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 ^sto them. ¹³Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered ^this estate in foolish living. ^u14After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing. ^v15Then he went to work for ^wone of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. ^x16He longed to eat his fill from ^ythe carob pods ^zthe pigs were eating, but no one would give him any. ¹⁷When he came to his senses, ^ahe said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger! ^b18I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, Father, I have sinned ^cagainst heaven ^dand in your sight. ¹⁹I’m no longer worthy ^eto be called your son. Make me like one of your hired hands.’ 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. ^fHe ran, threw his arms around his neck, ^gand kissed ^hhim. 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 ^•slaves, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe ⁱand put it on him; put a ring ^jon his finger ^kand sandals ^lon his feet. ²³Then bring the fattened calf ^mand slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, ²⁴because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; ⁿhe 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 and asked 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.’ ^o

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 young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets ^pwith prostitutes, ^qyou slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’

³¹“ ‘Son,’ ^rhe said to him, ‘you are always with me, ^sand 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.’ ”