International Standard Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

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

1Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him.

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

2Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."

3So he told them this parable:

3So He told them this parable, saying,

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?

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

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

5"When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

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

6"And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'

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."

7"I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

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?

8"Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?

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!'

9"When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!'

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

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

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

11And He said, "A man had two sons.

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

12"The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.' So he divided his wealth between them.

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.

13"And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.

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

14"Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished.

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

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

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

16"And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.

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!

17"But when he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger!

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

18'I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight;

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

19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men."'

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.

20"So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

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

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.'

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.

22"But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet;

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

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

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

24for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.' And they began to celebrate.

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

25"Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.

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

26"And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be.

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

27"And 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.'

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.

28"But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him.

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.

29"But he answered and said to his father, 'Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends;

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

30but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.'

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

31"And he said to him, 'Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours.

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.'"

32But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.'"

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org