Luke 15

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 The tax col ectors and sinners, however, were al crowding round to listen to him,	1 The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to him,
2 and the Pharisees and scribes complained saying, 'This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.'	2 but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
3 So he told them this parable:	3 So to them he addressed this parable.
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?	4 "What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?
5 And when he found it, would he not joyful y take it on his shoulders	5 And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy
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."	6 and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.'
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.	7 I tell you, in just 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 of repentance.
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?	8 "Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it?
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."	9 And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.'
10 In the same way, I tel you, there is rejoicing among the angels of God over one repentant sinner.'	10 In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
11 Then he said, 'There was a man who had two sons.	11 Then he said, "A man had two sons,
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.	12 and the younger son said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.' So the father divided the property between them.
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.	13 After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.
14 'When he had spent it al , that country experienced a severe famine, and now he began to feel thepinch;	14 When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need.
15 so he hired himself out to one of the local inhabitants who put him on his farm to feed the pigs.	15 So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.
16 And he would wil ingly have fil ed himself with the husks the pigs were eating but no one would lethim have them.	16 And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any.
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!	17 Coming to his senses he thought, 'How many of my father's hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger.
18 I wil leave this place and go to my father and say: Father, I have sinned against heaven and againstyou;	18 I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
19 I no longer deserve to be cal ed your son; treat me as one of your hired men."	19 I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers."'
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.	20 So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.
21 Then his son said, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to becal ed your son."	21 His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.'
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.	22 But his father ordered his servants, 'Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
23 Bring the calf we have been fattening, and kil it; we wil celebrate by having a feast,	23 Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast,
24 because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found." And theybegan to celebrate.	24 because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.' Then the celebration began.
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.	25 Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing.
26 Cal ing one of the servants he asked what it was all about.	26 He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.
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."	27 The servant said to him, 'Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
28 He was angry then and refused to go in, and his father came out and began to urge him to come in;	28 He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him.
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.	29 He said to his father in reply, 'Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends.
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."	30 But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.'
31 'The father said, "My son, you are with me always and all I have is yours.	31 He said to him, 'My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours.
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." '	32 But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.'"