Luke 15

Jesus tells three parables about what was lost and found: the parable of the lost sheep, the parable of the lost coin, and the parable of the prodigal son. In each parable there is great joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.	All the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to hear Him.
2	And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.	The Pharisees and scribes grumbled, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
3	And he spake this parable unto them, saying,	So He told them this parable:
4	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?	"Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost one until he finds it?
5	And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.	When he finds it, he joyfully lifts it onto his shoulders.
6	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.	When he arrives home, he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me! I have found my lost sheep.'
7	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.	I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.
8	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?	Or what woman, having ten silver coins and losing one, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?
9	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.	When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me! I have found the coin I had lost.'
10	Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.	In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
11	And he said, A certain man had two sons:	He also said, "A man had two sons.
12	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.	The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So the father divided his property between them.
13	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.	Not long after, the younger son gathered everything together and traveled to a distant country. There he squandered his wealth with wild living.
14	And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.	When he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that whole country, and he began to be in need.
15	And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.	He went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
16	And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.	He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17	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!	When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough food, and here I am starving to death!
18	I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,	I will get up and go to my father and say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
19	And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.	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 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.	So he got up and went to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, threw his arms around him, and kissed him.
21	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.	The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
22	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:	But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
23	And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:	Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us eat 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.	For this son of mine was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.' And they began to celebrate.
25	Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.	Now the older son was in the field. As he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.
26	And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.	He called one of the servants and asked what was happening.
27	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.	The servant told him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he received him back safe and well.'
28	And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.	The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him.
29	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:	The son answered his father, 'Look, all these years I have worked for you and never disobeyed your commands. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
30	But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.	But when this son of yours, who has wasted your property with prostitutes, came back — you killed the fattened calf for him!'
31	And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.	The father said to him, 'Son, you have always been with me, and everything I have is yours.
32	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.	But it was right that we should celebrate and be glad. For this brother of yours was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.' "