Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
Luke 15
Sinners Draw Near
All the tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to Jesus to listen to him. The Pharisees and scribes were grumbling, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So Jesus told them this parable: “Which one of 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 you find it? When you find it, you place it on your shoulders, rejoicing. When you come home, you call together your friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me, because I found my sheep that was lost.’ In the same way, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance. “Or what woman who has ten silver coins, if she loses one, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says, ‘Rejoice with me, because I found the coin I lost.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
A Father and Two Lost Sons
Jesus said, “A man had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that belongs to me.’ So the father divided his livelihood between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and traveled to a distant country. There he squandered his property in reckless living. After he had spent everything, a severe famine came over that country, and he began to be in need. He went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into the fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. When he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough bread, while I am dying here from hunger! I will get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me like one of your hired workers.”’ So he got up and went to his father. While he was still far away, his father saw him and was moved with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. The son said, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father told his servants, ‘Quickly! Bring out the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us eat and celebrate, because this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate. His older son was in the field. As he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what was happening. The servant told him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father killed the fattened calf because he received him back safe and sound.’ The older son became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came—the one who devoured your livelihood with prostitutes—you killed the fattened calf for him!’ The father said to him, ‘Child, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”