Parábola de la oveja perdida(A)

15 Muchos recaudadores de impuestos y pecadores se acercaban a Jesús para oírlo, de modo que los fariseos y los maestros de la Ley se pusieron a murmurar: «Este hombre recibe a los pecadores y come con ellos».

Él entonces contó esta parábola: «Supongamos que uno de ustedes tiene cien ovejas y pierde una de ellas. ¿No deja las noventa y nueve en el campo y va en busca de la oveja perdida hasta encontrarla? Y cuando la encuentra, lleno de alegría, la carga en los hombros y vuelve a la casa. Al llegar, reúne a sus amigos y vecinos y les dice: “Alégrense conmigo; ya encontré la oveja que se me había perdido”. Les digo que así es también en el cielo: habrá más alegría por un solo pecador que se arrepienta que por noventa y nueve justos que no necesitan arrepentirse.

Parábola de la moneda perdida

»O supongamos que una mujer tiene diez monedas de plata[a] y pierde una. ¿No enciende una lámpara, barre la casa y busca con cuidado hasta encontrarla? Y cuando la encuentra, reúne a sus amigas y vecinas y les dice: “Alégrense conmigo; ya encontré la moneda que se me había perdido”. 10 Les digo que así mismo se alegran los ángeles de Dios por un pecador que se arrepiente.

Parábola del hijo perdido

11 »Un hombre tenía dos hijos —continuó Jesús—. 12 El menor de ellos dijo a su padre: “Papá, dame lo que me toca de la herencia”. Así que el padre repartió sus bienes entre los dos. 13 Poco después el hijo menor juntó todo lo que tenía y se fue a un país lejano; allí vivió desenfrenadamente y derrochó su herencia.

14 »Cuando ya lo había gastado todo, sobrevino una gran escasez en la región y él comenzó a pasar necesidad. 15 Así que fue y consiguió empleo con un ciudadano de aquel país, quien lo mandó a sus campos a cuidar cerdos. 16 Tanta hambre tenía que hubiera querido llenarse el estómago con la comida que daban a los cerdos, pero aun así nadie le daba nada. 17 Por fin recapacitó y se dijo: “¡Cuántos jornaleros de mi padre tienen comida de sobra y yo aquí me muero de hambre! 18 Me levantaré e iré a mi padre y le diré: Papá, he pecado contra el cielo y contra ti. 19 Ya no merezco que se me llame tu hijo; trátame como si fuera uno de tus jornaleros”. 20 Así que emprendió el viaje y se fue a su padre.

»Todavía estaba lejos cuando su padre lo vio y se compadeció de él; salió corriendo a su encuentro, lo abrazó y lo besó. 21 El joven le dijo: “Papá, he pecado contra el cielo y contra ti. Ya no merezco que se me llame tu hijo”.[b] 22 Pero el padre ordenó a sus siervos: “¡Pronto! Traigan la mejor ropa para vestirlo. Pónganle también un anillo en el dedo y sandalias en los pies. 23 Traigan el ternero más gordo y mátenlo para celebrar un banquete. 24 Porque este hijo mío estaba muerto, pero ahora ha vuelto a la vida; se había perdido, pero ha sido hallado”. Así que empezaron a hacer fiesta.

25 »Mientras tanto, el hijo mayor estaba en el campo. Al volver, cuando se acercó a la casa, oyó que había música y danza. 26 Entonces llamó a uno de los siervos y le preguntó qué pasaba. 27 “Tu hermano ha llegado —le respondió—, y tu papá ha matado el ternero más gordo porque lo ha recobrado sano y salvo”. 28 Indignado, el hermano mayor se negó a entrar. Así que su padre salió a suplicarle que lo hiciera. 29 Pero él contestó: “¡Fíjate cuántos años te he servido sin desobedecer jamás tus órdenes y ni un cabrito me has dado para celebrar una fiesta con mis amigos! 30 ¡Pero ahora llega ese hijo tuyo, que ha despilfarrado tu fortuna con prostitutas, y tú mandas matar en su honor el ternero más gordo!”.

31 »“Hijo mío —le dijo su padre—, tú siempre estás conmigo y todo lo que tengo es tuyo. 32 Pero teníamos que hacer fiesta y alegrarnos, porque este hermano tuyo estaba muerto, pero ahora ha vuelto a la vida; se había perdido, pero ya lo hemos encontrado”».

Footnotes

  1. 15:8 monedas de plata. Lit. dracmas.
  2. 15:21 hijo. Var. hijo; trátame como si fuera uno de tus jornaleros.

15 Dishonest tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus’ sermons; but this caused complaints from the Jewish religious leaders and the experts on Jewish law because he was associating with such despicable people—even eating with them!

3-4 So Jesus used this illustration: “If you had a hundred sheep and one of them strayed away and was lost in the wilderness, wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine others to go and search for the lost one until you found it? And then you would joyfully carry it home on your shoulders. When you arrived you would call together your friends and neighbors to rejoice with you because your lost sheep was found.

“Well, in the same way heaven will be happier over one lost sinner who returns to God than over ninety-nine others who haven’t strayed away!

“Or take another illustration: A woman has ten valuable silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and look in every corner of the house and sweep every nook and cranny until she finds it? And then won’t she call in her friends and neighbors to rejoice with her? 10 In the same way there is joy in the presence of the angels of God when one sinner repents.”

11 To further illustrate the point, he told them this story: “A man had two sons. 12 When the younger told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now, instead of waiting until you die!’ his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.

13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and took a trip to a distant land, and there wasted all his money on parties and prostitutes. 14 About the time his money was gone a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him to feed his pigs. 16 The boy became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the swine looked good to him. And no one gave him anything.

17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired men have food enough and to spare, and here I am, dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired man.”’

20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long distance away, his father saw him coming, and was filled with loving pity and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

21 “His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and you, and am not worthy of being called your son—’

22 “But his father said to the slaves, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. And a jeweled ring for his finger; and shoes! 23 And kill the calf we have in the fattening pen. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has returned to life. He was lost and is found.’ So the party began.

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working; when he returned home, he heard dance music coming from the house, 26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on.

27 “‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the calf we were fattening and has prepared a great feast to celebrate his coming home again unharmed.’

28 “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, 29 but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve worked hard for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to; and in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. 30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after spending your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the finest calf we have on the place.’

31 “‘Look, dear son,’ his father said to him, ‘you and I are very close, and everything I have is yours. 32 But it is right to celebrate. For he is your brother; and he was dead and has come back to life! He was lost and is found!’”

15 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.

And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

And he spake this parable unto them, saying,

What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

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.

Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?

And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.

10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:

12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep(A)

15 Then (B)all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man [a]receives sinners (C)and eats with them.” So He spoke this parable to them, saying:

(D)“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, (E)‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep (F)which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents (G)than over ninety-nine [b]just persons who (H)need no repentance.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

“Or what woman, having ten silver [c]coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ 10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

The Parable of the Lost Son

11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them (I)his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with [d]prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the [e]pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, (J)I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’

20 “And he arose and came to his father. But (K)when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven (L)and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, [f]‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 (M)for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’

28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’

31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, (N)for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”

Footnotes

  1. Luke 15:2 welcomes
  2. Luke 15:7 upright
  3. Luke 15:8 Gr. drachma, a valuable coin often worn in a ten-piece garland by married women
  4. Luke 15:13 wasteful
  5. Luke 15:16 carob pods
  6. Luke 15:22 NU Quickly bring