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Luke 15
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
Luke 15
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
Parables For Sinners And Pharisees
15 Now all the tax-collectors and the sinners were drawing-near to Him to hear Him. 2 And both the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling, saying that “This One is welcoming sinners and eating with them”.
The Lost Sheep And Lost Coin: Heaven Rejoices When a Sinner Repents
3 And He spoke this parable to them, saying 4 “What man from-among you having a hundred sheep and having lost one of them, does not leave-behind the ninety nine in the wilderness and proceed after the one having become-lost until he finds it? 5 And having found it, he puts it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And having come to the house, he calls-together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice-with me, because I found my lost sheep!’ 7 I say to you that in this manner there will be joy in heaven over one sinner repenting more-than[a] over ninety nine righteous ones who have no need of repentance. 8 Or what woman having ten drachmas[b], if she loses one drachma, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek carefully until which time she finds it ? 9 And having found it, she calls together her women friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice-with me, because I found the drachma which I lost!’ 10 In this manner, I say to you, joy comes-about in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting”.
The Prodigal Son: The Father Rejoices When His Lost Son Returns
11 And He said, “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the part of your substance[c] falling to me’. And the one distributed[d] his property to them. 13 And after not many days, having gathered together everything, the younger son went-on-a-journey to a distant country. And there he squandered his substance living wildly. 14 And he having spent everything, a severe famine came about in relation to that country, and he began to be-in-need. 15 And having gone, he joined himself to one of the citizens of that country. And he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was desiring to be filled-to-satisfaction with the carob-pods which the pigs were eating. And no one was giving anything to him. 17 But having come to himself, he said, ‘How many hired-workers of my father are abounding[e] with bread, but I am perishing[f] here in a famine! 18 Having arisen, I will proceed to my father and say to him, “Father, I sinned against heaven and in your sight. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired-workers”’. 20 And having arisen, he went to his father. But he still being far distant, his father saw him and felt-deep-feelings [of love]. And having run, he fell upon his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son’. 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring-out the best robe and put it on him. And give him a ring for his hand and sandals for the feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf. Slaughter it. And having eaten, let us celebrate! 24 Because this son of mine was dead, and he became-alive-again. He had become-lost, and he was found’. And they began to celebrate.
The Older Brother Is Angered By His Father’s Joy
25 “Now his older son was in the field. And when while coming he drew-near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And having summoned one of the servants, he was inquiring as to what these things might be. 27 And the one said to him that ‘Your brother has come. And your father slaughtered the fatted calf because he received him back being healthy’. 28 And he became-angry, and was not willing to go in. And his father, having come out, was appealing-to him. 29 But the one, having responded, said to his father, ‘Behold— I am slaving for you for so many years, and I never disregarded your command. And you never gave me a goat in order that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came— the one having devoured your property with prostitutes— you slaughtered the fatted calf for him!’ 31 And the one said to him, ‘Child, you are always with me, and all my things are yours. 32 But it-was-necessary to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead, and he became-alive. And he had become-lost, and he was found’”.
Footnotes
- Luke 15:7 Or, rather-than.
- Luke 15:8 A drachma is a Greek coin equivalent to the Roman denarius. It is one day’s wage for a laborer.
- Luke 15:12 Or, property, estate.
- Luke 15:12 Or, divided. One third went to the younger son; two thirds to the older, Deut 21:17.
- Luke 15:17 Or, having leftovers of.
- Luke 15:17 Or, losing-myself. This is another form of the key word ‘lost’ found in all three parables in chapter 15.
Luke 15
New International Version
Luke 15
New International Version
The Parable of the Lost Sheep(A)
15 Now the tax collectors(B) and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”(C)
3 Then Jesus told them this parable:(D) 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?(E) 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’(F) 7 I 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.(G)
The Parable of the Lost Coin
8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’(H) 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”(I)
The Parable of the Lost Son
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons.(J) 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’(K) So he divided his property(L) 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(M) in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.(N) 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that 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! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned(O) against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So 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.(P)
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.(Q) I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe(R) and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger(S) and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again;(T) he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.(U)
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry(V) and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But 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. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property(W) with prostitutes(X) comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”(Y)
Footnotes
- Luke 15:8 Greek ten drachmas, each worth about a day’s wages
Luke 15
English Standard Version
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
Disciples’ Literal New Testament (DLNT) 
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.