Luke 15:11-32
English Standard Version
The Parable of the Prodigal Son
11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me (A)the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided (B)his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in (C)reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to[a] one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he (D)was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
17 “But (E)when he (F)came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, (G)I have sinned against (H)heaven and before you. 19 (I)I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and (J)ran and (K)embraced him and (L)kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. (M)I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’[b] 22 But the father said to his servants,[c] ‘Bring quickly (N)the best robe, and put it on him, and put (O)a ring on his hand, and (P)shoes on his feet. 23 And bring (Q)the fattened calf and kill it, and (R)let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son (S)was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might (T)celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, (U)who has devoured (V)your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, (W)you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting (X)to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother (Y)was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Luke 15:15 Greek joined himself to
- Luke 15:21 Some manuscripts add treat me as one of your hired servants
- Luke 15:22 Or bondservants
Lukas 15:11-32
Orthodox Jewish Bible
11 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said, A certain ben Adam had shnei banim (two sons).
12 And the younger of them said to his Abba, Avi, give to me the share of the estate that falls to me. And his Abba divided his wealth between them.
13 And not many yamim later, having gathered together everything, the younger ben went on a journey to a far away country, and there he squandered his osher (riches) with gilui arayot (sexual immorality) and loose living. [YESHAYAH 59:2]
14 And when he had spent everything, there came a severe ra’av (famine) throughout that aretz, and he began to be nitzrach (needy).
15 And he went and became associated with one of the citizens of that aretz, and he sent him into his fields to feed chazirim, [VAYIKRA 11:7]
16 And he was longing to fill his mogen (stomach) with the pods which the chazirim were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.
17 When he came to his senses, his seichel told him, How many of my Abba’s sachirim (hired workers) have more than enough okhel (food) and I am perishing here with hunger.
18 I will get up and go to my Abba, and I will say, Avi, I sinned against Shomayim and in your sight. [VAYIKRA 26:40; TEHILLIM 51:6(4)]
19 I no longer have the zchus (merit) worthy to be called a ben of my Abba. Make me as one of your sachirim (hired workers).
20 And when he got up he came home to his own Abba. And while he was still a long way off, his Abba saw him, and was filled with rachmei Shomayim (heavenly mercy, compassion) and tears, and fell upon his neck and kissed him. [Gn 45:14]
21 And bno said to the Abba, Avi, I sinned against Shomayim and in your sight. No longer do I have the zchus (merit) to be worthy to be called your ben. [Psa 51:6(4)]
22 But his Abba said to his avadim, Shnel! (Quick!) Bring out the best kaftan and clothe him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals for his feet, [ZECHARYAH 3:4; BERESHIS 41:42]
23 And bring the fattened calf, and slaughter it, and let us eat and have a simcha,
24 Because this ben of mine was dead and now he has returned l’Chayyim! He had been lost and now he is found. And they began to make a simcha.
25 But the Abba’s alterer ben (older son) was in the sadeh (field). And as he was coming, he drew near to the bais, and he heard the zemirot (table songs), and the sound of the klezmer (musician) and the [chasidic] dancing,
26 And having summoned one of the avadim (servants), the alterer ben (older son) was inquiring what these things might be.
27 And the eved said to him, Your ach is present, and your Abba sacrificed the fattened calf, because your Abba received him back bari v’shalem (safe and sound).
28 And the alterer ben was filled with ka’as (anger), and he did not want to enter. But his Abba came out and was pleading with him.
29 But in reply the alterer ben said to his Abba, Hinei, so many years I serve you and never a mitzvah of you I disobeyed, and never for me did you give even a young goat that with my chaverim I might make a simcha.
30 But when shows up this ben of yours, the one having devoured your property with zonot (prostitutes), you sacrificed for him the fattened calf. [MISHLE 29:3]
31 And the Abba said to him, Beni, you are always with me, and everything which is mine is yours.
32 But now it was necessary for us to have lev samei’ach and make a simcha, because the ach of you was dead and he has returned lChayyim! He has been lost and now is found. [MALACHI 3:17]
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