NET Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

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

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

2But the Pharisees and the experts in the law were 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 Jesus told them this parable:

3So He told them this parable, saying,

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"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?

5Then when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

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

6Returning home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, telling them, 'Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.'

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!'

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.

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 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 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?

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.'

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, 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

14Then after he had spent everything, a severe famine took place in 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 and worked for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to 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.

16He was longing to eat the carob pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

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.

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"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 and go to my father and say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against 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 am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired workers."'

19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as 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 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 said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

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 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!

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! Let us eat and celebrate,

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

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 his older son was in the field. As he came and approached 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 one of the slaves and asked what was happening.

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

27The slave replied, 'Your brother has returned, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he got his son back safe and sound.'

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.'

28But the older son became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and appealed to 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, '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!

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 when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, 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.'

31Then the father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and everything that belongs to me is yours.

31"And he said to him, 'Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine 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, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.'"

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