Luke 15
1599 Geneva Bible
15 The parable of the lost sheep. 8 Of the groat, 12 And of the prodigal son.
1 Then [a]resorted unto [b]him [c]all the Publicans and sinners, to hear him.
2 Therefore the Pharisees and Scribes murmured, saying, He receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3 Then spake he this parable to them, saying,
4 (A)What man of you having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders with joy.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me: for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven for one sinner that converteth, more than for ninety and nine just men, which need none amendment of life.
8 Either what woman having ten groats, if she lose one groat, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends, and neighbors, saying, Rejoice with me: for I have found the groat which I had lost.
10 Likewise I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the Angels of God, for one sinner that converteth.
11 ¶ [d]He said moreover, A certain man had two sons,
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of the goods that falleth to me. So he divided unto them his substance.
13 So not many days after, when the younger son had gathered all together, he took his journey into a far country, and there he wasted his goods with riotous living.
14 Now when he had spent all, there arose a great dearth throughout that land, and he began to be in necessity.
15 Then he went and clave to a citizen of that country, and he sent him to his farm, to feed swine.
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine ate: but no man gave them him.
17 [e]Then he came to himself, and said, How many hired servants at my father’s have bread enough, and I die for hunger?
18 I will rise and go to my father, and say unto him, Father, I have sinned against [f]heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thine hired servants.
20 So he arose and came to his father, and 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 [g]And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 Then 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 the fat calf, and kill him, and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again: and he was lost, but he is found. And they began to be merry.
25 [h]Now the elder brother was in the field, and when he came and drew near to the house, he heard melody, and dancing,
26 And called one of his servants, and asked what those things meant.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come, and thy father hath killed the fat calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28 Then he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him.
29 But he answered, and said to his father, Lo, these many years have I done thee service, neither brake I at anytime thy commandment, and yet thou never gavest me a kid that I might make merry with my friends.
30 But when this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy goods with harlots, thou hast for his sake killed the fat calf.
31 And he said unto him, Son thou art ever with me, and all that I have, is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again: and he was lost, but he is found.
Footnotes
- Luke 15:1 Or, draw near.
- Luke 15:1 We must not despair of them, which have gone out of the way, but according to the example of Christ, we must take great pains about them.
- Luke 15:1 Some Publicans and sinners came to Christ from all quarters.
- Luke 15:11 Men by their voluntary falling from God, having spoiled themselves of the benefits which they received of him, cast themselves headlong into infinite calamities: but God of his singular goodness, offering himself freely to them, whom he called to repentance, through the greatness of their misery wherewith they were tamed, doth not only gently receive them, but also enricheth them with far greater gifts, and blesseth them with the chiefest bliss.
- Luke 15:17 The beginning of repentance is the acknowledging of the mercy of God, which stirreth us to hope well.
- Luke 15:18 Against God, because he is said to dwell in heaven.
- Luke 15:21 In true repentance there is a feeling of our sins, joined with sorrow and shame, from whence springeth a confession, after which followeth forgiveness.
- Luke 15:25 Such as truly fear God, desire to have all men to be their fellows.
Luke 15
English Standard Version
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
15 Now (A)the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes (B)grumbled, saying, (C)“This man receives sinners and (D)eats with them.”
3 So he told them this parable: 4 (E)“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, (F)if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine (G)in the open country, and (H)go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, (I)he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for (J)I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who (K)repents than over ninety-nine (L)righteous persons who need no repentance.
The Parable of the Lost Coin
8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins,[a] if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before (M)the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
The Parable of the Prodigal Son
11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me (N)the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided (O)his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in (P)reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to[b] one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he (Q)was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
17 “But (R)when he (S)came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, (T)I have sinned against (U)heaven and before you. 19 (V)I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and (W)ran and (X)embraced him and (Y)kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. (Z)I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’[c] 22 But the father said to his servants,[d] ‘Bring quickly (AA)the best robe, and put it on him, and put (AB)a ring on his hand, and (AC)shoes on his feet. 23 And bring (AD)the fattened calf and kill it, and (AE)let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son (AF)was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
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 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might (AG)celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, (AH)who has devoured (AI)your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, (AJ)you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting (AK)to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother (AL)was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
Footnotes
- Luke 15:8 Greek ten drachmas; a drachma was a Greek coin approximately equal in value to a Roman denarius, worth about a day's wage for a laborer
- Luke 15:15 Greek joined himself to
- Luke 15:21 Some manuscripts add treat me as one of your hired servants
- Luke 15:22 Or bondservants
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