| 1 Todos los publicanos y los pecadores se acercaban a él para oírle, | 1 The tax col ectors and sinners, however, were al crowding round to listen to him, | 
| 2 y los fariseos y los escribas murmuraban, diciendo: «Este acoge a los pecadores y come con ellos». | 2 and the Pharisees and scribes complained saying, 'This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.' | 
| 3 Entonces les dijo esta parábola. | 3 So he told them this parable: | 
| 4 «¿Quién de vosotros que tiene cien ovejas, si pierde una de ellas, no deja las 99 en el desierto, y va a buscar la que se perdió hasta que la encuentra? | 4 'Which one of you with a hundred sheep, if he lost one, would fail to leave the ninety-nine in the desertand go after the missing one till he found it? | 
| 5 Y cuando la encuentra, la pone contento sobre sus hombros; | 5 And when he found it, would he not joyful y take it on his shoulders | 
| 6 y llegando a casa, convoca a los amigos y vecinos, y les dice: “Alegraos conmigo, porque he hallado la oveja que se me había perdido.” | 6 and then, when he got home, cal together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, "Rejoice withme, I have found my sheep that was lost." | 
| 7 Os digo que, de igual modo, habrá más alegría en el cielo por un solo pecador que se convierta que por 99 justos que no tengan necesidad de conversión. | 7 In the same way, I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner repenting than overninety-nine upright people who have no need of repentance. | 
| 8 «O, ¿qué mujer que tiene diez dracmas, si pierde una, no enciende una lámpara y barre la casa y busca cuidadosamente hasta que la encuentra? | 8 'Or again, what woman with ten drachmas would not, if she lost one, light a lamp and sweep out thehouse and search thoroughly till she found it? | 
| 9 Y cuando la encuentra, convoca a las amigas y vecinas, y dice: “Alegraos conmigo, porque he hallado la dracma que había perdido.” | 9 And then, when she had found it, cal together her friends and neighbours, saying to them, "Rejoicewith me, I have found the drachma I lost." | 
| 10 Del mismo modo, os digo, se produce alegría ante los ángeles de Dios por un solo pecador que se convierta». | 10 In the same way, I tel you, there is rejoicing among the angels of God over one repentant sinner.' | 
| 11 Dijo: «Un hombre tenía dos hijos; | 11 Then he said, 'There was a man who had two sons. | 
| 12 y el menor de ellos dijo al padre: “Padre, dame la parte de la hacienda que me corresponde.” Y él les repartió la hacienda. | 12 The younger one said to his father, "Father, let me have the share of the estate that wil come to me."So the father divided the property between them. | 
| 13 Pocos días después el hijo menor lo reunió todo y se marchó a un país lejano donde malgastó su hacienda viviendo como un libertino. | 13 A few days later, the younger son got together everything he had and left for a distant country wherehe squandered his money on a life of debauchery. | 
| 14 «Cuando hubo gastado todo, sobrevino un hambre extrema en aquel país, y comenzó a pasar necesidad. | 14 'When he had spent it al , that country experienced a severe famine, and now he began to feel thepinch; | 
| 15 Entonces, fue y se ajustó con uno de los ciudadanos de aquel país, que le envió a sus fincas a apacentar puercos. | 15 so he hired himself out to one of the local inhabitants who put him on his farm to feed the pigs. | 
| 16 Y deseaba llenar su vientre con las algarrobas que comían los puercos, pero nadie se las daba. | 16 And he would wil ingly have fil ed himself with the husks the pigs were eating but no one would lethim have them. | 
| 17 Y entrando en sí mismo, dijo: “¡Cuántos jornaleros de mi padre tienen pan en abundancia, mientras que yo aquí me muero de hambre! | 17 Then he came to his senses and said, "How many of my father's hired men have al the food theywant and more, and here am I dying of hunger! | 
| 18 Me levantaré, iré a mi padre y le diré: Padre, pequé contra el cielo y ante ti. | 18 I wil leave this place and go to my father and say: Father, I have sinned against heaven and againstyou; | 
| 19 Ya no merezco ser llamado hijo tuyo, trátame como a uno de tus jornaleros.” | 19 I no longer deserve to be cal ed your son; treat me as one of your hired men." | 
| 20 Y, levantándose, partió hacia su padre. «Estando él todavía lejos, le vió su padre y, conmovido, corrió, se echó a su cuello y le besó efusivamente. | 20 So he left the place and went back to his father. 'While he was stil a long way off, his father saw himand was moved with pity. He ran to the boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him. | 
| 21 El hijo le dijo: “Padre, pequé contra el cielo y ante ti; ya no merezco ser llamado hijo tuyo.” | 21 Then his son said, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to becal ed your son." | 
| 22 Pero el padre dijo a sus siervos: “Traed aprisa el mejor vestido y vestidle, ponedle un anillo en su mano y unas sandalias en los pies. | 22 But the father said to his servants, "Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on hisfinger and sandals on his feet. | 
| 23 Traed el novillo cebado, matadlo, y comamos y celebremos una fiesta, | 23 Bring the calf we have been fattening, and kil it; we wil celebrate by having a feast, | 
| 24 porque este hijo mío estaba muerto y ha vuelto a la vida; estaba perdido y ha sido hallado.” Y comenzaron la fiesta. | 24 because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found." And theybegan to celebrate. | 
| 25 «Su hijo mayor estaba en el campo y, al volver, cuando se acercó a la casa, oyó la música y las danzas; | 25 'Now the elder son was out in the fields, and on his way back, as he drew near the house, he couldhear music and dancing. | 
| 26 y llamando a uno de los criados, le preguntó qué era aquello. | 26 Cal ing one of the servants he asked what it was all about. | 
| 27 El le dijo: “Ha vuelto tu hermano y tu padre ha matado el novillo cebado, porque le ha recobrado sano.” | 27 The servant told him, "Your brother has come, and your father has kil ed the calf we had beenfattening because he has got him back safe and sound." | 
| 28 El se irritó y no quería entrar. Salió su padre, y le suplicaba. | 28 He was angry then and refused to go in, and his father came out and began to urge him to come in; | 
| 29 Pero él replicó a su padre: “Hace tantos años que te sirvo, y jamás dejé de cumplir una orden tuya, pero nunca me has dado un cabrito para tener una fiesta con mis amigos; | 29 but he retorted to his father, "Al these years I have slaved for you and never once disobeyed anyorders of yours, yet you never offered me so much as a kid for me to celebrate with my friends. | 
| 30 y ¡ahora que ha venido ese hijo tuyo, que ha devorado tu hacienda con prostitutas, has matado para él el novillo cebado!” | 30 But, for this son of yours, when he comes back after swallowing up your property -- he and his loosewomen -- you kil the calf we had been fattening." | 
| 31 «Pero él le dijo: “Hijo, tú siempre estás conmigo, y todo lo mío es tuyo; | 31 'The father said, "My son, you are with me always and all I have is yours. | 
| 32 pero convenía celebrar una fiesta y alegrarse, porque este hermano tuyo estaba muerto, y ha vuelto a la vida; estaba perdido, y ha sido hallado.”» | 32 But it was only right we should celebrate and rejoice, because your brother here was dead and hascome to life; he was lost and is found." ' |