Then he goes home, calls his friends and neighbors together, and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I’ve found my lost sheep!’ISV — Luke 15:6

7 In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who don’t need to repent.”ISV — Luke 15:7

8 “Or suppose a woman has ten coins and loses one of them. ^{b15:8 Lit. one coin} She lights a lamp, sweeps the house, and searches carefully until she finds it, doesn’t she?ISV — Luke 15:8

9 When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the coin that I lost!’ISV — Luke 15:9

10 In the same way, I tell you that there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”ISV — Luke 15:10

11 Then Jesus ^{c15:11 Lit. he} said, “A man had two sons.ISV — Luke 15:11

12 The younger one told his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So the father ^{d15:12 Lit. he} divided his property between them.ISV — Luke 15:12

13 A few days later, the younger son gathered everything he owned and traveled to a distant country. There he wasted it all ^{e15:13 Lit. wasted his possessions} on wild living.ISV — Luke 15:13

14 After he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need.ISV — Luke 15:14

15 So he went out to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.ISV — Luke 15:15

16 No one would give him anything, even though he would gladly have filled himself with the husks the pigs were eating.ISV — Luke 15:16

17 “Then he came to his senses and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more food than they can eat, and here I am starving to death!ISV — Luke 15:17

18 I will get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven ^{f15:18 i.e. God} and you.ISV — Luke 15:18

19 I don’t deserve to be called your son anymore. Treat me like one of your hired men.”’ISV — Luke 15:19

20 “So he got up and went to his father. While he was still far away, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, ^{g15:20 The Gk. lacks to his son} threw his arms around him, and kissed him affectionately.ISV — Luke 15:20

21 Then his son told him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven ^{h15:21 i.e. God} and you. I don’t deserve to be called your son anymore.’ ^{i15:21 Other mss. read anymore. Treat me like one of your hired men.}ISV — Luke 15:21

22 But the father told his servants, ‘Hurry! Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.ISV — Luke 15:22

23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let’s eat and celebrate!ISV — Luke 15:23

24 Because my son was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.ISV — Luke 15:24

25 “Now the father’s ^{j15:25 Lit. Now his} older son was in the field. As he was coming back to the house, he heard music and dancing.ISV — Luke 15:25

26 So he called to one of the servants and asked what was happening.ISV — Luke 15:26

27 The servant ^{k15:27 Lit. He} told him, ‘Your brother has come home, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he got him back safely.’ISV — Luke 15:27

28 “Then the older son ^{l15:28 Lit. he} became angry and wouldn’t go into the house. ^{m15:28 Lit. wouldn’t go in} So his father came out and began to plead with him.ISV — Luke 15:28

29 But he answered his father, ‘Listen! All these years I’ve worked like a slave for you. I’ve never disobeyed a command of yours. Yet you’ve never given me so much as a young goat for a festival ^{n15:29 The Gk. lacks for a festival} so I could celebrate with my friends.ISV — Luke 15:29

30 But this son of yours spent your money on prostitutes, and when he came back, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ISV — Luke 15:30

31 “His father ^{o15:31 Lit. He} told him, ‘My child, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.ISV — Luke 15:31

32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and has been found.’”ISV — Luke 15:32