Who, what, why, when, where, and how — read the book introduction
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Learn about the sources and coverage →All the tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to Jesus to hear Him.
Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
Ἦσαν δὲ ἐγγίζοντες αὐτῷ πάντες οἱ τελῶναι καὶ οἱ ἁμαρτωλοί, ἀκούειν αὐτοῦ.
Ēsan de engizontes autō pantes hoi telōnai kai hoi hamartōloi, akouein autou.
The Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
Καὶ διεγόγγυζον οἱ Φαρισαῖοι καὶ οἱ γραμματεῖς λέγοντες ὅτι Οὗτος ἁμαρτωλοὺς προσδέχεται, καὶ συνεσθίει αὐτοῖς.
Kai diegongyzon hoi Pharisaioi kai hoi grammateis legontes hoti Houtos hamartōlous prosdechetai, kai synesthiei autois.
So He told them this parable:
¶ And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
Εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς αὐτοὺς τὴν παραβολὴν ταύτην, λέγων,
Eipen de pros autous tēn parabolēn tautēn, legōn,
“What man among you who has one hundred sheep and loses one of them does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?
What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
Τίς ἄνθρωπος ἐξ ὑμῶν ἔχων ἑκατὸν πρόβατα, καὶ ἀπολέσας ἓν ἐξ αὐτῶν, οὐ καταλείπει τὰ ἐνενήκοντα ἐννέα ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, καὶ πορεύεται ἐπὶ τὸ ἀπολωλός, ἕως εὕρῃ αὐτό;
Tis anthrōpos ex hymōn echōn hekaton probata, kai apolesas hen ex autōn, ou kataleipei ta enenēkonta ennea en tē erēmō, kai poreuetai epi to apolōlos, heōs heurē auto?
When he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders.
And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
Καὶ εὑρὼν ἐπιτίθησιν ἐπὶ τοὺς ὤμους ἑαυτοῦ χαίρων.
Kai heurōn epitithēsin epi tous ōmous heautou chairōn.
When he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost!’
And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
Καὶ ἐλθὼν εἰς τὸν οἶκον, συγκαλεῖ τοὺς φίλους καὶ τοὺς γείτονας, λέγων αὐτοῖς, Συγχάρητέ μοι, ὅτι εὗρον τὸ πρόβατόν μου τὸ ἀπολωλός.
Kai elthōn eis ton oikon, synkalei tous philous kai tous geitonas, legōn autois, Syncharēte moi, hoti heuron to probaton mou to apolōlos.
I tell you that in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι οὕτως χαρὰ ἔσται ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ἐπὶ ἑνὶ ἁμαρτωλῷ μετανοοῦντι, ἢ ἐπὶ ἐνενήκοντα ἐννέα δικαίοις, οἵτινες οὐ χρείαν ἔχουσιν μετανοίας.
Legō hymin hoti houtōs chara estai en tō ouranō epi heni hamartōlō metanoounti, ē epi enenēkonta ennea dikaiois, hoitines ou chreian echousin metanoias.
Or what woman who has ten silver coins and loses one does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?
¶ Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
Ἢ τίς γυνὴ δραχμὰς ἔχουσα δέκα, ἐὰν ἀπολέσῃ δραχμὴν μίαν, οὐχὶ ἅπτει λύχνον, καὶ σαροῖ τὴν οἰκίαν, καὶ ζητεῖ ἐπιμελῶς ἕως ὅτου εὕρῃ;
Ē tis gynē drachmas echousa deka, ean apolesē drachmēn mian, ouchi haptei lychnon, kai saroi tēn oikian, kai zētei epimelōs heōs hotou heurē?
When she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the coin I lost!’
And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
Καὶ εὑροῦσα συγκαλεῖται τὰς φίλας καὶ τὰς γείτονας, λέγουσα, Συγχάρητέ μοι, ὅτι εὗρον τὴν δραχμὴν ἣν ἀπώλεσα.
Kai heurousa synkaleitai tas philas kai tas geitonas, legousa, Syncharēte moi, hoti heuron tēn drachmēn hēn apōlesa.
In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
Οὕτως, λέγω ὑμῖν, χαρὰ γίνεται ἐνώπιον τῶν ἀγγέλων τοῦ θεοῦ ἐπὶ ἑνὶ ἁμαρτωλῷ μετανοοῦντι.
Houtōs, legō hymin, chara ginetai enōpion tōn angelōn tou theou epi heni hamartōlō metanoounti.
Then He said, “A certain man had two sons.
¶ And he said, A certain man had two sons:
Εἶπεν δέ, Ἄνθρωπός τις εἶχεν δύο υἱούς∙
Eipen de, Anthrōpos tis eichen dyo huious;
The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that belongs to me.’ So the father divided his property between them.
And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
καὶ εἶπεν ὁ νεώτερος αὐτῶν τῷ πατρί, Πάτερ, δός μοι τὸ ἐπιβάλλον μέρος τῆς οὐσίας. Καὶ διεῖλεν αὐτοῖς τὸν βίον.
kai eipen ho neōteros autōn tō patri, Pater, dos moi to epiballon meros tēs ousias. Kai dieilen autois ton bion.
Not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and traveled to a distant country. There he wasted his property in reckless living.
And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
Καὶ μετ’ οὐ πολλὰς ἡμέρας συναγαγὼν ἅπαντα ὁ νεώτερος υἱὸς ἀπεδήμησεν εἰς χώραν μακράν, καὶ ἐκεῖ διεσκόρπισεν τὴν οὐσίαν αὐτοῦ, ζῶν ἀσώτως.
Kai met’ ou pollas hēmeras synagagōn hapanta ho neōteros huios apedēmēsen eis chōran makran, kai ekei dieskorpisen tēn ousian autou, zōn asōtōs.
After he had spent everything, a severe famine arose throughout that country, and he began to be in need.
And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
Δαπανήσαντος δὲ αὐτοῦ πάντα, ἐγένετο λιμὸς ἰσχυρὸς κατὰ τὴν χώραν ἐκείνην, καὶ αὐτὸς ἤρξατο ὑστερεῖσθαι.
Dapanēsantos de autou panta, egeneto limos ischyros kata tēn chōran ekeinēn, kai autos ērxato hystereisthai.
He went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
Καὶ πορευθεὶς ἐκολλήθη ἑνὶ τῶν πολιτῶν τῆς χώρας ἐκείνης∙ καὶ ἔπεμψεν αὐτὸν εἰς τοὺς ἀγροὺς αὐτοῦ βόσκειν χοίρους.
Kai poreutheis ekollēthē heni tōn politōn tēs chōras ekeinēs; kai epempsen auton eis tous agrous autou boskein choirous.
He longed to fill his stomach with the pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
Καὶ ἐπεθύμει γεμίσαι τὴν κοιλίαν αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῶν κερατίων ὧν ἤσθιον οἱ χοῖροι∙ καὶ οὐδεὶς ἐδίδου αὐτῷ.
Kai epethymei gemisai tēn koilian autou apo tōn keratiōn hōn ēsthion hoi choiroi; kai oudeis edidou autō.
When he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough bread, while I am dying here from hunger!
And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
Εἰς ἑαυτὸν δὲ ἐλθὼν εἶπεν, Πόσοι μίσθιοι τοῦ πατρός μου περισσεύουσιν ἄρτων, ἐγὼ δὲ λιμῷ ἀπόλλυμαι∙
Eis heauton de elthōn eipen, Posoi misthioi tou patros mou perisseuousin artōn, egō de limō apollymai;
I will get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.
I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
ἀναστὰς πορεύσομαι πρὸς τὸν πατέρα μου, καὶ ἐρῶ αὐτῷ, Πάτερ, ἥμαρτον εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ ἐνώπιόν σου∙
anastas poreusomai pros ton patera mou, kai erō autō, Pater, hēmarton eis ton ouranon kai enōpion sou;
I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.”’
And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
καὶ οὐκέτι εἰμὶ ἄξιος κληθῆναι υἱός σου∙ ποίησόν με ὡς ἕνα τῶν μισθίων σου.
kai ouketi eimi axios klēthēnai huios sou; poiēson me hōs hena tōn misthiōn sou.
So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion. He ran, embraced him, and kissed him repeatedly.
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
Καὶ ἀναστὰς ἦλθεν πρὸς τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ. Ἔτι δὲ αὐτοῦ μακρὰν ἀπέχοντος, εἶδεν αὐτὸν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐσπλαγχνίσθη, καὶ δραμὼν ἐπέπεσεν ἐπὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ, καὶ κατεφίλησεν αὐτόν.
Kai anastas ēlthen pros ton patera autou. Eti de autou makran apechontos, eiden auton ho patēr autou, kai esplanchnisthē, kai dramōn epepesen epi ton trachēlon autou, kai katephilēsen auton.
The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
Εἶπεν δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ υἱός, Πάτερ, ἥμαρτον εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ ἐνώπιόν σου, καὶ οὐκέτι εἰμὶ ἄξιος κληθῆναι υἱός σου.
Eipen de autō ho huios, Pater, hēmarton eis ton ouranon kai enōpion sou, kai ouketi eimi axios klēthēnai huios sou.
But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.
But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
Εἶπεν δὲ ὁ πατὴρ πρὸς τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ, Ἐξενέγκατε τὴν στολὴν τὴν πρώτην καὶ ἐνδύσατε αὐτόν, καὶ δότε δακτύλιον εἰς τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὑποδήματα εἰς τοὺς πόδας∙
Eipen de ho patēr pros tous doulous autou, Exenenkate tēn stolēn tēn prōtēn kai endysate auton, kai dote daktylion eis tēn cheira autou, kai hypodēmata eis tous podas;
Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us eat and celebrate,
And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
καὶ ἐνέγκαντες τὸν μόσχον τὸν σιτευτὸν θύσατε, καὶ φαγόντες εὐφρανθῶμεν∙
kai enenkantes ton moschon ton siteuton thysate, kai phagontes euphranthōmen;
because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
ὅτι οὗτος ὁ υἱός μου νεκρὸς ἦν, καὶ ἀνέζησεν∙ καὶ ἀπολωλὼς ἦν, καὶ εὑρέθη. Καὶ ἤρξαντο εὐφραίνεσθαι.
hoti houtos ho huios mou nekros ēn, kai anezēsen; kai apolōlōs ēn, kai heurethē. Kai ērxanto euphrainesthai.
Now his older son was in the field. As he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.
Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
Ἦν δὲ ὁ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ὁ πρεσβύτερος ἐν ἀγρῷ∙ καὶ ὡς ἐρχόμενος ἤγγισεν τῇ οἰκίᾳ, ἤκουσεν συμφωνίας καὶ χορῶν.
Ēn de ho huios autou ho presbyteros en agrō; kai hōs erchomenos ēngisen tē oikia, ēkousen symphōnias kai chorōn.
He called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.
And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
Καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος ἕνα τῶν παίδων, ἐπυνθάνετο τί εἴη ταῦτα.
Kai proskalesamenos hena tōn paidōn, epynthaneto ti eiē tauta.
The servant told him, ‘Your brother has come home, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he received him back safe and sound.’
And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὅτι Ὁ ἀδελφός σου ἥκει∙ καὶ ἔθυσεν ὁ πατήρ σου τὸν μόσχον τὸν σιτευτόν, ὅτι ὑγιαίνοντα αὐτὸν ἀπέλαβεν.
Ho de eipen autō hoti Ho adelphos sou hēkei; kai ethysen ho patēr sou ton moschon ton siteuton, hoti hygiainonta auton apelaben.
The older son became angry and refused to go inside. So his father came out and pleaded with him.
And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
Ὠργίσθη δέ, καὶ οὐκ ἤθελεν εἰσελθεῖν∙ ὁ οὖν πατὴρ αὐτοῦ ἐξελθὼν παρεκάλει αὐτόν.
Ōrgisthē de, kai ouk ēthelen eiselthein; ho oun patēr autou exelthōn parekalei auton.
But he answered his father, ‘Look, I have served you for so many years and never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me even a young goat so that I could celebrate with my friends.
And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
Ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν τῷ πατρί, Ἰδού, τοσαῦτα ἔτη δουλεύω σοι, καὶ οὐδέποτε ἐντολήν σου παρῆλθον, καὶ ἐμοὶ οὐδέποτε ἔδωκας ἔριφον, ἵνα μετὰ τῶν φίλων μου εὐφρανθῶ.
Ho de apokritheis eipen tō patri, Idou, tosauta etē douleuō soi, kai oudepote entolēn sou parēlthon, kai emoi oudepote edōkas eriphon, hina meta tōn philōn mou euphranthō.
But when this son of yours came back after devouring your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’
But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
Ὅτε δὲ ὁ υἱός σου οὗτος ὁ καταφαγών σου τὸν βίον μετὰ πορνῶν ἦλθεν, ἔθυσας αὐτῷ τὸν μόσχον τὸν σιτευτόν.
Hote de ho huios sou houtos ho kataphagōn sou ton bion meta pornōn ēlthen, ethysas autō ton moschon ton siteuton.
The father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.
And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῷ, Τέκνον, σὺ πάντοτε μετ’ ἐμοῦ εἶ, καὶ πάντα τὰ ἐμὰ σά ἐστιν.
Ho de eipen autō, Teknon, sy pantote met’ emou ei, kai panta ta ema sa estin.
But it was right for us to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Εὐφρανθῆναι δὲ καὶ χαρῆναι ἔδει∙ ὅτι ὁ ἀδελφός σου οὗτος νεκρὸς ἦν, καὶ ἀνέζησεν∙ καὶ ἀπολωλὼς ἦν, καὶ εὑρέθη.
Euphranthēnai de kai charēnai edei; hoti ho adelphos sou houtos nekros ēn, kai anezēsen; kai apolōlōs ēn, kai heurethē.