Luke 15

15 ¹Now di tax collectors and di sinner people, all of dem, dey come near wan hear am. ^a a v1 Plenty people bin hate tax collectors well well as traitor — na Jew people wey dey collect money for Rome, and plenty time dem dey charge pass and put di extra for dem own pocket. ²And di Pharisee people and di scribe people begin complain, dem talk say, “Dis man dey welcome sinner people, and e dey chop with dem sef.”

³So e tell dem dis parable:

⁴“Which man among una, wey get hundred sheep, if e lose one for dem, no go leave di ninety-nine for di open field go find di one wey lost sotay e see am? ⁵And wen e don find am, e go carry am put for im shoulder, e dey happy.” ⁶Wen e reach house, e go call im friend dem and im neighbour dem come together, e tell dem, “Make una rejoice with me—I don find my sheep wey lost.” ⁷“I dey tell una say, na so e be, joy dey plenty for heaven for one sinner wey turn from im sin pass ninety-nine correct-and-holy people wey no need to turn from sin.”

Di Papa Dey Find Di Money Wey Lost

⁸“Abi which woman wey get ten silver money, wey each one na one day work pay, if e lose one, no go light lamp, sweep di house, and dey find am well well sotay e see am?” ⁹Wen e find am, e go call im friend dem and im neighbour dem come together: “Make una rejoice with me, because I don find di money wey I bin lost.” ¹⁰“So, I dey tell una say, joy dey for front of di angels of our Papa for one sinner wey turn from im sin.”

Di Papa Run Go Welcome Im Pikin Come House

¹¹And e talk say, “One man bin dey wey get two sons.”

¹²“Di younger son tell im papa, ‘Papa, give me my own share for di property.’ So e share im property give di two of dem. ¹³No too tey after, di younger son gather everything wey e get, comot go far country, and for there e waste im money as e dey live anyhow-anyhow. ¹⁴After e don spend everything, serious famine catch dat country, and e begin lack. ¹⁵So e go take work with one citizen of dat country, wey send am go im farm go feed pig. ¹⁶And e bin dey crave to fill im belle with di pod wey di pig dem dey chop, but nobody give am anything.”

¹⁷Wen im sense come back, e talk say, “How many of my papa im workers wey e dey pay get plenty bread pass wetin dem need, while I dey here dey die for hunger?” ¹⁸“‘I go stand up go my papa, and I go tell am, “Papa, I don sin against heaven and for your front.”’ ¹⁹‘I no fit again to make dem call me your son; make me be like one of your workers wey you dey pay.’”

²⁰“E stand up go im papa. As e still dey far, im papa see am, and im belle dey pain am with tender mercy wey dey pain belle—e run, e wrap im hand round am, and e kiss am.” ^b b v20 For Jesus im culture, man wey get respect no dey ever run for public — di papa im run na wan shocking, deliberate act of love wey e take humble imsef.

²¹And di son talk say, “Papa, I don sin against heaven and for your front. I no fit again to make dem call me your son.”

²²But di papa tell im servant dem, “Sharp-sharp bring di best robe come dress am, put ring for im hand and sandal for im leg.”

²³“‘And bring di fat calf come kill am, make we chop and celebrate.’ ²⁴‘Because dis my son bin don die, and e don live again; e bin lost, and dem don find am.’ And dem begin celebrate.”

²⁵“Im older son dey for farm; as e dey near di house on im way back, e hear music and dance. ²⁶And e call one of di servant dem, e ask wetin dey happen. ²⁷Di servant tell am, ‘Your brother don come, and your papa don kill di fat calf, because e receive am back safe and well.’ ²⁸But e vex and refuse to enter. Im papa come outside come dey beg am, ²⁹but e answer im papa, ‘Look, I don serve you all dis years, I never disobey your command—yet you never even give me one small goat make I take celebrate with my friend dem.’ ³⁰‘But wen dis your son come, wey waste your money with ashawo dem, you kill di fat calf for am!’”

³¹E tell am, “My son, you dey with me all di time, and everything wey I get na your own.”

³²“‘E fit make we rejoice and celebrate: dis your brother bin don die, and e don live, e bin lost, and dem don find am.’”