New King James Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

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

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

2And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives 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 spoke this parable to them, saying:

3So He told them this parable, saying,

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, 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?

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

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

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!’

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 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.

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, 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, 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?

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!’

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!'

10Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God 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 He said: “A certain man had two sons.

11And He 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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

16And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and 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.

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!

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.’

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.'

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 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;

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

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

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

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. And as he came and drew near 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 one of the servants and asked what these things meant.

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

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

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

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

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

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