English Standard Version

International Standard Version

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

1Now all the tax collectors and sinners kept coming to listen to Jesus.

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

2But the Pharisees and the scribes kept complaining, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

3So he told them this parable:

3So he told them this parable:

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?

4"Suppose one of you has 100 sheep and loses one of them. He leaves the 99 in the wilderness and looks for the one that is lost until he finds it, doesn't he?

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

5When he finds it, he puts it on his shoulders and rejoices.

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.’

6Then he goes home, calls his friends and neighbors together, and says to them, 'Rejoice with me, because I've found my lost sheep!'

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.

7In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who don't need to repent."

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?

8"Or suppose a woman has ten coins and loses one of them. She lights a lamp, sweeps the house, and searches carefully until she finds it, doesn't she?

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.’

9When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me, because I have found the coin that I lost!'

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

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

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

11Then Jesus said, "A man had two sons.

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.

12The younger one told his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So the father divided his property between them.

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.

13A few days later, the younger son gathered everything he owned and traveled to a distant country. There he wasted it all on wild living.

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

14After he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need.

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

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

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

16No one would give him anything, even though he would gladly have filled himself with the husks the pigs were eating.

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!

17"Then he came to his senses and said, 'How many of my father's hired men have more food than they can eat, and here I am starving to death!

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

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

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

19I don't deserve to be called your son anymore. Treat me like one of your hired men."'

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.

20"So he got up and went to his father. While he was still far away, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, threw his arms around him, and kissed him affectionately.

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.’

21Then his son told him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and you. I don't deserve to be called your son anymore.'

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.

22But the father told his servants, 'Hurry! Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

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

23Bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let's eat and celebrate!

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

24Because my son was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and has been found.' And they began to celebrate.

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

25"Now the father's older son was in the field. As he was coming back to the house, he heard music and dancing.

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

26So he called to one of the servants and asked what was happening.

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.’

27The servant told him, 'Your brother has come home, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he got him back safely.'

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

28"Then the older son became angry and wouldn't go into the house. So his father came out and began to plead with him.

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.

29But he answered his father, 'Listen! All these years I've worked like a slave for you. I've never disobeyed a command of yours. Yet you've never given me so much as a young goat for a festival so I could celebrate with my friends.

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

30But this son of yours spent your money on prostitutes, and when he came back, you killed the fattened calf for him!'

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

31"His father told him, 'My child, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.

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

32But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and has been found.'"

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.

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