| New King James Version (NKJV) | New International Version (NIV) |
| 1 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. | 1 Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. |
| 2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, "This Man receives sinners and eats with them." | 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." |
| 3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying: | 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: |
| 4 "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? | 4 "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? |
| 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. | 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders |
| 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' | 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' |
| 7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. | 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. |
| 8 "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? | 8 "Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? |
| 9 And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!' | 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' |
| 10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." | 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." |
| 11 Then He said: "A certain man had two sons. | 11 Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. |
| 12 And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.' So he divided to them his livelihood. | 12 The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. |
| 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. | 13 "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. |
| 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. | 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. |
| 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. | 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. |
| 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. | 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. |
| 17 But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! | 17 "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! |
| 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, | 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. |
| 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants." ' | 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' |
| 20 And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. | 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. |
| 21 And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.' | 21 "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. ' |
| 22 But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. | 22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. |
| 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; | 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. |
| 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry. | 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So 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. | 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 what these things meant. | 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. |
| 27 And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.' | 27 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' |
| 28 But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. | 28 "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. |
| 29 So he answered and said to his father, 'Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. | 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 as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.' | 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' |
| 31 And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. | 31 " 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. |
| 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.' " | 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.' " |
| Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. (New King James Version) | Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |