NETfree - Luke - 15

15:1  Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming to hear him.

15:2  But the Pharisees and the experts in the law were complaining, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

15:3  So Jesus told them this parable:

15:4  "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?

15:5  Then when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

15:6  Returning home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, telling them, 'Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.'

15:7  I 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.

15:8  "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?

15:9  Then 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.'

15:10  In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God's angels over one sinner who repents."

15:11  Then Jesus said, "A man had two sons.

15:12  The 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.

15:13  After 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.

15:14  Then after he had spent everything, a severe famine took place in that country, and he began to be in need.

15:15  So he went and worked for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.

15:16  He was longing to eat the carob pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

15:17  But 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!

15:18  I will get up and go to my father and say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

15:19  I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired workers."'

15:20  So 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.

15:21  Then his son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

15:22  But 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!

15:23  Bring the fattened calf and kill it! Let us eat and celebrate,

15:24  because this son of mine was dead, and is alive again - he was lost and is found!' So they began to celebrate.

15:25  "Now his older son was in the field. As he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.

15:26  So he called one of the slaves and asked what was happening.

15:27  The slave replied, 'Your brother has returned, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he got his son back safe and sound.'

15:28  But the older son became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and appealed to him,

15:29  but 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!

15:30  But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!'

15:31  Then the father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and everything that belongs to me is yours.

15:32  It was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost and is found.'"