English Standard Version

King James Bible

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

1Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.

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

2And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

3So he told them this parable:

3And he spake this parable unto them, saying,

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?

4What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

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

5And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

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.’

6And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

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.

7I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

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?

8Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?

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.’

9And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.

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

10Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

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

11And he said, A certain 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.

12And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his 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.

13And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

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

14And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

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

15And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

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

16And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

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!

17And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

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 arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

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

19And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

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.

20And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

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.’

21And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

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 said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

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

23And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

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

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

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

25Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

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

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

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.’

27And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

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

28And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated 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.

29And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry 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 as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

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

31And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

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

32It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is 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.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.