1 T utti i pubblicani e i peccatori si avvicinavano a lui per ascoltarlo.

All the tax-gatherers and sinners were coming to hear Jesus.

2 M a i farisei e gli scribi mormoravano, dicendo: «Costui accoglie i peccatori e mangia con loro».

The proud religious law-keepers and the teachers of the Law began to speak against Him. They said, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

3 E d egli disse loro questa parabola:

Then Jesus told them a picture-story, saying,

4 « Chi di voi, avendo cento pecore, se ne perde una, non lascia le novantanove nel deserto e non va dietro a quella perduta finché non la ritrova?

“What if one of you had one hundred sheep and you lost one of them? Would you not leave the ninety-nine in the country and go back and look for the one which was lost until you find it?

5 E trovatala, tutto allegro se la mette sulle spalle;

When you find it, you are happy as you carry it back on your shoulders.

6 e giunto a casa, chiama gli amici e i vicini, e dice loro: “Rallegratevi con me, perché ho ritrovato la mia pecora che era perduta”.

Then you would go to your house and call your friends and neighbors. You would say to them, ‘Be happy with me because I have found my sheep that was lost.’

7 V i dico che, allo stesso modo, ci sarà più gioia in cielo per un solo peccatore che si ravvede che per novantanove giusti che non hanno bisogno di ravvedimento. La dramma perduta

I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven because of one sinner who is sorry for his sins and turns from them, than for ninety-nine people right with God who do not have sins to be sorry for. The Picture-Story of the Lost Piece of Money

8 « Oppure, qual è la donna che se ha dieci dramme e ne perde una, non accende un lume e non spazza la casa e non cerca con cura finché non la ritrova?

“What if a woman has ten silver pieces of money and loses one of them? Does she not light a lamp and sweep the floor and look until she finds it?

9 Q uando l’ha trovata, chiama le amiche e le vicine, dicendo: “Rallegratevi con me, perché ho ritrovato la dramma che avevo perduta”.

When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together. She says to them, ‘Be happy with me. I have found the piece of money I had lost.’

10 C osì, vi dico, v’è gioia davanti agli angeli di Dio per un solo peccatore che si ravvede». Il figlio prodigo

I tell you, it is the same way among the angels of God. If one sinner is sorry for his sins and turns from them, the angels are very happy.” The Picture-Story of the Foolish Son Who Spent All His Money

11 D isse ancora: «Un uomo aveva due figli.

And Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons.

12 I l più giovane di loro disse al padre: “Padre, dammi la parte dei beni che mi spetta”. Ed egli divise fra loro i beni.

The younger son said to his father, ‘Father, let me have the part of the family riches that will be coming to me.’ Then the father divided all that he owned between his two sons.

13 D opo non molti giorni, il figlio più giovane, messa insieme ogni cosa, partì per un paese lontano e vi sperperò i suoi beni, vivendo dissolutamente.

Soon after that the younger son took all that had been given to him and went to another country far away. There he spent all he had on wild and foolish living.

14 Q uando ebbe speso tutto, in quel paese venne una gran carestia ed egli cominciò a trovarsi nel bisogno.

When all his money was spent, he was hungry. There was no food in the land.

15 A llora si mise con uno degli abitanti di quel paese, il quale lo mandò nei suoi campi a pascolare i maiali.

He went to work for a man in this far away country. His work was to feed pigs.

16 E d egli avrebbe voluto sfamarsi con i baccelli che i maiali mangiavano, ma nessuno gliene dava.

He was so hungry he was ready to eat the outside part of the ears of the corn the pigs ate because no one gave him anything.

17 A llora, rientrato in sé, disse: “Quanti servi di mio padre hanno pane in abbondanza e io qui muoio di fame!

“He began to think about what he had done. He said to himself, ‘My father pays many men who work for him. They have all the food they want and more than enough. I am about dead because I am so hungry.

18 I o mi alzerò e andrò da mio padre, e gli dirò: ‘Padre, ho peccato contro il cielo e contro di te:

I will get up and go to my father. I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

19 n on sono più degno di essere chiamato tuo figlio; trattami come uno dei tuoi servi’”.

I am not good enough to be called your son. But may I be as one of the workmen you pay to work?”’

20 E gli dunque si alzò e tornò da suo padre. Ma mentre egli era ancora lontano, suo padre lo vide e ne ebbe compassione; corse, gli si gettò al collo e lo baciò.

“The son got up and went to his father. While he was yet a long way off, his father saw him. The father was full of loving-pity for him. He ran and threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21 E il figlio gli disse: “Padre, ho peccato contro il cielo e contro di te: non sono più degno di essere chiamato tuo figlio”.

The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am not good enough to be called your son.’

22 M a il padre disse ai suoi servi: “Presto, portate qui la veste più bella e rivestitelo, mettetegli un anello al dito e dei calzari ai piedi;

But the father said to the workmen he owned, ‘Hurry! Get the best coat and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet.

23 p ortate fuori il vitello ingrassato, ammazzatelo, mangiamo e facciamo festa,

Bring the calf that is fat and kill it. Let us eat and be glad.

24 p erché questo mio figlio era morto ed è tornato in vita; era perduto ed è stato ritrovato”. E si misero a fare gran festa.

For my son was dead and now he is alive again. He was lost and now he is found. Let us eat and have a good time.’

25 O r il figlio maggiore si trovava nei campi, e mentre tornava, come fu vicino a casa, udì la musica e le danze.

“The older son was out in the field. As he was coming near the house, he heard music and dancing.

26 C hiamò uno dei servi e gli domandò che cosa succedesse.

He called one of the servants and asked what was happening.

27 Q uello gli disse: “È tornato tuo fratello e tuo padre ha ammazzato il vitello ingrassato, perché lo ha riavuto sano e salvo”.

The servant answered, ‘Your brother has come back and your father has killed the fat calf. Your brother is in the house and is well.’

28 E gli si adirò e non volle entrare; allora suo padre uscì e lo pregava di entrare.

The older brother was angry and would not go into the house. His father went outside and asked him to come in.

29 M a egli rispose a suo padre: “Ecco, da tanti anni ti servo e non ho mai trasgredito un tuo comando; a me però non hai mai dato neppure un capretto per far festa con i miei amici.

The older son said to his father, ‘All these many years I have served you. I have always obeyed what you said. But you never gave me a young goat so I could have a supper and a good time with my friends.

30 M a quando è venuto questo tuo figlio che ha sperperato i tuoi beni con le prostitute, tu hai ammazzato per lui il vitello ingrassato”.

But as soon as this son of yours came back, you killed the fat calf. And yet he wasted your money with bad women.’

31 I l padre gli disse: “Figliolo, tu sei sempre con me e ogni cosa mia è tua;

“The father said to him, ‘My son, you are with me all the time. All that I have is yours.

32 m a bisognava far festa e rallegrarsi, perché questo tuo fratello era morto ed è tornato in vita; era perduto ed è stato ritrovato”».

It is right and good that we should have a good time and be glad. Your brother was dead and now he is alive again. He was lost and now he is found.’”