| 1 | Now the tax collectors and [notorious and
[a]especially wicked] sinners were all coming near to [Jesus] to listen to Him. |
| 2 | And the Pharisees and the scribes kept muttering
and
indignantly complaining, saying, This man accepts
and
receives
and
welcomes [
[b]preeminently wicked] sinners and eats with them. |
| 3 | So He told them this parable: |
| 4 | What man of you, if he has a hundred sheep and should lose one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness (desert) and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? |
| 5 | And when he has found it, he lays it on his [own] shoulders, rejoicing. |
| 6 | And when he gets home, he summons together [his] friends and [his] neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep which was lost. |
| 7 | Thus, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one [
[c]especially] wicked person who repents (
[d]changes his mind, abhorring his errors and misdeeds, and determines to enter upon a better course of life) than over ninety-nine righteous persons who have no need of repentance. |
| 8 | Or what woman, having ten [silver] drachmas [each one equal to a day’s wages], if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and look carefully
and
diligently until she finds it? |
| 9 | And when she has found it, she summons her [women] friends and neighbors, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the silver coin which I had lost. |
| 10 | Even so, I tell you, there is joy among
and
in the presence of the angels of God over one [
[e]especially] wicked person who repents (
[f]changes his mind for the better, heartily amending his ways, with abhorrence of his past sins). |
| 11 | And He said, There was a certain man who had two sons; |
| 12 | And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the part of the property that falls [to me]. And he divided the estate between them. |
| 13 | And not many days after that, the younger son gathered up all that he had and journeyed into a distant country, and there he wasted his fortune in reckless
and
loose [from restraint] living. |
| 14 | And when he had spent all he had, a
[g]mighty famine came upon that country, and he began to fall behind
and
be in want. |
| 15 | So he went and forced (glued) himself upon one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed hogs. |
| 16 | And he would gladly have fed on
and
[h]
filled his belly with
the
[i]carob pods that the hogs were eating, but [they could not satisfy his hunger and] nobody gave him anything [better]. |
| 17 | Then when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father have enough food, and [even food] to spare, but I am perishing (dying) here of hunger! |
| 18 | I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. |
| 19 | I am no longer worthy to be called your son; [just] make me like one of your hired servants. |
| 20 | So he got up and came to his [own] father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity
and
tenderness [for him]; and he ran and embraced him and kissed him [
[j]fervently]. |
| 21 | And 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 [I no longer deserve to be recognized as a son of yours]! |
| 22 | But the father said to his bond servants, Bring quickly the best robe (the festive robe of honor) and put it on him; and give him a ring for his hand and sandals for his feet. |
| 23 | And bring out
[k]that [wheat-]fattened calf and kill it; and let us
[l]revel
and
feast
and
be happy
and
make merry, |
| 24 | Because this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found! And they began to
[m]revel
and
feast
and
make merry. |
| 25 | But his older son was in the field; and as he returned and came near the house, he heard music and dancing. |
| 26 | And having called one of the servant [boys] to him, he began to ask what this meant. |
| 27 | And he said to him, Your brother has come, and your father has killed
[n]that [wheat-]fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and well. |
| 28 | But [the elder brother] was angry [with deep-seated wrath] and resolved not to go in. Then his father came out and began to plead with him, |
| 29 | But he answered his father, Look! These many years I have served you, and I have never disobeyed your command. Yet you never gave me [so much as] a [little] kid, that I might
[o]revel
and
feast
and
be happy
and
make merry with my friends; |
| 30 | But when this son of yours arrived, who has devoured your estate with immoral women, you have killed for him
[p]that [wheat-] fattened calf! |
| 31 | And the father said to him, Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. |
| 32 | But it was fitting to make merry, to
[q]revel
and
feast and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found! |
Cross references:
-
Luke 15:12 : Deut. 21:15-17.
-
Luke 15:16 : Jer. 30:14.
-
Luke 15:22 : Gen. 41:42; Zech. 3:4.
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