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Luke 15 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18 V19 V20 V21 V22 V23 V24 V25 V26 V27 V28 V29 V30 V31 V32
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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)
OET (OET-RV) 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.![]()
OET-LV I_am_saying to_you_all that thus joy in the heaven will_be over one sinner repenting, than over ninety nine righteous ones, who are_having no need of_repentance.
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SR-GNT Λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι οὕτως χαρὰ ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ἔσται ἐπὶ ἑνὶ ἁμαρτωλῷ μετανοοῦντι, ἢ ἐπὶ ἐνενήκοντα ἐννέα δικαίοις, οἵτινες οὐ χρείαν ἔχουσιν μετανοίας. ‡
(Legō humin hoti houtōs ⱪara en tōi ouranōi estai epi heni hamartōlōi metanoounti, aʸ epi enenaʸkonta ennea dikaiois, hoitines ou ⱪreian eⱪousin metanoias.)
Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).
ULT I say to you that in the same way, there will be joy in heaven over one sinner repenting, more than over 99 being righteous having no need of repentance.
UST You should know that, in a similar way, there is great joy among those in heaven when one sinner repents from his sins. That joy is greater than their joy over many people who are already right with God and do not need to repent.
BSB I tell you that in the same way there will be [more] joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.
MSB (Same as BSB above)
BLB I say to you that in the same way there will be joy in heaven over one sinner repenting, rather than over ninety nine righteous ones who have no need of repentance.
AICNT “[[But]][fn] I say to you [that][fn] in this way there will be joy in heaven over one sinner repenting, more than over ninety-nine righteous ones who have no need of repentance.
OEB So, I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one outcast who repents, than over ninety-nine religious people, who have no need to repent.
WEBBE I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.
WMBB (Same as above)
NET I 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 to repent.
LSV I say to you that [more] joy will be in Heaven over one sinner converting, rather than over ninety-nine righteous men who have no need of conversion.
FBV I tell you that there's more joy in heaven over a sinner that repents than over ninety-nine good people who don't need to repent.
TCNT I 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.
T4T I tell you (pl) that similarly God will be very happy about each and every sinner who turns from doing evil. God is not happy about 99 people who think that they are [IRO] righteous and think that they do not need to turn from doing evil.
LEB I tell you that 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.
BBE I say to you that even so there will be more joy in heaven when one sinner is turned away from his wrongdoing, than for ninety-nine good men, who have no need of a change of heart.
Moff So, I tell you, there will be joy in heaven over a single sinner who repents, more than over ninety-nine good people who do not need to repent.
Wymth I tell you that in the same way there will be rejoicing in Heaven over one repentant sinner—more rejoicing than over ninety-nine blameless persons who have no need of repentance.
ASV I say unto you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine righteous persons, who need no repentance.
DRA I say to you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven upon one sinner that doth penance, more than upon ninety-nine just who need not penance.
YLT 'I say to you, that so joy shall be in the heaven over one sinner reforming, rather than over ninety-nine righteous men, who have no need of reformation.
Drby I say unto you, that thus there shall be joy in heaven for one repenting sinner, [more] than for ninety and nine righteous who have no need of repentance.
RV I say unto you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine righteous persons, which need no repentance.
(I say unto you, that evening so there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth/repents, more than over ninety and nine righteous persons, which need no repentance. )
SLT I say to you, that so shall joy be in heaven over one sinful repenting, more than over ninety-nine just, which have no need of repentance.
Wbstr I say to you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, who need no repentance.
KJB-1769 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
( I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth/repents, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. )
KJB-1611 I say vnto you, that likewise ioy shall be in heauen ouer one sinner that repenteth, more then ouer ninety and nine iust persons, which need no repentance.
(I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth/repents, more then over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.)
Bshps I say vnto you, that lykewyse ioy shalbe in heauen ouer one sinner that repenteth, more then ouer ninetie and nine iust persons, which neede no repentaunce.
(I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth/repents, more then over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.)
Gnva I say vnto you, that likewise ioy shall be in heauen for one sinner that conuerteth, more then for ninetie and nine iust men, which neede none amendment of life.
(I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven for one sinner that converteth, more then for ninety and nine just men, which need none amendment of life. )
Cvdl I saye vnto you: Eue so shal there be ioye in heauen ouer one synner that doth pennaunce, more then ouer nyne and nyentye righteous, which nede not repentaunce.
(I say unto you: Eve so shall there be joy in heaven over one sinner that doth/does pennaunce, more then over nine and nyentye righteous, which need not repentance.)
TNT I say vnto you that lyke wyse ioye shalbe in heven over one synner that repenteth moore then over nynety and nyne iuste persons whiche nede noo repentaunce.
(I say unto you that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth/repents moore then over nynety and nine just persons which need noo repentance. )
Wycl And Y seie to you, so ioye schal be in heuene on o synful man doynge penaunce, more than on nynti and nyne iuste, that han no nede to penaunce.
(And I say to you, so joy shall be in heaven on o sinful man doing penance, more than on ninety and nine just, that have no need to penance.)
Luth Ich sage euch: Also wird auch Freude im Himmel sein über einen Sünder, der Buße tut, vor neunundneunzig Gerechten, die der Buße nicht bedürfen.
(I said you: So becomes also joy/pleasure/delight in_the heaven be above a sinners, the/of_the repentance does, before/in_front_of nineundneunzig righteous_(ones), the the/of_the repentance not need(v).)
ClVg Dico vobis quod ita gaudium erit in cælo super uno peccatore pœnitentiam agente, quam super nonaginta novem justis, qui non indigent pœnitentia.[fn]
(Sayo to_you(pl) that so/thus joy will_be in/into/on the_sky over one sinnere repentance agente, how over ninety nine just, who/which not/no they_need repentance. )
15.7 Dico vobis. In nonaginta novem, justorum numerus intelligitur; in una ove, peccatorum. Gaudium. Angeli, quia rationales, gaudent de reconciliato sibi homine, quod incendit nos ad probitatem: agamus quod illis gratum sit, quorum et affectare patrocinium, et offensam timere debemus. Quam super. Si in nonaginta novem justis qui non erraverunt nec indigent pœnitentia, angeli intelliguntur, majus videtur impios justificare quam justos creare et conservare, quia etsi utrumque æqualis potentiæ, hic majoris misericordiæ et majoris gaudii.
15.7 Sayo to_you(pl). In ninety nine, of_the_righteous number understood; in/into/on together ove, of_sins/sinners. Gaudium. Angeli, because rationales, gaudent from/about reconciliato to_himself man, that incendit us to probitatem: agamus that to_them gratum be, whose and affectare patrocinium, and offensam to_be_afraid we_must. How super. When/But_if in/into/on ninety nine just who/which not/no they_went_astray but_not they_need repentance, messengers/angels are_understood, greater it_seems wicked justificare how just creare and conservare, because even_though both equals of_power, this/here olders of_mercy and olders of_joy.
UGNT λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι οὕτως χαρὰ ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ἔσται ἐπὶ ἑνὶ ἁμαρτωλῷ μετανοοῦντι, ἢ ἐπὶ ἐνενήκοντα ἐννέα δικαίοις, οἵτινες οὐ χρείαν ἔχουσιν μετανοίας.
(legō humin hoti houtōs ⱪara en tōi ouranōi estai epi heni hamartōlōi metanoounti, aʸ epi enenaʸkonta ennea dikaiois, hoitines ou ⱪreian eⱪousin metanoias.)
SBL-GNT λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι οὕτως χαρὰ ⸂ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ἔσται⸃ ἐπὶ ἑνὶ ἁμαρτωλῷ μετανοοῦντι ἢ ἐπὶ ἐνενήκοντα ἐννέα δικαίοις οἵτινες οὐ χρείαν ἔχουσιν μετανοίας.
(legō humin hoti houtōs ⱪara ⸂en tōi ouranōi estai⸃ epi heni hamartōlōi metanoounti aʸ epi enenaʸkonta ennea dikaiois hoitines ou ⱪreian eⱪousin metanoias.)
RP-GNT Λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι οὕτως χαρὰ ἔσται ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ἐπὶ ἑνὶ ἁμαρτωλῷ μετανοοῦντι, ἢ ἐπὶ ἐνενήκοντα ἐννέα δικαίοις, οἵτινες οὐ χρείαν ἔχουσιν μετανοίας.
(Legō humin hoti houtōs ⱪara estai en tōi ouranōi epi heni hamartōlōi metanoounti, aʸ epi enenaʸkonta ennea dikaiois, hoitines ou ⱪreian eⱪousin metanoias.)
TC-GNT Λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι οὕτω χαρὰ [fn]ἔσται ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ἐπὶ ἑνὶ ἁμαρτωλῷ μετανοοῦντι, ἢ ἐπὶ [fn]ἐνενήκοντα ἐννέα δικαίοις, οἵτινες οὐ χρείαν ἔχουσι μετανοίας.
(Legō humin hoti houtō ⱪara estai en tōi ouranōi epi heni hamartōlōi metanoounti, aʸ epi enenaʸkonta ennea dikaiois, hoitines ou ⱪreian eⱪousi metanoias. )
Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).
15:1-32 Chapter 15 contains three related parables of things lost and found: a sheep (15:1-7), a coin (15:8-10), and a son (15:11-32). The loss of something loved causes deep sorrow, whereas finding it brings great joy. There is great rejoicing in heaven when lost sinners return to their heavenly Father.
In Luke 15 Jesus welcomed sinful people, and many listened to him. However, the Pharisees criticized Jesus for welcoming people like that. Then Jesus told the three parables in this chapter. Each parable tells about something that was lost and the joy of the one who found it. The things that were lost represent sinful people. They need help to be restored to God. The parables illustrate that God feels great joy when even one sinful person repents and is restored to a good relationship with him. In the Notes each parable will be described in a separate section.
The parable in this section is about a sheep that went away from its shepherd. The sheep did not know how to find the shepherd again. When the shepherd noticed that this one sheep was missing, he searched for it diligently until he found it. He then invited his friends and neighbors to rejoice with him that he had found the lost sheep. Another heading for this section is:
The Lost Sheep (GW)
A shepherd was happy to find his lost sheep
There is a parallel passage for this section in Matthew 18:12–14. However, the context and some of the details are different.
In 15:6 the parable ended with the shepherd’s words. In 15:7 Jesus concluded the parable and showed how it applied to his listeners. If this is not clear in your language, you may want to supply a separate quote introduction. For example:
Jesus concluded
See the note on “in the same way” in 15:7a for more information.
In the same way, I tell you that
And I tell you(plur) this: it is the same when a sinner repents.
Jesus concluded: “I assure you(plur) that just like the shepherd in that story,
In the same way: The Greek word that the BSB translates as In the same way here introduces the important truth that the parable illustrated. A shepherd cares about a sheep that is lost, and he searches for it until he finds it. Then he celebrates. In the same way, God cares about each sinful person, and he celebrates when any sinful person repents.
A sinner is like a lost sheep because he has stopped following (obeying) God, just as the sheep left the shepherd and became lost. God is happy when each sinner repents and turns to him.
I tell you: Jesus often used the words I tell you to begin a statement that he wanted to emphasize. He was asking people to listen with extra attention. Some ways to show this emphasis could be:
As a phrase before Jesus’ statement. For example:
Let me tell you this
Listen
I assure you
As an emphatic word within Jesus’ statement. For example:
In the same way there will certainly be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner…
If you have another way in your language to emphasize a statement or to alert people to listen with special attention, consider using it here. See how you translated this expression in 10:12.
there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones: These two verse parts are a comparison. Jesus said that God and his angels rejoice very much when a sinner repents. They are even happier about this than they are about all the righteous people who do not need to repent. In languages that do not use comparisons in this way, you may be able to reorder the verse parts and translate the comparison like this:
7cThere is already rejoicing in heaven over ninety-nine righteous people who do not need to repent. 7bBut there will be great rejoicing over one sinner who repents.
there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents
Those in heaven will be very happy. They will be happier about the one sinner who repents
God and his angels will have greater joy/happiness because of one sinner who turns away from his sins
there will be more joy in heaven: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as joy in heaven refers primarily to God, but it also includes the angels, who are with him in heaven. It indicates here that God and those in heaven with him will be very happy. In some languages you may need to make the meaning more explicit. For example:
those in heaven will be happier
God and his angels in heaven will rejoice greatly
See heaven, Meaning 2, in the Glossary.
repents: The Greek word that the BSB translates as repents means that a person “changes his mind, heart, or will.” In the Bible, it refers specifically to a person’s changing his mind and heart about sin and about God. When a person repents, he is sorry for his past sins. He decides to stop sinning and obey God.
Some ways to translate repents in this context are:
changes his thinking/mind/heart
rejects his sins
In some languages, you may have an idiom for this type of change. For example:
turns from sin to God
leaves his sinning behind
The word repent also occurs in 13:3b.
than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.
than about the ninety-nine people who are righteous/upright and do not need to repent.”
than because of ninety-nine good/respectable people who do not need to turn away from any sins.”
righteous ones who do not need to repent: The Greek word that the BSB translates as righteous ones refers to people who live according to God’s standards.
Jesus may have referred here to people who wrongly think that they are righteous. According to their thinking, they do not need to repent. However, Jesus may have referred to people who had already repented and so God considered them to be righteous. In some languages it may be helpful to add a footnote that gives these two options.
See the note on “the righteous” at 5:32a, where the context is similar.
Some ways to translate the word righteous are:
those who obey God’s law
those who do what is right
In some languages people use an idiom to express this meaning. For example:
those who follow a straight path
upright people
λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι οὕτως χαρά ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ἔσται ἐπί ἑνί ἁμαρτωλῷ μετανοοῦντι ἤ ἐπί ἐνενήκοντα ἐννέα δικαιοῖς οἵτινες οὒ χρείαν ἔχουσιν μετανοίας)
Jesus says this to emphasize what he is about to tell these Pharisees and scribes. Alternate translation: [I can assure you that]
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
οὕτως
thus
If it would be helpful to your readers, you could express the implicit meaning here. Alternate translation: [just as the shepherd and his friends and neighbors would rejoice]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy
χαρὰ ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ἔσται
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι οὕτως χαρά ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ἔσται ἐπί ἑνί ἁμαρτωλῷ μετανοοῦντι ἤ ἐπί ἐνενήκοντα ἐννέα δικαιοῖς οἵτινες οὒ χρείαν ἔχουσιν μετανοίας)
Jesus is using the word heaven to mean the inhabitants of heaven. Alternate translation: [everyone in heaven will rejoice]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj
δικαίοις
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι οὕτως χαρά ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ἔσται ἐπί ἑνί ἁμαρτωλῷ μετανοοῦντι ἤ ἐπί ἐνενήκοντα ἐννέα δικαιοῖς οἵτινες οὒ χρείαν ἔχουσιν μετανοίας)
Jesus is using the adjective righteous as a noun in order to indicate a group of people. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate the word with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: [people who are righteous]