Berean Study Bible

English Standard Version

1Now all the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around to listen to Jesus.

1Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.

2So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

2And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

3Then Jesus told them this parable:

3So he told them this parable:

4“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?

4“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?

5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders,

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

6comes home, and calls together his friends and neighbors to tell them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep!’

6And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’

7In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.

7Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

8Or what woman who has ten silver coins and loses one of them does not light a lamp, sweep her house, and search carefully until she finds it?

8“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?

9And when she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors to say, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost coin.’

9And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’

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

10Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

11Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons.

11And he said, “There was a man who had two sons.

12The younger son said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

12And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.

13After a few days, the younger son got everything together and journeyed to a distant country, where he squandered his wealth in wild living.

13Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.

14After he had spent all he had, a severe famine swept through that country, and he began to be in need.

14And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.

15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.

15So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.

16He longed to fill his belly with the pods the pigs were eating, but no one would give him a thing.

16And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

17Finally he came to his senses and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have plenty of food? But here I am, starving to death!

17“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!

18I will get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

18I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.

19I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’

19I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’

20So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.

20And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

21The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

21And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

22But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.

23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us feast and celebrate.

23And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.

24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.

24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

25Meanwhile the older son was in the field, and as he approached the house, he heard music and dancing.

25“Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.

26So he called one of the servants and asked what was going on.

26And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.

27‘Your brother has returned,’ he said, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and sound.’

27And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’

28The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him.

28But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,

29But he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I have served you and never disobeyed a commandment of yours. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.

29but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.

30But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

30But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’

31‘Son, you are always with me,’ the father said, ‘and all that is mine is yours.

31And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.

32But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”

32It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

The Berean Bible (Berean Study Bible (BSB) © 2016, 2018 by Bible Hub and Berean.Bible. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.