New King James Version

Christian Standard Bible

1Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.

1All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to him.

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

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

3So He spoke this parable to them, saying:

3So he told them this parable:

4“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?

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

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

5When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders,

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

6and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!'

7I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

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 don't need repentance.

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

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

9And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’

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

10Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

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

11Then He said: “A certain man had two sons.

11He also said: "A man had two sons.

12And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood.

12The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.' So he distributed the assets to them.

13And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.

13Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered his estate in foolish living.

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

14After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing.

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

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

16And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

16He longed to eat his fill from the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one would give him anything.

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

17When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired workers have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger!

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

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

19and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’

19I'm no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.'"

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

20So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him.

21And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

21The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I'm no longer worthy to be called your son.'

22“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.

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

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

23Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let's celebrate with a feast,

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

24because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' So 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 his older son was in the field; as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.

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

26So he summoned one of the servants, questioning what these things meant.

27And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’

27'Your brother is here,' he told him, 'and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'

28“But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him.

28"Then he became angry and didn't want to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him.

29So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends.

29But he replied to his father, 'Look, I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me a goat so that I could celebrate with my friends.

30But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’

30But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.'

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

31"'Son,' he said to him, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.

32It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”

32But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'"

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.