1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to
hear him. 2 The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This man
welcomes sinners, and eats with them.”
3 He told them this parable. 4 “Which of you men, if you had one
hundred sheep, and lost one of them, wouldn’t leave the ninety-nine in the
wilderness, and go after the one that was lost, until he found it? 5 When
he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 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!’ 7 I tell you
that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents,
than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance. 8 Or what
woman, if she had ten drachma*1 coins, if she lost one drachma coin,
wouldn’t light a lamp, sweep the house, and seek diligently until she found
it? 9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors,
saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I had lost.’
10 Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God
over one sinner repenting.”
11 He said, “A certain man had two sons. 12 The younger of them
said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of your property.’ He divided
his livelihood between them. 13 Not many days after, the younger son
gathered all of this together and traveled into a far country. There
he wasted his property with riotous living. 14 When he had spent all of
it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need.
15 He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and
he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 He wanted to fill his belly
with the husks that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any. 17 But when he
came to himself he said, ‘How many hired servants of my father’s have bread
enough to spare, and I’m dying with hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my
father, and will tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your
sight. 19 I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of
your hired servants.”’
20 “He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his
father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck,
and kissed him. 21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against
heaven, and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe, and put
it on him. Put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 Bring the
fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat, and celebrate; 24 for this, my
son, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’ They began to
celebrate.
25 “Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he
heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the servants to him, and
asked what was going on. 27 He said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and
your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back
safe and healthy.’ 28 But he was angry, and would not go in. Therefore his
father came out, and begged him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Behold,
these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of
yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.
30 But when this, your son, came, who has devoured your living with
prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’
31 “He said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is
yours. 32 But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your
brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’”
1 A drachma coin was worth about 2 days
wages for an agricultural laborer.
World English Bible - Public Domain |
|
|