Luke 15:1
δὲ now αὐτῷ to him ἦσαν there were ἐγγίζοντες drawing near πάντες all οἱ the τελῶναι tax collectors καὶ and οἱ the ἁμαρτωλοὶ sinners ἀκούειν to listen αὐτοῦ. to him.
Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach.
Luke 15:2
καὶ and διεγόγγυζον were complaining οἵ the τε both Φαρισαῖοι Pharisees καὶ and οἱ the γραμματεῖς scribes λέγοντες saying, ὅτι - οὗτος this one ἁμαρτωλοὺς sinners προσδέχεται— welcomes καὶ and συνεσθίει eats together αὐτοῖς. with them.
This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people — even eating with them!
Luke 15:3
εἶπεν he told πρὸς to δὲ and αὐτοὺς them τὴν - παραβολὴν parable ταύτην this λέγων· saying,
So Jesus told them this story:
Luke 15:4
Τίς what ἐξ of ὑμῶν you ἄνθρωπος man ἔχων having ἑκατὸν one hundred πρόβατα sheep καὶ and ἀπολέσας having lost ἐξ from αὐτῶν them ἕν, one, οὐ not καταλείπει is leaving τὰ the ἐνενήκοντα ninety- ἐννέα nine ἐν in τῇ the ἐρήμῳ open grassland καὶ and πορεύεται goes ἐπὶ for τὸ the one ἀπολωλὸς having been lost ἕως until εὕρῃ he finds αὐτό; it?
“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it?
Luke 15:5
καὶ and εὑρών, having found [it] ἐπιτίθησιν he puts [it] ἐπὶ on τοὺς the ὤμους shoulders αὐτοῦ of him χαίρων. rejoicing
And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders.
Luke 15:6
καὶ and ἐλθὼν having come εἰς to τὸν the οἶκον, house συνκαλεῖ he calls together τοὺς - φίλους friends καὶ and τοὺς - γείτονας neighbors λέγων saying αὐτοῖς, to them, Συνχάρητέ rejoice together μοι with me, ὅτι because εὗρον I found τὸ the πρόβατόν [one] sheep μου of me, τὸ the one ἀπολωλός. having been lost.
When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’
Luke 15:7
λέγω I say ὑμῖν to you ὅτι that οὕτως, thus χαρὰ joy ἐν in τῷ - οὐρανῷ heaven ἔσται there will be ἐπὶ over ἑνὶ one ἁμαρτωλῷ sinner μετανοοῦντι repenting ἢ than ἐπὶ over ἐνενήκοντα ninety- ἐννέα nine δικαίοις righteous ones οἵτινες who χρείαν need μετανοίας. of repentance. οὐ no ἔχουσιν have
In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!
Luke 15:8
ἢ or τίς what γυνὴ woman δραχμὰς drachmas ἔχουσα having δέκα ten ἐὰν if ἀπολέσῃ she loses δραχμὴν drachma μίαν· one, οὐχὶ [will] not ἅπτει light λύχνον [a] lamp καὶ and σαροῖ sweep τὴν the οἰκίαν house καὶ and ζητεῖ search ἐπιμελῶς carefully ἕως until οὗ εὕρῃ; she finds [it]?
“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it?
Luke 15:9
καὶ and εὑροῦσα, having found [it], συνκαλεῖ she calls together τὰς - φίλας friends καὶ and γείτονας neighbors λέγουσα, saying, Συνχάρητέ rejoice together μοι with me, ὅτι because εὗρον I found τὴν the δραχμὴν drachma ἣν which ἀπώλεσα. I lost.
And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.’
Luke 15:10
οὕτως thus, λέγω I say ὑμῖν, to you, γίνεται there is χαρὰ joy ἐνώπιον before τῶν the ἀγγέλων angels τοῦ - θεοῦ of God ἐπὶ over ἑνὶ one ἁμαρτωλῷ sinner μετανοοῦντι. repenting.
In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”
Luke 15:11
εἶπεν he said δέ· and, ̓Άνθρωπός man τις a certain εἶχεν had δύο two υἱούς. sons.
To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons.
Luke 15:12
καὶ and εἶπεν said ὁ the νεώτερος younger αὐτῶν of them τῷ to the πατρί, father, Πάτερ, father, δός give μοι to me μέρος part τῆς of the τὸ the ἐπιβάλλον belonging οὐσίας. property. ὁ - δὲ and διεῖλεν he distributed αὐτοῖς to them τὸν the βίον. property.
The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.
Luke 15:13
καὶ and μετ᾽ after οὐ not πολλὰς many ἡμέρας days συναγαγὼν having gathered together πάντα all things ὁ the νεώτερος younger υἱὸς son ἀπεδήμησεν went on [a] journey εἰς to χώραν [a] country μακράν, far away καὶ and ἐκεῖ there διεσκόρπισεν he squandered τὴν the οὐσίαν property αὐτοῦ of him ζῶν living ἀσώτως. wasteful
“A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living.
Luke 15:14
δαπανήσαντος having spent δὲ and αὐτοῦ of him πάντα, all things ἐγένετο there came κατὰ throughout λιμὸς famine ἰσχυρὰ [a] severe τὴν - χώραν country ἐκείνην, that, καὶ and αὐτὸς he ἤρξατο began ὑστερεῖσθαι. to go without.
About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve.
Luke 15:15
καὶ and πορευθεὶς having gone ἐκολλήθη he became associated ἑνὶ with one τῶν of the πολιτῶν citizens τῆς - χώρας country ἐκείνης, of that, καὶ and ἔπεμψεν he sent αὐτὸν him εἰς into τοὺς the ἀγροὺς fields αὐτοῦ of him βόσκειν to feed χοίρους. pigs,
He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.
Luke 15:16
καὶ and ἐπεθύμει he was longing χορτασθῆναι to be fed ἐκ with τῶν the κερατίων pods ὧν which ἤσθιον were eating οἱ the χοῖροι. pigs, καὶ and οὐδεὶς no one ἐδίδου was giving [anything] αὐτῷ. to him.
The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.
Luke 15:17
εἰς to ἑαυτὸν himself δὲ but ἐλθὼν having come ἔφη, he said, Πόσοι how many μίσθιοι hired servants τοῦ of the πατρός father μου of me [there are] περισσεύονται having leftovers ἄρτων, of bread, ἐγὼ I δὲ but λιμῷ with [a] famine ὧδε here ἀπόλλυμαι. am perishing.
“When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger!
Luke 15:18
ἀναστὰς having arisen πορεύσομαι I will go πρὸς to τὸν the πατέρα father μου of me καὶ and ἐρῶ I will say αὐτῷ, to him, Πάτερ, father, ἥμαρτον I sinned εἰς against τὸν - οὐρανὸν heaven καὶ and ἐνώπιόν before σου, you.
I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you,
Luke 15:19
οὐκέτι no longer εἰμὶ I am ἄξιος worthy κληθῆναι to be called υἱός [the] son σου. of you. ποίησόν make με me ὡς as ἕνα one τῶν of the μισθίων hired servants σου. of you.
and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’
Luke 15:20
καὶ and ἀναστὰς having arisen ἦλθεν he came πρὸς to τὸν the πατέρα father ἑαυτοῦ. of himself. ἔτι while δὲ and αὐτοῦ he [still] μακρὰν [a] distance ἀπέχοντος, being away εἶδεν saw αὐτὸν him ὁ the πατὴρ father αὐτοῦ. of him καὶ and ἐσπλαγχνίσθη, was filled with compassion καὶ and δραμών, having run ἐπέπεσεν fell τὸν the τράχηλον neck ἐπὶ upon αὐτοῦ, of him καὶ and κατεφίλησεν he kissed αὐτόν. him.
“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.
Luke 15:21
εἶπεν said δὲ and ὁ the υἱὸς son αὐτῷ, to him, Πάτερ, father, ἥμαρτον I sinned εἰς against τὸν - οὐρανὸν heaven καὶ and ἐνώπιόν before σου, you. οὐκέτι no longer εἰμὶ I am ἄξιος worthy κληθῆναι to be called υἱός [the] son σου. of you.
His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’
Luke 15:22
εἶπεν said δὲ but ὁ the πατὴρ father πρὸς to τοὺς the δούλους slaves αὐτοῦ, of him, Ταχύ· quick, ἐξενέγκατε bring out στολὴν robe τὴν the πρώτην best καὶ and ἐνδύσατε clothe αὐτόν. him, καὶ and δότε give δακτύλιον [a] ring εἰς for τὴν the χεῖρα hand αὐτοῦ of him καὶ and ὑποδήματα sandals εἰς for τοὺς the πόδας. feet,
“But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet.
Luke 15:23
καὶ and φέρετε bring τὸν the μόσχον calf τὸν - σιτευτὸν fattened, θύσατε· [and] sacrifice [it], καὶ and φαγόντες having eaten εὐφρανθῶμεν. let us be merry,
And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast,
Luke 15:24
ὅτι because οὗτος this ὁ - υἱός son μου of me νεκρὸς dead ἦν was καὶ and ἀνέζησεν· he lived again, ἦν he was ἀπολωλώς, lost καὶ and εὑρέθη. he was found. καὶ and ἤρξαντο they began εὐφραίνεσθαι. to be merry.
for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.
Luke 15:25
ἦν was δέ, but ὁ the υἱὸς son αὐτοῦ of him, ὁ the πρεσβύτερος older, ἐν in ἀγρῷ· [the] field. καὶ and ὡς as ἐρχόμενος coming ἤγγισεν he drew near τῇ to the οἰκίᾳ, house, ἤκουσεν he heard συμφωνίας music καὶ and χορῶν, dancing,
“Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house,
Luke 15:26
καὶ and ἕνα one τῶν of the παίδων servants, προσκαλεσάμενος having summoned ἐπυνθάνετο he was inquiring τί what ἂν - εἴη might be ταῦτα. these things.
and he asked one of the servants what was going on.
Luke 15:27
ὁ - δὲ and εἶπεν he said αὐτῷ to him ὅτι, - Ὁ the ἀδελφός brother σου of you ἥκει, is present, καὶ and ἔθυσεν sacrificed ὁ the πατήρ father σου of you τὸν the μόσχον calf τὸν - σιτευτόν. fattened, ὅτι because ὑγιαίνοντα being in good health αὐτὸν him ἀπέλαβεν. he received back.
‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’
Luke 15:28
ὠργίσθη he was angry δὲ and καὶ and οὐκ not ἤθελεν he did want εἰσελθεῖν. to enter, ὁ the δὲ but πατὴρ father αὐτοῦ of him ἐξελθὼν having come out παρεκάλει was pleading αὐτόν, with him.
“The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him,
Luke 15:29
ὁ - δὲ but ἀποκριθεὶς having answered εἶπεν he said τῷ to the πατρὶ father αὐτοῦ, of him, Ἰδοὺ look, τοσαῦτα so many ἔτη years δουλεύω I serve σοι you καὶ and οὐδέποτε never ἐντολήν [a] commandment σου of you παρῆλθον· I disobeyed, καὶ and ἐμοὶ for me οὐδέποτε never ἔδωκας did you give ἔριφον [a] young goat ἵνα that μετὰ with τῶν the φίλων friends μου of me εὐφρανθῶ. I might be merry.
but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved 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.
Luke 15:30
ὅτε when δὲ but ὁ - υἱός son σου of you οὗτος this, ὁ the one καταφαγών having devoured σου your τὸν - βίον property μετὰ with πορνῶν prostitutes ἦλθεν, came, ἔθυσας you sacrificed αὐτῷ for him τὸν the σιτευτὸν fattened μόσχον. calf.
Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’
Luke 15:31
ὁ - δὲ and εἶπεν he said αὐτῷ, to him, Τέκνον, child, σὺ you πάντοτε always μετ᾽ with ἐμοῦ me εἶ, are, καὶ and πάντα all τὰ things ἐμὰ mine σά yours ἐστιν· is.
“His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours.
Luke 15:32
εὐφρανθῆναι to be merry χαρῆναι to rejoice δὲ now καὶ and ἔδει. it was necessary, ὅτι because ὁ - ἀδελφός brother σου of you οὗτος this νεκρὸς dead ἦν was καὶ and ἔζησεν· he lived, καὶ and ἀπολωλώς, having been lost καὶ and εὑρέθη. was found.
We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”