1 Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near to Him {Iesous, Compassionate Teacher} in order to hear {akouein: intentional listening} Him.
2 And the Pharisees {Pharisaioi: strict religious group} and the scribes were murmuring {diegongyzon: ongoing complaint}, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats alongside them.”
3 So He {Iesous, Patient Instructor} spoke to them by means of this parable {parabole: illustrative teaching}, saying,
4 What person among you who owns a hundred sheep {probata: small flock animals} and loses one would not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness {eremo: barren region} and go after the lost one until he finds it?
5 And after he finds it, he sets it upon his shoulders {omous: bearing support}, rejoicing {chairon: joyful delight}.
6 And when he enters his house {oikon: family dwelling}, he gathers his friends and neighbors and says to them, “Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep {probaton: vulnerable animal} that was lost.”
7 I{Iesous, Divine Teacher} say to you that in the same way there will be joy in heaven over one sinner who is repenting, more than over ninety-nine righteous persons{dikaiois: justified ones} who have no need of repentance.
8 Or what woman, if she has ten drachmas {drakhmas: Greek silver coin} and loses one, does she not light a lamp {lychnon: small oil lamp}, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?
9 And when she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, “Rejoice with me, because I have found the coin {drachmen: small silver piece} that I lost {apolesa: lost from sight}.”
10 In the same way, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God {Theos, Joy-Giving God} over one sinner {hamartolo: missing the mark} who is repenting.
11 And He said, “A certain man {anthropos: unnamed figure} had two sons {hyious: direct heirs}.”
12 And the younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the portion of the estate {ousia: inherited estate} that is coming to me.” Then he divided his livelihood {bion: means of living} among them.
13 And a short time later, the younger son gathered together all things and departed to a distant country, and there he squandered {dieskorpisen: thoroughly wasted} his substance by living recklessly {asotos: wasteful excess}.
14 But when he had spent all {dapanesantos: used up completely}, a severe famine {limos: extreme hunger} came upon that land, and he began to be in need.
15 And having gone, he hired himself out and bound himself {ekollethe: willing dependence} to one of the citizens of that country, and that citizen sent him into his fields to feed pigs {khoirous: ceremonially unclean animals}.
16 And he was longing to fill his belly with the pods {keration: lowly food} which the pigs {khoiros: ceremonially unclean} were eating, and no one was giving him anything.
17 But when he came to himself, he said, “How many of my father's {pater: paternal provider} hired servants have bread in abundance, and here I am perishing with hunger {limos: severe want}!”
18 Having arisen, I will go to my father and I will say to him, “Father {Pater: Compassionate Protector}, I have sinned against heaven {ouranon: God’s realm} and before you.”
19 I am no longer worthy {axios: deserving status} to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants {misthios: wage-earning worker}.
20 And he arose and went to his father. While he was still far away, his father saw him and was moved with compassion {esplagchnisthe: deep inner mercy}, ran and fell on his neck {trachelos: full embracing hold}, and kissed him affectionately.
21 But the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned {hemarton: turned away from right action} against heaven and in your presence. I am no longer worthy {axios: deserving or fit} to be called your son.”
22 But the father {pater: compassionate parent} said to his servants, “Quickly bring out the best robe {stolēn: dignifying garment} and clothe him with it, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.”
23 And bring the fattened calf {moschos: feast calf} and slaughter it, and let us eat and rejoice {euphraino: celebrate together}.
24 For this son {huios: beloved child} of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found. And they began to celebrate {euphrainesthai: overflowing festal joy}.
25 Now his elder son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music {symphonia: harmonious celebration} and dancing {khoros: joyful movement}.
26 And he called one of the servants {paidon: household attendant} and was asking {epynthaneto: kept asking} what these things might be.
27 But he said to him, “Your brother has come, and your father has sacrificed the fattened calf {siteuton: well-nourished}, because he has received him back safe and sound {hugiainonta: whole, healthy}.”
28 But he became angry and was unwilling to enter; yet his father {pater: household authority} went out and was pleading {parekalei: persistent appeal} with him.
29 But he answered and said to his father {pater: parental authority}, “Behold, for so many years I have served you, and I never transgressed your command {entole: authoritative order}; yet you never gave me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends.”
30 But when this son of yours—who had consumed your means of living {bion: means of living} with prostitutes—returned, you sacrificed {ethysas: formally killed} the fattened calf for him.
31 And he said to him, “Child {teknon: beloved offspring}, you are always {pantote: at all times} with me, and all that is mine is yours.”
32 But it was necessary to rejoice {euphranthenai: celebrate with joy} and to be glad, because this brother of yours was dead {nekros: without life} and has returned to life, and was lost and has been found.