Luke 15 :: English Standard Version (ESV)

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

(Mat 18:10–14 )

Luk 15:1

Luk 15:1Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.

Luk 15:2

Luk 15:2And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

Luk 15:3

Luk 15:3So he told them this parable:

Luk 15:4

Luk 15:4“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?

Luk 15:5

Luk 15:5And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

Luk 15:6

Luk 15:6And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’

Luk 15:7

Luk 15:7Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

Luk 15:8

Luk 15:8“Or what woman, having ten silver coins,[fn] if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?

Luk 15:9

Luk 15:9And 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.’

Luk 15:10

Luk 15:10Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

Luk 15:11

Luk 15:11And he said, “There was a man who had two sons.

Luk 15:12

Luk 15:12And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.

Luk 15:13

Luk 15:13Not 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 reckless living.

Luk 15:14

Luk 15:14And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.

Luk 15:15

Luk 15:15So he went and hired himself out to[fn] one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.

Luk 15:16

Luk 15:16And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

Luk 15:17

Luk 15:17“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!

Luk 15:18

Luk 15:18I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.

Luk 15:19

Luk 15:19I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’

Luk 15:20

Luk 15:20And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

Luk 15:21

Luk 15:21And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’[fn]

Luk 15:22

Luk 15:22But the father said to his servants,[fn] ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.

Luk 15:23

Luk 15:23And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.

Luk 15:24

Luk 15:24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

Luk 15:25

Luk 15:25“Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.

Luk 15:26

Luk 15:26And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.

Luk 15:27

Luk 15:27And 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.’

Luk 15:28

Luk 15:28But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,

Luk 15:29

Luk 15:29but 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 celebrate with my friends.

Luk 15:30

Luk 15:30But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’

Luk 15:31

Luk 15:31And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.

Luk 15:32

Luk 15:32It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

See the ESV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

ESV Footnotes

(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

(15:15)

Greek joined himself to

(15:21)

Some manuscripts add treat me as one of your hired servants

(15:22)

Or bondservants

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