Now the publicans and sinners drew near unto him to hear him.

Erant autem appropinquantes ei publicani, et peccatores ut audirent illum.

When they found all the publicans and sinners coming to listen to him,

And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying: This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

Et murmurabant pharisæi, et scribæ, dicentes: Quia hic peccatores recipit, et manducat cum illis.

the Pharisees and scribes were indignant; Here is a man, they said, that entertains sinners, and eats with them.

And he spoke to them this parable, saying:

Et ait ad illos parabolam istam dicens:

Whereupon he told them this parable:

What man of you that hath an hundred sheep: and if he shall lose one of them, doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the desert, and go after that which was lost, until he find it?

Quis ex vobis homo, qui habet centum oves, et si perdiderit unam ex illis, nonne dimittit nonaginta novem in deserto, et vadit ad illam quæ perierat, donec inveniat eam?

If any of you owns a hundred sheep, and has lost one of them, does he not leave the other ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?

And when he hath found it, lay it upon his shoulders, rejoicing:

Et cum invenerit eam, imponit in humeros suos gaudens:

And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders, rejoicing,

And coming home, call together his friends and neighbours, saying to them: Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost?

et veniens domum convocat amicos et vicinos, dicens illis: Congratulamini mihi, quia inveni ovem meam, quæ perierat.

and so goes home, and calls his friends and his neighbours together; Rejoice with me, he says to them, I have found my sheep that was lost.

I say to you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven upon one sinner that doth penance, more than upon ninety-nine just who need not penance.

Dico vobis quod ita gaudium erit in cælo super uno peccatore pœnitentiam agente, quam super nonaginta novem justis, qui non indigent pœnitentia.

So it is, I tell you, in heaven; there will be more rejoicing over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine souls that are justified, and have no need of repentance.

Or what woman having ten groats; if she lose one groat, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she find it?

Aut quæ mulier habens drachmas decem, si perdiderit drachmam unam, nonne accendit lucernam, et everrit domum, et quærit diligenter, donec inveniat?

Or if some woman has ten silver pieces by her, and has lost one of them, does she not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?

And when she hath found it, call together her friends and neighbours, saying: Rejoice with me, because I have found the groat which I had lost.

Et cum invenerit convocat amicas et vicinas, dicens: Congratulamini mihi, quia inveni drachmam quam perdideram.

And when she does find it, she calls her friends and her neighbours together; Rejoice with me, she says, I have found the silver piece which I lost.

So I say to you, there shall be joy before the angels of God upon one sinner doing penance.

Ita, dico vobis, gaudium erit coram angelis Dei super uno peccatore pœnitentiam agente.

So it is, I tell you, with the angels of God; there is joy among them over one sinner that repents.

And he said: A certain man had two sons:

Ait autem: Homo quidam habuit duos filios:

Then he said, There was a certain man who had two sons.

And the younger of them said to his father: Father, give me the portion of substance that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his substance.

et dixit adolescentior ex illis patri: Pater, da mihi portionem substantiæ, quæ me contingit. Et divisit illis substantiam.

And the younger of these said to his father, Father, give me that portion of the estate which falls to me. So he divided his property between them.

And not many days after, the younger son, gathering all together, went abroad into a far country: and there wasted his substance, living riotously.

Et non post multos dies, congregatis omnibus, adolescentior filius peregre profectus est in regionem longinquam, et ibi dissipavit substantiam suam vivendo luxuriose.

Not many days afterwards, the younger son put together all that he had, and went on his travels to a far country, where he wasted his fortune in riotous living.

And after he had spent all, there came a mighty famine in that country; and he began to be in want.

Et postquam omnia consummasset, facta est fames valida in regione illa, et ipse cœpit egere.

Then, when all was spent, a great famine arose in that country, and he found himself in want;

And he went and cleaved to one of the citizens of that country. And he sent him into his farm to feed swine.

Et abiit, et adhæsit uni civium regionis illius: et misit illum in villam suam ut pasceret porcos.

whereupon he went and attached himself to a citizen of that country, who put him on his farm, to feed swine.

And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks the swine did eat; and no man gave unto him.

Et cupiebat implere ventrem suum de siliquis, quas porci manducabant: et nemo illi dabat.

He would have been glad to fill his belly with husks, such as the swine used to eat; but none was ready to give them to him.

And returning to himself, he said: How many hired servants in my father’s house abound with bread, and I here perish with hunger?

In se autem reversus, dixit: Quanti mercenarii in domo patris mei abundant panibus, ego autem hic fame pereo!

Then he came to himself, and said, How many hired servants there are in my father’s house, who have more bread than they can eat, and here am I perishing with hunger!

I will arise, and will go to my father, and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee:

surgam, et ibo ad patrem meum, et dicam ei: Pater, peccavi in cælum, et coram te:

I will arise and go to my father, and say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee;

I am not worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

jam non sum dignus vocari filius tuus: fac me sicut unum de mercenariis tuis.

I am not worthy, now, to be called thy son; treat me as one of thy hired servants.

And rising up he came to his father. And when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and running to him fell upon his neck, and kissed him.

Et surgens venit ad patrem suum. Cum autem adhuc longe esset, vidit illum pater ipsius, et misericordia motus est, et accurrens cecidit super collum ejus, et osculatus est eum.

And he arose, and went on his way to his father. But, while he was still a long way off, his father saw him, and took pity on him; running up, he threw his arms round his neck and kissed him.

And the son said to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, I am not now worthy to be called thy son.

Dixitque ei filius: Pater, peccavi in cælum, et coram te: jam non sum dignus vocari filius tuus.

And when the son said, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee; I am not worthy, now, to be called thy son,

And the father said to his servants: Bring forth quickly the first robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

Dixit autem pater ad servos suos: Cito proferte stolam primam, et induite illum, et date annulum in manum ejus, et calceamenta in pedes ejus:

the father gave orders to his servants, Bring out the best robe, and clothe him in it; put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.

And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat and make merry:

et adducite vitulum saginatum, et occidite, et manducemus, et epulemur:

Then bring out the calf that has been fattened, and kill it; let us eat, and make merry;

Because this my son was dead, and is come to life again: was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

quia hic filius meus mortuus erat, et revixit: perierat, et inventus est. Et cœperunt epulari.

for my son here was dead, and has come to life again, was lost, and is found. And so they began their merry-making.

Now his elder son was in the field, and when he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing:

Erat autem filius ejus senior in agro: et cum veniret, et appropinquaret domui, audivit symphoniam et chorum:

The elder son, meanwhile, was away on the farm; and on his way home, as he drew near the house, he heard music and dancing;

And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

et vocavit unum de servis, et interrogavit quid hæc essent.

whereupon he called one of the servants and asked what all this meant.

And he said to him: Thy brother is come, and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe.

Isque dixit illi: Frater tuus venit, et occidit pater tuus vitulum saginatum, quia salvum illum recepit.

He told him, Thy brother has come back, and thy father has killed the fattened calf, glad to have him restored safe and sound.

And he was angry, and would not go in. His father therefore coming out began to entreat him.

Indignatus est autem, et nolebat introire. Pater ergo illius egressus, cœpit rogare illum.

At this he fell into a rage, and would not go in. When his father came out and tried to win him over,

And he answering, said to his father: Behold, for so many years do I serve thee, and I have never transgressed thy commandment, and yet thou hast never given me a kid to make merry with my friends:

At ille respondens, dixit patri suo: Ecce tot annis servio tibi, et numquam mandatum tuum præterivi: et numquam dedisti mihi hædum ut cum amicis meis epularer.

he answered his father thus, Think how many years I have lived as thy servant, never transgressing thy commands, and thou hast never made me a present of a kid, to make merry with my friends;

But as soon as this thy son is come, who hath devoured his substance with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

Sed postquam filius tuus hic, qui devoravit substantiam suam cum meretricibus, venit, occidisti illi vitulum saginatum.

and now, when this son of thine has come home, one that has swallowed up his patrimony in the company of harlots, thou hast killed the fattened calf in his honour.

But he said to him: Son, thou art always with me, and all I have is thine.

At ipse dixit illi: Fili, tu semper mecum es, et omnia mea tua sunt:

He said to him, My son, thou art always at my side, and everything that I have is already thine;

But it was fit that we should make merry and be glad, for this thy brother was dead and is come to life again; he was lost, and is found.

epulari autem, et gaudere oportebat, quia frater tuus hic mortuus erat, et revixit; perierat, et inventus est.

but for this merry-making and rejoicing there was good reason; thy brother here was dead, and has come to life again; was lost, and is found.