Open English Translation LUKE Chapter 15

15 [ref]Many tax-collectors and others regarded as sinners had come closer so they could hear what Yeshua was teaching, 2 but those from the Pharisee party and the religious teachers were grumbling, “This man accepts sinners and even eats with them!” 3 So Yeshua told them this parable:

4 “If you had a hundred sheep and one of them went missing, which of you wouldn’t leave the ninety-nine there in the wilderness and go and search for the missing sheep until you found it? 5 And once you found it, you would carry it home on your shoulders feeling very happy. 6 When you got back to the house, surely you’d call your friends and neighbours and tell them, ‘Come and celebrate with me because I found my lost sheep.’ 7 I’m telling you all that there’s similar celebration in heaven when one person turns from their disobedience and obeys God—more than over ninety-nine guiltless people who have no need to change.

8 “Or what woman who had ten silver coins and lost one, wouldn’t light a lamp and sweep the house and search thoroughly until she found it? 9 Then she’d invite her friends and neighbours saying, ‘Come and celebrate with me because I found the money that I’d lost.’ 10 I’m telling you all that there’s similar celebration by God’s messengers in heaven over one person who turns from their disobedience and obeys God.”

11 Then Yeshua told them, “Once there was a man with two sons. 12 The younger son asked his father to give him his inheritance in advance, so the father divided everything up. 13 Then a few days later, that younger son went off to a distant country where he used his inheritance to enjoy an affluent and carefree lifestyle. 14 However after he’d used up all his funds, a terrible famine hit that country, and he started to become needy, 15 so he went and signed up to work for one of the local farmers who assigned him to feed the pigs out in the fields. 16 As the pigs were eating their carob pods, their food started to look desirable to him, but he wasn’t given any. 17 But he eventually came to his senses and said to himself, ‘Even my father’s workers have plenty of good, but here I am in this place dying of starvation. 18 I’m going to leave and go back to my father to tell him, “Father, I’ve disobeyed God and dishonoured you 19 and I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Take me on as one of your workers.” ’

20 “So he got up and headed back to his father, but his father saw him coming from a distance and felt sorry for him. He ran and hugged his son and kissed him, 21 and the son said, ‘Father, I’ve disobeyed God and dishonoured you and I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father ordered his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out the best robe and dress him in it, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 Then get the grain-fed calf and slaughter it so we can celebrate with a feast, 24 because my son was dead but he’s now here alive—he was lost but now he’s found.’

25 “The man’s older son was out working in a field, and when he was heading home and got near the house, he could hear the sound of music and dancing 26 so he called out to one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come home,’ he replied, ‘and your father has slaughtered the grain-fed calf to celebrate because he got back safely.’ 28 But the older son was angry and didn’t want to go in, however his father came out and implored him to join them. 29 ‘Listen,’ said the older son to his father, ‘I’ve worked for you for however many years and I’ve never disobeyed you, yet you never gave me even a young goat so that I could celebrate with my friends! 30 Yet when this son of yours comes home after using up your money living with prostitutes, then you slaughter the fattened calf for him!’ 31 ‘Son,’ answered the father, ‘you have always been here with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But it’s right to be happy and excited, because your brother was dead and now he’s alive again—he was lost and now he’s found.’ ”