---
title: "Luke 15 – Catholic Bible (CPDV) & Latin Vulgate · Bless"
url: https://blessbible.app/bible/luke/15/
description: "The parables of the lost sheep and of the prodigal son. Luke 15 in the Catholic Public Domain Version, with the Latin Vulgate."
---

# Luke 15

Luke 15 is chapter 15 of 24 in the Gospel of Luke. Here are all 32 verses in the Catholic Public Domain Version, with the Latin of the Clementine Vulgate beside them.

> The parables of the lost sheep and of the prodigal son.
>
> — Bp. Richard Challoner, chapter summary

## Luke 15 (Catholic Public Domain Version)

1. Now tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to him, so that they might listen to him.
2. And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This one accepts sinners and eats with them.”
3. And he told this parable to them, saying:
4. “What man among you, who has one hundred sheep, and if he will have lost one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the one whom he had lost, until he finds it?
5. And when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6. And returning home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them: ‘Congratulate me! For I have found my sheep, which had been lost.’
7. I say to you, that there will be so much more joy in heaven over one sinner repenting, than over the ninety-nine just, who do not need to repent.
8. Or what woman, having ten drachmas, if she will have lost one drachma, would not light a candle, and sweep the house, and diligently search until she finds it?
9. And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying: ‘Rejoice with me! For I have found the drachma, which I had lost.’
10. So I say to you, there will be joy before the Angels of God over even one sinner who is repentant.”
11. And he said: “A certain man had two sons.
12. And the younger of them said to the father, ‘Father, give me the portion of your estate which would go to me.’ And he divided the estate between them.
13. And after not many days, the younger son, gathering it all together, set out on a long journey to a distant region. And there, he dissipated his substance, living in luxury.
14. And after he had consumed it all, a great famine occurred in that region, and he began to be in need.
15. And he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that region. And he sent him to his farm, in order to feed the swine.
16. And he wanted to fill his belly with the scraps that the swine ate. But no one would give it to him.
17. And returning to his senses, he said: ‘How many hired hands in my father’s house have abundant bread, while I perish here in famine!
18. I shall rise up and go to my father, and I will say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.
19. I am not worthy to be called your son. Make me one of your hired hands.’
20. And rising up, he went to his father. But while he was still at a distance, his father saw him, and he was moved with compassion, and running to him, he fell upon his neck and kissed him.
21. And the son said to him: ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. Now I am not worthy to be called your son.’
22. But the father said to his servants: ‘Quickly! Bring out the best robe, and clothe him with it. And put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet.
23. And bring the fatted calf here, and kill it. And let us eat and hold a feast.
24. For this son of mine was dead, and has revived; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to feast.
25. But his elder son was in the field. And when he returned and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
26. And he called one of the servants, and he questioned him as to what these things meant.
27. And he said to him: ‘Your brother has returned, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safely.’
28. Then he became indignant, and he was unwilling to enter. Therefore, his father, going out, began to plead with him.
29. And in response, he said to his father: ‘Behold, I have been serving you for so many years. And I have never transgressed your commandment. And yet, you have never given me even a young goat, so that I might feast with my friends.
30. Yet after this son of yours returned, who has devoured his substance with loose women, you have killed the fatted calf for him.’
31. But he said to him: ‘Son, you are with me always, and all that I have is yours.
32. But it was necessary to feast and to rejoice. For this brother of yours was dead, and has revived; he was lost, and is found.’”

## Luke 15 in Latin (Clementine Vulgate, 1592)

1. Erant autem appropinquantes ei publicani, et peccatores ut audirent illum.
2. Et murmurabant pharisæi, et scribæ, dicentes: Quia hic peccatores recipit, et manducat cum illis.
3. Et ait ad illos parabolam istam dicens:
4. 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?
5. Et cum invenerit eam, imponit in humeros suos gaudens:
6. et veniens domum convocat amicos et vicinos, dicens illis: Congratulamini mihi, quia inveni ovem meam, quæ perierat.
7. Dico vobis quod ita gaudium erit in cælo super uno peccatore pœnitentiam agente, quam super nonaginta novem justis, qui non indigent pœnitentia.
8. Aut quæ mulier habens drachmas decem, si perdiderit drachmam unam, nonne accendit lucernam, et everrit domum, et quærit diligenter, donec inveniat?
9. Et cum invenerit convocat amicas et vicinas, dicens: Congratulamini mihi, quia inveni drachmam quam perdideram.
10. Ita, dico vobis, gaudium erit coram angelis Dei super uno peccatore pœnitentiam agente.
11. Ait autem: Homo quidam habuit duos filios:
12. et dixit adolescentior ex illis patri: Pater, da mihi portionem substantiæ, quæ me contingit. Et divisit illis substantiam.
13. Et non post multos dies, congregatis omnibus, adolescentior filius peregre profectus est in regionem longinquam, et ibi dissipavit substantiam suam vivendo luxuriose.
14. Et postquam omnia consummasset, facta est fames valida in regione illa, et ipse cœpit egere.
15. Et abiit, et adhæsit uni civium regionis illius: et misit illum in villam suam ut pasceret porcos.
16. Et cupiebat implere ventrem suum de siliquis, quas porci manducabant: et nemo illi dabat.
17. In se autem reversus, dixit: Quanti mercenarii in domo patris mei abundant panibus, ego autem hic fame pereo!
18. surgam, et ibo ad patrem meum, et dicam ei: Pater, peccavi in cælum, et coram te:
19. jam non sum dignus vocari filius tuus: fac me sicut unum de mercenariis tuis.
20. 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.
21. Dixitque ei filius: Pater, peccavi in cælum, et coram te: jam non sum dignus vocari filius tuus.
22. Dixit autem pater ad servos suos: Cito proferte stolam primam, et induite illum, et date annulum in manum ejus, et calceamenta in pedes ejus:
23. et adducite vitulum saginatum, et occidite, et manducemus, et epulemur:
24. quia hic filius meus mortuus erat, et revixit: perierat, et inventus est. Et cœperunt epulari.
25. Erat autem filius ejus senior in agro: et cum veniret, et appropinquaret domui, audivit symphoniam et chorum:
26. et vocavit unum de servis, et interrogavit quid hæc essent.
27. Isque dixit illi: Frater tuus venit, et occidit pater tuus vitulum saginatum, quia salvum illum recepit.
28. Indignatus est autem, et nolebat introire. Pater ergo illius egressus, cœpit rogare illum.
29. 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.
30. Sed postquam filius tuus hic, qui devoravit substantiam suam cum meretricibus, venit, occidisti illi vitulum saginatum.
31. At ipse dixit illi: Fili, tu semper mecum es, et omnia mea tua sunt:
32. epulari autem, et gaudere oportebat, quia frater tuus hic mortuus erat, et revixit; perierat, et inventus est.

## Catechism of the Catholic Church

Paragraph numbers and the Catechism's own section headings (never quoted); text at vatican.va.
- cf. CCC ¶ 589: Jesus and Israel ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- cf. CCC ¶ 1443: The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 545: The Mysteries of Christ's Life ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 1700: The Dignity of the Human Person ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- cf. CCC ¶ 1439: The Many Forms of Penance in Christian Life ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- cf. CCC ¶ 2839: "And Forgive Us Our Trespasses, as We Forgive Those Who Trespass AGAINST US" ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 1423: What is This Sacrament Called? ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- cf. CCC ¶ 1468: The Effects of This Sacrament ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))

## Bishop Challoner's notes

Bp. Richard Challoner, notes on the Douay-Rheims (1750); they comment on its older wording.
- Verse 10: “Before the angels” … By this it is plain that the spirits in heaven have a concern for us below, and a joy at our repentance and consequently a knowledge of it.

## Read at Mass (US)

- Thu, Nov 5, 2026: Thursday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time — Gospel, Luke 15:1-10
- Sat, Feb 27, 2027: Saturday of the Second Week of Lent — Verse before the Gospel, Luke 15:18; Gospel, Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
- Thu, Nov 4, 2027 (computed): St. Charles Borromeo, Bishop — Gospel, Luke 15:1-10
- Sat, Mar 18, 2028 (computed): Saturday of the Second Week of Lent — Verse before the Gospel, Luke 15:18; Gospel, Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

3 more dates through December 31, 2028, in the [liturgical calendar](https://blessbible.app/calendar/).

Citations as published in the USCCB liturgical calendar (principal Mass, first option). Dates after May 31, 2027 are computed by Bless from the US Lectionary cycle — confirm with your parish.

Source: Catholic Public Domain Version (Ronald L. Conte Jr., 2009), public domain; Latin: Clementine Vulgate (1592).