By occasion of the Pharisees murmuring at him for receiving penitent sinners, he sheweth what joy shall be in Heaven for the conversion of one sinner, 11. and for the younger son, which is the Gentiles: 15. the elder (to wit the Jews) in the mean time disdaining thereat, and refusing to come into his Church.By occasion of the Pharisees murmuring at him for receiuing penitent sinners, he sheweth what ioy shalbe in Heauen for the conuersion of one sinner, 11. and for the yonger sonne, which is the Gentils: 15. the elder (to wit the Iewes) in the meane time disdaining thereat, and refusing to come into his Church.
And there approached publicani: tax-gatherers, not innkeepers and sinners unto him for to hear him.ANd there approched Publicans and sinners vnto him for to heare him.Erant autem appropinquantes ei publicani, et peccatores ut audirent illum.
2And the Pharisees and the Scribes murmured saying: That this man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.And the Pharisees and the Scribes murmured saying: That this man receiueth sinners, and eateth with them.Et murmurabant pharisæi, et scribæ, dicentes : Quia hic peccatores recipit, et manducat cum illis.
3And he spake to them this parable, saying:And he spake to them this parable, saying:Et ait ad illos parabolam istam dicens :
4What man of you having an hundred sheep: and if he hath lost one of them, doth he not leave the ninety nine in the desert, and goeth after that which was lost until he find it?* What man of you hauing an hundred sheep: and if he hath lost one of them, doth he not leaue the ninetie nine in the desert, and goeth after that which was lost vntil 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 ?
5And when he hath found it, layeth it upon his shoulders rejoicing:And when he hath found it, laieth it vpon his shoulders reioycing:Et cum invenerit eam, imponit in humeros suos gaudens :
6and coming home calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying to them: Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost?and comming home calleth together his freindes and neighbours, saying to them: Reioyce with me, because I haue found my sheepe that was lost?et veniens domum convocat amicos et vicinos, dicens illis : Congratulamini mihi, quia inveni ovem meam, quæ perierat.
7I say to you, that even so there shall be joy in Heaven upon one sinner that doth penance, than upon ninety nine just that need not penance.I say to you, that euen so there shalbe ioy in Heauen vpon one sinner that doth penance, then vpon ninetie nine iust that neede not penance.Dico vobis quod ita gaudium erit in cælo super uno peccatore pœnitentiam agente, quam super nonaginta novem justis, qui non indigent pœnitentia.
8Or what woman having ten drachma: a small silver coin (fourpence): if she perdiderit: to lose one groat, doth she not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently, until she find?Or what woman hauing ten grotes: if she leese one grote, doth she not light a candle, and sweepe the house, and seeke diligently, vntil she finde?Aut quæ mulier habens drachmas decem, si perdiderit drachmam unam, nonne accendit lucernam, et everrit domum, et quærit diligenter, donec inveniat ?
9And when she hath found, calleth together her friends and neighbours, saying: Rejoice with me, because I have found the groat which I had lost?And when she hath found, calleth together her freindes and neighbours, saying: Reioyce with me, because I haue found the grote which I had lost?Et cum invenerit convocat amicas et vicinas, dicens : Congratulamini mihi, quia inveni drachmam quam perdideram.
10So I say to you, there shall be joy before the Angels of God upon one sinner that doth penance.So I say to you, there shalbe ioy before the Angels of God vpon one sinner that doth penance.Ita, dico vobis, gaudium erit coram angelis Dei super uno peccatore pœnitentiam agente.
11And he said: A certain man had two sons:And he said: A certaine man had two sonnes:Ait autem : Homo quidam habuit duos filios :
12and the younger of them said to his father: Father, give me the portion of substantia: property, estate (not material or essence) that belongeth to me. And he divided unto them the substance.and the yonger of them said to his father: Father, giue me the portion of substance that belongeth to me. And he deuided vnto them the substance.et dixit adolescentior ex illis patri : Pater, da mihi portionem substantiæ, quæ me contingit. Et divisit illis substantiam.
13And not many days after the younger son gathering all his things together went from home into a far country: and there he wasted his substance, living luxuriose: wastefully, dissolutely (not in a riot).And not many daies after the yonger sonne gathering al his things together went from home into a farre countrie: and there he wasted his substance, liuing riotously.Et non post multos dies, congregatis omnibus, adolescentior filius peregre profectus est in regionem longinquam, et ibi dissipavit substantiam suam vivendo luxuriose.
14And after he had spent all, there fell a sore famine in that country, and he began to be in need.And after he had spent al, there fel a sore famine in that countrie, and he began to be in need.Et postquam omnia consummasset, facta est fames valida in regione illa, et ipse cœpit egere.
15And he went, and cleaved to one of the citizens of that country. And he sent him into his farm to feed swine.And he went, and cleaued to one of the citizens of that countrie. And he sent him into his farme to feed swine.Et abiit, et adhæsit uni civium regionis illius : et misit illum in villam suam ut pasceret porcos.
16And he would cupiebat: gladly, willingly have filled his belly of the siliqua: pods, the carob that the swine did eat, and nobody gave unto him.And he would faine haue filled his bellie of the huskes that the swine did eate, and no bodie gaue vnto him.Et cupiebat implere ventrem suum de siliquis, quas porci manducabant : et nemo illi dabat.
17And returning to himself he said: How many of my father's mercenarii: hired servants, day-labourers have abundance of bread, and I here perish for famine?And returning to him self he said: How many of my fathers hirelings haue abundance of bread, and I here perish for famine?In se autem reversus, dixit : Quanti mercenarii in domo patris mei abundant panibus, ego autem hic fame pereo !
18I will arise, and will go to my father, and say to him: Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before thee:I wil arise, and wil goe to my father, and say to him: Father, I haue sinned against Heauen and before thee:surgam, et ibo ad patrem meum, et dicam ei : Pater, peccavi in cælum, et coram te :
19I am not now worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hirelings.I am not now worthie to be called thy sonne: make me as one of thy hirelings.jam non sum dignus vocari filius tuus : fac me sicut unum de mercenariis tuis.
20And rising up he came to his father. And when he was yet far off, his father saw him, and was moved with mercy, and running to him fell upon his neck, and kissed him.And rising vp he came to his father. And when he was yet farre off, his father saw him, and was moued with mercie, and running to him fel vpon his necke, 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.
21And his son said to him: Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before thee, I am not now worthy to be called thy son.And his sonne said to him: Father, I haue sinned against Heauen & before thee, I am not now worthie to be called thy sonne.Dixitque ei filius : Pater, peccavi in cælum, et coram te : jam non sum dignus vocari filius tuus.
22And the father said to his servants: Quickly bring forth the first stola: a long robe (the best robe), and do it on him, and put a ring upon his hand, and shoes upon his feet:And the father said to his seruants: Quickely bring forth the first stole, and doe it on him, and put a ring vpon his hand, and shoes vpon 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 :
23and bring the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and make merry:and bring the fatted calfe, and kil it, and let vs eate, and make merrie:et adducite vitulum saginatum, et occidite, et manducemus, et epulemur :
24because this my son was dead, and is revived: was lost, and found. And they began to make merry.because this my sonne was dead, and is reuiued: was lost, and found. And they began to make merie.quia hic filius meus mortuus erat, et revixit : perierat, et inventus est. Et cœperunt epulari.
25But his elder son was in the field, and when he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing:But his elder sonne was in the field, and when he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musicke and dancing:Erat autem filius ejus senior in agro : et cum veniret, et appropinquaret domui, audivit symphoniam et chorum :
26and he called one of the servants, and asked what these things should be.and he called one of the seruants, and asked what these things should be.et vocavit unum de servis, et interrogavit quid hæc essent.
27And he said to him: Thy brother is come, and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe.And he said to him: Thy brother is come, and thy father hath killed the fatted calfe, because he hath receiued him safe.Isque dixit illi : Frater tuus venit, et occidit pater tuus vitulum saginatum, quia salvum illum recepit.
28But he had indignation, and would not go in. His father therefore going forth began to desire him.But he had indignation, and would not goe in. His father therfore going forth began to desire him.Indignatus est autem, et nolebat introire. Pater ergo illius egressus, cœpit rogare illum.
29But he answering said to his father: Behold, so many years do I serve thee, and I never transgressed thy commandment, and thou didst never give me a hædus: a young goat to make merry with my friends:But he answering said to his father: Behold, so many yeares doe I serue thee, and I neuer transgressed thy commandement, and thou didst neuer giue me a kidde to make merie with my freindes: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.
30but after that this thy son, that hath devoured his full substance with whores, is come, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.but after that this thy sonne, that hath deuoured his ful substance with whoores, is come, thou hast killed for him the fatted calfe.Sed postquam filius tuus hic, qui devoravit substantiam suam cum meretricibus, venit, occidisti illi vitulum saginatum.
31But he said to him: Son, thou art always with me, and all my things are thine.But he said to him: Sonne, thou art alwaies with me, and al my things are thine.At ipse dixit illi : Fili, tu semper mecum es, et omnia mea tua sunt :
32But it behoved us to make merry and be glad because this thy brother was dead, and is revived, was lost, and is found.But it behoued vs to make merie and be glad because this thy brother was dead, and is reuiued, was lost, and is found.epulari autem, et gaudere oportebat, quia frater tuus hic mortuus erat, et revixit ; perierat, et inventus est.
Annotations
7Then upon ninety nine just. Neither God, nor the Saints in Heaven, nor men in earth do for all that esteem more of penitent sinners, than they do of them that continue just and godly: though by the sudden motion and present affection of joy that man taketh, and expresseth in such alteration and new fallen good, it be here signified that the conversion of every sinner is exceeding acceptable to God, and giveth his Saints new cause of joy and thanksgiving to God in another kind than for the continuance of the just.
10Before the Angels. The Angels and other celestial Spirits in Heaven, do rejoice at every sinner's conversion: they know then and have care of us, yea our hearts and inward repentance be open to them: how then can they not hear our prayers? And betwixt Angels and the blessed souls of Saints there is no difference in this case, the one being as highly exalted as the other, and as near God, in whom and by whom only they see and know our affairs, as the other.
23The fatted calf. This feasting and festivity (saith St. Augustine lib. 2. Quæst. Evang. q. 33.) are now celebrated throughout the whole world, the Church being dilated and spread: for, that calf, in the body and blood of our Lord, is both offered to the Father, and also feedeth the whole house. And as the calf signifieth the B. Sacrament of the Altar, body and blood of Christ, so the first stole may signify our innocency restored in Baptism: and the rest, other graces and gifts given us in the other Sacraments.