Barclay Newman, a translator on the teams for both the Good News Bible and the Contemporary English Version, translated passages of the New Testament into English and published them in 2014, “in a publication brief enough to be non-threatening, yet long enough to be taken seriously, and interesting enough to appeal to believers and un-believers alike.” The following is the translation of Luke 15:1-7:

A mixed crowd — some politically incorrect
and others simply street scum —
       were hanging around, listening to Jesus teach.
A group of religious snobs came up and started griping,
“This guy goes around with the wrong crowd,
       and he even eats with them.”

Then Jesus told them this story:

       What would you do, if you had a hundred sheep,
              and one of them wandered off?
       Wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine out in the field
              and look for the lost sheep, until you found it?
       Sure you would, and you’d be so glad when it was found
              that you’d throw it on your shoulder and carry it home.
       Then you’d say to your friends, “Let’s celebrate!
              I’ve found my lost sheep.”

“That’s how it is with God,” declared Jesus.
“God gets more excited over one person
who has a change of heart
       than over ninety-nine self-righteous bigots.”