Luke 15

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Now tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to him, so that they might listen to him.	1 The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to him,
2 And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This one accepts sinners and eats with them.”	2 but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
3 And he told this parable to them, saying:	3 So to them he addressed this parable.
4 “What man among you, who has one hundred sheep, and if he will have lost one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the one whom he had lost, until he finds 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 has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing.	5 And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy
6 And returning home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them: ‘Congratulate me! For I have found my sheep, which had been 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 I say to you, that there will be so much more joy in heaven over one sinner repenting, than over the ninety-nine just, who do not need to repent.	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 what woman, having ten drachmas, if she will have lost one drachma, would not light a candle, and sweep the house, and diligently search until she finds 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 when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying: ‘Rejoice with me! For I have found the drachma, which I had 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 So I say to you, there will be joy before the Angels of God over even one sinner who is repentant.”	10 In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
11 And he said: “A certain man had two sons.	11 Then he said, "A man had two sons,
12 And the younger of them said to the father, ‘Father, give me the portion of your estate which would go to me.’ And he divided the estate 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 And after not many days, the younger son, gathering it all together, set out on a long journey to a distant region. And there, he dissipated his substance, living in luxury.	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 And after he had consumed it all, a great famine occurred in that region, and he began to be in need.	14 When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need.
15 And he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that region. And he sent him to his farm, in order to feed the swine.	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 wanted to fill his belly with the scraps that the swine ate. But no one would give it to him.	16 And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any.
17 And returning to his senses, he said: ‘How many hired hands in my father’s house have abundant bread, while I perish here in famine!	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 shall rise up and go to my father, and I will say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.	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 am not worthy to be called your son. Make me one of your hired hands.’	19 I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers."'
20 And rising up, he went to his father. But while he was still at a distance, his father saw him, and he was moved with compassion, and running to him, he fell upon his neck 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 And the son said to him: ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. Now I am not worthy to be called 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: ‘Quickly! Bring out the best robe, and clothe him with it. And put a ring on his hand and shoes 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 And bring the fatted calf here, and kill it. And let us eat and hold a feast.	23 Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast,
24 For this son of mine was dead, and has revived; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to feast.	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 But his elder son was in the field. And when he returned and drew near to the house, he heard 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 And he called one of the servants, and he questioned him as to what these things meant.	26 He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.
27 And he said to him: ‘Your brother has returned, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safely.’	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 Then he became indignant, and he was unwilling to enter. Therefore, his father, going out, began to plead with him.	28 He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him.
29 And in response, he said to his father: ‘Behold, I have been serving you for so many years. And I have never transgressed your commandment. And yet, you have never given me even a young goat, so that I might feast 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 Yet after this son of yours returned, who has devoured his substance with loose women, you have killed the fatted calf for him.’	30 But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.'
31 But he said to him: ‘Son, you are with me always, and all that 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 necessary to feast and to rejoice. For this brother of yours was dead, and has revived; 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.'"