Luke 15
Lost, and Found, and a Feast
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The Lost Sheep
15:1Now all the tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to hear Him.
15:2And both the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
15:3So He told them this parable:
15:4“What man among you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until he finds it?
15:5And when he finds it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
15:6When he comes home, he calls his friends and neighbors together and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I found my sheep that was lost!’
15:7I 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 of repentance.
The Lost Drachma
15:8Or what woman, having ten drachmas, if she loses one drachma, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?
15:9And when she finds it, she calls her women friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I found the drachma that I lost!’
15:10In the same way, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
A Certain Man Had Two Sons
15:11And He said, “A certain man had two sons.
15:12The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.’ And he divided his livelihood between them.
15:13Not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and traveled to a distant country. There he scattered his property by living recklessly.
15:14When he had spent everything, a severe famine arose throughout that country, and he began to be in need.
15:15So he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
15:16And he longed to fill his belly with the carob pods the pigs were eating, and no one gave him anything.
15:17But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have bread to spare, while I am perishing here from hunger!
15:18I will rise and go to my father and say to him, “Father, I sinned against heaven and before you.
15:19I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.”’
15:20And he rose and went to his own father. While he was still far away, his father saw him and was moved with compassion. He ran, fell upon his neck, and kissed him warmly.
15:21And the son said to him, ‘Father, I sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
15:22But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out the best robe and clothe him. Put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet,
15:23and bring the fattened calf and slaughter it. Let us eat and be glad,
15:24because this son of mine was dead and came to life again; he was lost and was found.’ And they began to be glad.
The Older Son
15:25Now his older son was in the field. As he came and drew near the house, he heard music and dancing.
15:26And he called one of the servants and asked what these things might mean.
15:27He said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father slaughtered the fattened calf because he received him back in good health.’
15:28But he became angry and was unwilling to enter. His father came out and pleaded with him.
15:29But he answered his father, ‘Behold, all these years I have served you as a slave, and I never passed over your command; yet you never gave me a young goat so that I might be glad with my friends.
15:30But when this son of yours came, who devoured your livelihood with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him!’
15:31And he said to him, ‘Child, you are always with me, and everything of mine is yours.
15:32But we had to be glad and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and came to life; he was lost and was found.’”
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.