Luke 15:11–32

THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SON

¹¹He also said, “A man had two sons. ¹²The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.’ So he distributed the assets to them. ¹³Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered^t his estate in foolish living.^{u 14}After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing.^{B 15}Then he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.^{v 16}He longed to eat his fill from^C the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one would give him anything. ¹⁷When he came to his senses,^D he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger! ¹⁸I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned^a against heaven^b and in your sight. ¹⁹I’m no longer worthy^c to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.” ’ ²⁰So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion.^d He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed^e him. ²¹The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’

²²“But the father told his servants, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe^f and put it on him; put a ring^g on his finger and sandals^h on his feet. ²³Then bring the fattened calfⁱ and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, ²⁴because this son of mine was dead and is alive again;^j he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.

²⁵“Now his older son was in the field; as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶So he summoned one of the servants, questioning what these things meant. ²⁷‘Your brother is here,’ he told him, ‘and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’^F

²⁸“Then he became angry and didn’t want to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. ²⁹But he replied to his father, ‘Look, I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me a goat so that I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets^G with prostitutes,^k you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’

³¹“ ‘Son,’^H he said to him, ‘you are always with me,^l and everything I have is yours. ³²But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”