English Standard Version ESV
New King James Version NKJV
1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.
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Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.
2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them. ”
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And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, "This Man receives sinners and eats with them."
3 So he told them this parable:
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So He spoke this parable to them, saying:
4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?
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"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?
5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
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And when he has found it, 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 I have found my sheep that was lost. ’
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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!'
7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
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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.
8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?
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"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?
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. ’
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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!'
10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents. ”
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Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons.
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Then He said: "A certain man had two sons.
12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me. ’ And he divided his property between them.
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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.
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 reckless living.
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And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.
14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.
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But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.
15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
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Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
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And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!
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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!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.
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I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants. ”’
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and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like 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 ran and embraced him and kissed him.
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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.
21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. ’
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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.'
22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.
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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.
23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.
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And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. ’ And they began to celebrate.
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for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry.
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
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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.
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So 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. ’
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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.'
28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,
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But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with 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 celebrate with my friends.
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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.
30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him! ’
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But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.'
31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
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And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.
32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found. ’”
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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.' "
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.