1 N ow the tax collectors and '> especially wicked] sinners were all coming near to to listen to Him.

Now all the publicans and sinners were drawing near unto him to hear him.

2 A nd the Pharisees and the scribes kept muttering and indignantly complaining, saying, This man accepts and receives and welcomes '> preeminently wicked] sinners and eats with them.

And both the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

3 S o He told them this parable:

And he spake unto them this parable, saying,

4 W hat 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?

What man of you, having a hundred sheep, and having lost one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

5 A nd when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

6 A nd when he gets home, he summons together friends and neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep which was lost.

And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and his neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.

7 T hus, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one '> especially] wicked person who repents ( 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.

I say unto you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine righteous persons, who need no repentance.

8 O r what woman, having ten drachmas, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and look carefully and diligently until she finds it?

Or what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she find it?

9 A nd when she has found it, she summons her friends and neighbors, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the silver coin which I had lost.

And when she hath found it, she calleth together her friends and neighbors, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I had lost.

10 E ven so, I tell you, there is joy among and in the presence of the angels of God over one '> especially] wicked person who repents ( changes his mind for the better, heartily amending his ways, with abhorrence of his past sins).

Even so, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

11 A nd He said, There was a certain man who had two sons;

And he said, A certain man had two sons:

12 A nd the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the part of the property that falls. And he divided the estate between them.

and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of thy substance that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

13 A nd 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 living.

And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together and took his journey into a far country; and there he wasted his substance with riotous living.

14 A nd when he had spent all he had, a mighty famine came upon that country, and he began to fall behind and be in want.

And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that country; and he began to be in want.

15 S o he went and forced (glued) himself upon one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed hogs.

And he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

16 A nd he would gladly have fed on and filled his belly with the carob pods that the hogs were eating, but nobody gave him anything.

And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

17 T hen when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father have enough food, and to spare, but I am perishing (dying) here of hunger!

But when he came to himself he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish here with 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.

I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight:

19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.

I am no more worthy to be called your son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

20 S o he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity and tenderness; and he ran and embraced him and kissed him '> fervently].

And he arose, and came to his father. But while he was yet afar off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

21 A nd 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!

And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight: I am no more worthy to be called thy son.

22 B ut 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.

But the father said to his servants, Bring forth quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

23 A nd bring out that fattened calf and kill it; and let us revel and feast and be happy and make merry,

and bring the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and make merry:

24 B ecause this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found! And they began to revel and feast and make merry.

for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

25 B ut his older son was in the field; and as he returned and came near the house, he heard music and dancing.

Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.

26 A nd having called one of the servant to him, he began to ask what this meant.

And he called to him one of the servants, and inquired what these things might be.

27 A nd he said to him, Your brother has come, and your father has killed that fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and well.

And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

28 B ut was angry and resolved not to go in. Then his father came out and began to plead with him,

But he was angry, and would not go in: and his father came out, and entreated him.

29 B ut he answered his father, Look! These many years I have served you, and I have never disobeyed your command. Yet you never gave me a kid, that I might revel and feast and be happy and make merry with my friends;

But he answered and said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, and I never transgressed a commandment of thine; and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

30 B ut when this son of yours arrived, who has devoured your estate with immoral women, you have killed for him that fattened calf!

but when this thy son came, who hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou killedst for him the fatted calf.

31 A nd the father said to him, Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.

And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that is mine is thine.

32 B ut it was fitting to make merry, to revel and feast and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!

But it was meet to make merry and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.