A Prayer for Mercy

A song ·for going up to worship [of ascents; ^Cperhaps sung while traveling to Jerusalem to celebrate an annual religious festival like Passover].

The Son Who Left Home

¹¹ Then Jesus said, “A man had two sons. ¹² The younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the ·property [estate; ^Chis inheritance].’ So the father divided the ·property [wealth; assets; ^Llife] between his two sons. ¹³ ·Then [Some time later; ^LAfter not many days] the younger son gathered up all that was his and traveled ·far away to another [to a distant] country. There he ·wasted [squandered; scattered] his money in ·foolish [wild; reckless] living. ¹⁴ After he had spent everything, a time came when there was ·no food anywhere [^La severe famine] in the country, and the son ·was poor and hungry [^Lbegan to be in need]. ¹⁵ So he ·got a job with [hired himself out to] one of the citizens there who sent the son into the fields to feed pigs [^Cdegrading work, since pigs were ritually unclean and detestable animals to Jews]. ¹⁶ The son was so hungry that he wanted to ·eat [or fill his stomach with] the pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. ¹⁷ When he ·realized what he was doing [came to his senses; ^Lcame to himself], he thought, ‘All of my father’s ·servants [hired workers] have ·plenty of [more than enough; abundant] ·food [bread]. But I am here, ·almost dying [perishing] with hunger. ¹⁸ I will ·leave and return [get up and go] to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against ·God [^Lheaven; ^CJews often used “heaven” for “God” out of reverence for the divine Name] and against you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son, but ·let me be [make me] like one of your ·servants [hired workers].”’ ²⁰ So the son left and went to his father.

“While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt ·sorry [compassion] for his son. So the father ran to him [^Can undignified act for a family patriarch; evidence of his unrestrained love] and hugged and kissed him. ²¹ The son said, ‘Father, I have sinned against ·God [^Lheaven; v. 18] and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’^{[a] 22} But the father said to his ·servants [slaves], ‘Hurry! Bring the ·best clothes [^Lfirst/best robe; ^Ceither the father’s own, or a ceremonial robe for an honored guest] and put them on him. Also, put a ring on his finger [^Cprobably a signet ring indicating sonship and authority; Gen. 41:42] and sandals on his feet [^Cslaves went barefoot]. ²³ And get our ·fat [fattened; ^Cprepared for slaughter] calf and kill it [^Cpeople only occasionally ate meat; such a large animal indicates a major celebration] so we can have a feast and celebrate. ²⁴ My son was dead, but now he is alive again! He was lost, but now he is found!’ So they began to celebrate.