{"meta":{"source":"Prime Bible","sourceUrl":"https://primebible.com","license":"Public domain (translation text); see citation policy at /citation-policy","organization":"501(c)(3) nonprofit — EIN 41-2531951","canonicalUrl":"https://primebible.com/wnt/luke/15","llmTxt":"https://primebible.com/llms.txt","generatedAt":"2026-06-17T11:06:09.194Z"},"reference":{"translation":"WNT","book":"Luke","bookSlug":"luke","chapter":15,"testament":"NEW"},"navigation":{"previousChapter":14,"nextChapter":16,"totalChapters":24,"totalVerses":32},"verses":[{"verseNumber":1,"text":"Now the tax-gatherers and the notorious sinners were everywhere in the habit of coming close to Him to listen to Him;"},{"verseNumber":2,"text":"and this led the Pharisees and the Scribes indignantly to complain, saying, |He gives a welcome to notorious sinners, and joins them at their meals!|"},{"verseNumber":3,"text":"So in figurative language He asked them,"},{"verseNumber":4,"text":"|Which of you men, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in their pasture and go in search of the lost one till he finds it?"},{"verseNumber":5,"text":"And when he has found it, he lifts it on his shoulder, glad at heart."},{"verseNumber":6,"text":"Then coming home he calls his friends and neighbours together, and says,  'Congratulate me, for I have found my sheep--the one I had lost.'"},{"verseNumber":7,"text":"I tell you that in the same way there will be rejoicing in Heaven over one repentant sinner--more rejoicing than over ninety-nine blameless persons who have no need of repentance."},{"verseNumber":8,"text":"|Or what woman who has ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully till she finds it?"},{"verseNumber":9,"text":"And when she has found it, she calls together her  friends and neighbours, and says, |'Congratulate me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.'"},{"verseNumber":10,"text":"|I tell you that in the same way there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one repentant sinner.|"},{"verseNumber":11,"text":"He went on to say, |There was a man who had two sons."},{"verseNumber":12,"text":"The younger of them said to his father, |'Father, give me the share of the property that comes to me.' |So he divided his wealth between them."},{"verseNumber":13,"text":"No long time afterwards the younger son got all together and travelled to a distant country, where he wasted his money in debauchery and excess."},{"verseNumber":14,"text":"At last, when he had spent everything, there came a terrible famine throughout that country, and  he began  to feel the pinch of want."},{"verseNumber":15,"text":"So he went and  hired himself to one of the inhabitants of that country, who sent him on to his farm to tend swine;"},{"verseNumber":16,"text":"and he longed to make a hearty meal of the pods the swine were eating, but no one gave him any."},{"verseNumber":17,"text":"|But on coming to himself he said, |'How many of my father's hired men have more bread than they want, while I here am dying of hunger!"},{"verseNumber":18,"text":"I will rise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you:"},{"verseNumber":19,"text":"I no longer deserve to be called a son of yours: treat me as one of your hired men.'"},{"verseNumber":20,"text":"|So he rose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and pitied him, and ran and threw his arms round his neck and kissed him tenderly."},{"verseNumber":21,"text":"|'Father,' cried the son, 'I have sinned against Heaven and before you: no longer do I deserve to be called a son of yours.'"},{"verseNumber":22,"text":"|But the father said to his servants, |'Fetch a good coat quickly--the best one--and put it on him; and bring a ring for his finger and shoes for his feet."},{"verseNumber":23,"text":"Fetch the fat calf and kill it, and let us feast and enjoy ourselves;"},{"verseNumber":24,"text":"for my son here was dead and has come to life again: he was lost and has been found.' |And they began to be merry."},{"verseNumber":25,"text":"|Now his elder son was out on the farm; and when he returned and came near home, he heard music and  dancing."},{"verseNumber":26,"text":"Then he called one of the lads to him and asked what all this meant."},{"verseNumber":27,"text":"|'Your brother has come,' he replied; 'and your father has had the fat calf killed, because he has got him home safe and sound.'"},{"verseNumber":28,"text":"|Then he was angry and would not go in. But his father came out and entreated him."},{"verseNumber":29,"text":"|'All these years,' replied the son, 'I have been slaving for you, and I have never at any time  disobeyed any of your orders, and yet you have never given me so much as a kid, for me to enjoy myself with my friends;"},{"verseNumber":30,"text":"but now that this son of yours is come who has eaten up your property among his bad women, you have killed the fat calf for him.'"},{"verseNumber":31,"text":"|'You  my dear son,' said the father, 'are always with me, and all that is mine is also yours."},{"verseNumber":32,"text":"We are bound to make merry and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has come back to life, he was lost and has been found.'|"}],"citation":{"inline":"Luke 15 (WNT)","markdown":"[Luke 15](https://primebible.com/wnt/luke/15)","sbl":"Prime Bible. *The Bible.* WNT. https://primebible.com/wnt/luke/15 (accessed 2026-06-17)."}}