| New International Version | NET Bible |
| 1Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. | 1Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming to hear him. |
| 2But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." | 2But the Pharisees and the experts in the law were complaining, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." |
| 3Then Jesus told them this parable: | 3So Jesus told them this parable: |
| 4"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? | 4"Which one of you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go look for the one that is lost until he finds it? |
| 5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders | 5Then when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing. |
| 6and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' | 6Returning home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, telling them, 'Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.' |
| 7I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. | 7I 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. |
| 8"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn't she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? | 8"Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search thoroughly until she finds it? |
| 9And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' | 9Then 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.' |
| 10In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." | 10In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God's angels over one sinner who repents." |
| 11Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. | 11Then Jesus said, "A man had two sons. |
| 12The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. | 12The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the estate that will belong to me.' So he divided his assets between them. |
| 13"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. | 13After a few days, the younger son gathered together all he had and left on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his wealth with a wild lifestyle. |
| 14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. | 14Then after he had spent everything, a severe famine took place in that country, and he began to be in need. |
| 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. | 15So he went and worked for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. |
| 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. | 16He was longing to eat the carob pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. |
| 17"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! | 17But when he came to his senses he said, 'How many of my father's hired workers have food enough to spare, but here I am dying from hunger! |
| 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. | 18I will get up and go to my father and say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. |
| 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.' | 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired workers."' |
| 20So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. | 20So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way from home his father saw him, and his heart went out to him; he ran and hugged his son and kissed him. |
| 21"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' | 21Then his son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' |
| 22"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. | 22But the father said to his slaves, 'Hurry! Bring the best robe, and put it on him! Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet! |
| 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. | 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it! Let us eat and celebrate, |
| 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate. | 24because this son of mine was dead, and is alive again--he was lost and is found!' So they began to celebrate. |
| 25"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. | 25"Now his older son was in the field. As he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. |
| 26So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. | 26So he called one of the slaves and asked what was happening. |
| 27Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' | 27The slave replied, 'Your brother has returned, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he got his son back safe and sound.' |
| 28"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. | 28But the older son became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and appealed to him, |
| 29But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. | 29but he answered his father, 'Look! These many years I have worked like a slave for you, and I never disobeyed your commands. Yet you never gave me even a goat so that I could celebrate with my friends! |
| 30But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' | 30But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!' |
| 31"'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. | 31Then the father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and everything that belongs to me is yours. |
| 32But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'" | 32It was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost and is found.'" |
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