| NET Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming to hear him. | 1Now all the tax collectors and sinners kept coming to listen to Jesus. |
| 2But the Pharisees and the experts in the law were complaining, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." | 2But the Pharisees and the scribes kept complaining, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." |
| 3So Jesus told them this parable: | 3So he told them this parable: |
| 4"Which one of you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go look for 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? |
| 5Then when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing. | 5When he finds it, he puts it on his shoulders and rejoices. |
| 6Returning home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, telling them, 'Rejoice with me, because 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!' |
| 7I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent. | 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, if she has ten silver coins and loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search thoroughly 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? |
| 9Then 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!' |
| 10In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God's angels 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." |
| 11Then Jesus said, "A man had two sons. | 11Then Jesus said, "A man had two sons. |
| 12The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the estate that will belong to me.' So he divided his assets between them. | 12The younger one told his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So the father divided his property between them. |
| 13After a few days, the younger son gathered together all he had and left on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his wealth with a wild lifestyle. | 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. |
| 14Then after he had spent everything, a severe famine took place 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 worked for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to 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. |
| 16He was longing to eat the carob pods the pigs were eating, but 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. |
| 17But when he came to his senses he said, 'How many of my father's hired workers have food enough to spare, but here I am dying from 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 get up and go to my father and say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against 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 like one of your hired workers."' | 19I don't deserve to be called your son anymore. Treat me like one of your hired men."' |
| 20So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way from home his father saw him, and his heart went out to him; he ran and hugged his son 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. |
| 21Then his son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against 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 slaves, 'Hurry! Bring the best robe, and put it on him! Put a ring on his finger and sandals 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. |
| 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it! Let us eat and celebrate, | 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let's eat and celebrate! |
| 24because this son of mine was dead, and is alive again--he was lost and is found!' So 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. As he came and approached 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. |
| 26So he called one of the slaves and asked what was happening. | 26So he called to one of the servants and asked what was happening. |
| 27The slave replied, 'Your brother has returned, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he got his son 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 the older son became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and appealed to 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 worked like a slave for you, and I never disobeyed your commands. Yet you never gave me even a goat so that I could 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 back, who has devoured your assets 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!' |
| 31Then the father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and everything that belongs to me is yours. | 31"His father told him, 'My child, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. |
| 32It was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for 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.'" |
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