Luke 15
Lexham English Bible
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
15 Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were drawing near to hear him. 2 And both the Pharisees and the scribes were complaining, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them!”
3 So he told them this parable, saying, 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the grassland and go after the one that was lost until he finds it? 5 And when he[a] has found it,[b] he places it[c] on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he[d] returns to his[e] home, he calls together his[f] friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost!’ 7 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.
The Parable of the Lost Coin
8 Or what woman who has ten drachmas, if she loses one drachma, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?[g] 9 And when she[h] has found it,[i] she calls together her[j] friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the drachma that I had lost!’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
The Parable of the Lost Son
11 And he said, “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his[k] father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that is coming to me.’ So he divided his[l] assets between them. 13 And after not many days, the younger son gathered everything and[m] went on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his wealth by[n] living wastefully. 14 And after[o] he had spent everything, there was a severe famine throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15 And he went and[p] hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to tend pigs. 16 And he was longing to fill his stomach with[q] the carob pods that the pigs were eating, and no one was giving anything[r] to him.
17 “But when he[s] came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have an abundance of food,[t] and I am dying here from hunger! 18 I will set out and[u] go to my father and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight![v] 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son! Make me like one of your hired workers.’ 20 And he set out and[w] came to his own father. But while[x] he was still a long way away, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him[y] and kissed him. 21 And his[z] son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight![aa] I am no longer worthy to be called your son!’ 22 But his[ab] father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it[ac] on him, and put a ring on his finger[ad] and sandals on his[ae] feet! 23 And bring the fattened calf—kill it[af] and let us eat and[ag] celebrate, 24 because this son of mine 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 when he came and[ah] approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he summoned one of the slaves and[ai] 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 gotten him back healthy.’ 28 But he became angry and did not want to go in. So his father came out and[aj] began to implore[ak] him. 29 But he answered and[al] said to his father, ‘Behold, so many years I have served you, and have never disobeyed your command! And you never gave me a young goat so that I could celebrate with my friends! 30 But when this son of yours returned—who has consumed your assets with prostitutes—you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 But he said to him, ‘Child, you are always with me, and everything I have belongs to you.[am] 32 But it was necessary to celebrate and to rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead, and is alive, and was lost, and is found!’”
Footnotes
- Luke 15:5 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“has found”) which is understood as temporal
- Luke 15:5 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Luke 15:5 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Luke 15:6 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“returns”) which is understood as temporal
- Luke 15:6 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
- Luke 15:6 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
- Luke 15:8 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Luke 15:9 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“has found”) which is understood as temporal
- Luke 15:9 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Luke 15:9 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
- Luke 15:12 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
- Luke 15:12 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
- Luke 15:13 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“gathered”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Luke 15:13 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the adverbial participle of manner (“living”)
- Luke 15:14 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“had spent”)
- Luke 15:15 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“went”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Luke 15:16 Some manuscripts have “to stuff himself with”
- Luke 15:16 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Luke 15:17 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“came”) which is understood as temporal
- Luke 15:17 Literally “of bread”
- Luke 15:18 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“set out”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Luke 15:18 Literally “in the sight of you”
- Luke 15:20 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“set out”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Luke 15:20 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“away”)
- Luke 15:20 Literally “fell on his neck”
- Luke 15:21 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
- Luke 15:21 Literally “in the sight of you”
- Luke 15:22 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
- Luke 15:22 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Luke 15:22 Literally “hand,” but this is a metonymy of whole (“hand”) for part (“finger”)
- Luke 15:22 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
- Luke 15:23 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Luke 15:23 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“eat”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Luke 15:25 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Luke 15:26 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“summoned”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Luke 15:28 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came out”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Luke 15:28 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to implore”)
- Luke 15:29 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Luke 15:31 Literally “all my things are yours”
Luke 15
New King James Version
The Parable of the Lost Sheep(A)
15 Then (B)all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man [a]receives sinners (C)and eats with them.” 3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying:
4 (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? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 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!’ 7 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
8 “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? 9 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
- Luke 15:2 welcomes
- Luke 15:7 upright
- Luke 15:8 Gr. drachma, a valuable coin often worn in a ten-piece garland by married women
- Luke 15:13 wasteful
- Luke 15:16 carob pods
- Luke 15:22 NU Quickly bring
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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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
