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Parable of the Lost Son

11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. 12 The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.

13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.

17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’

20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.[a]

22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, 26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’

28 “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, 29 but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. 30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’

31 “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. 32 We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”

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Footnotes

  1. 15:21 Some manuscripts add Please take me on as a hired servant.

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.’”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 15:15 Greek joined himself to
  2. Luke 15:21 Some manuscripts add treat me as one of your hired servants
  3. Luke 15:22 Or bondservants

11 Then de he said legō, “A certain tis man anthrōpos had echō two dyo sons hyios. 12 · kai The ho younger neos of them autos said legō to the ho father patēr, ‘ Father patēr, give didōmi me egō the ho share meros of the ho property ousia that will belong epiballō to me .’ So de he ho divided diaireō the ho estate bios between them autos. 13 · kai Not ou many polys days hēmera later meta, the ho younger neos son hyios gathered synagō up everything pas and left apodēmeō for a journey to eis a distant makros country chōra, and kai there ekei he squandered diaskorpizō · ho his autos property ousia by living zaō recklessly asōtōs. 14 When he autos had spent dapanaō · de everything pas, there was ginomai a severe ischuros famine limos in kata · ho that ekeinos country chōra, and kai he autos began archō to be in need hystereō. 15 So kai he went poreuō and hired kollaō himself out to one heis of the ho citizens politēs of ho that ekeinos country chōra, and kai he sent pempō him autos into eis · ho his autos fields agros to feed boskō pigs choiros. 16 · kai He longed epithumeō to be fed chortazō with ek the ho pods keration that hos the ho pigs choiros were eating esthiō, but kai no oudeis one would give didōmi him autos anything.

17  Coming erchomai to eis himself heautou, · de he said phēmi, ‘ How posos many of ho my egō father’ s patēr hired misthios servants have more perisseuō than enough bread artos, but de here hōde I egō am , dying apollymi from hunger limos! 18 I will leave anistēmi this place and go poreuō to pros · ho my egō father patēr, and kai I will say legō to him autos, ‘ Father patēr, I have sinned hamartanō against eis · ho heaven ouranos and kai before enōpion you sy; 19 I am eimi no ouketi longer worthy axios to be called kaleō your sy son hyios. Take poieō me egō on as hōs one heis of ho your sy hired misthios servants .’ 20 So kai he left anistēmi that place and went erchomai to pros · ho his heautou father patēr. While apechō he autos was apechō still eti · de a long makran way from apechō home, his autos father patēr saw him autos · ho and kai was filled splanchnizomai with compassion ; · kai he ran trechō and fell epipiptō upon epi · ho his autos neck trachēlos and kai kissed kataphileō him autos. 21 And de the ho son hyios said legō to him autos, ‘ Father patēr, I have sinned hamartanō against eis · ho heaven ouranos and kai before enōpion you sy. I am eimi no ouketi longer worthy axios to be called kaleō your sy son hyios.’ 22 But de the ho father patēr said legō to pros · ho his autos servants, ‘ Quickly tachus bring ekpherō out a robe stolē the ho best prōtos one— and kai put endyō it on him autos, and kai give didōmi him a ring daktylios for eis · ho his autos finger cheir, and kai sandals hypodēma for eis his ho feet pous. 23 · kai Bring pherō the ho fattened siteutos calf moschos · ho and make thuō the kill ! · kai Let us eat esthiō and celebrate euphrainō; 24 for hoti this houtos, · ho my egō son hyios, was eimi dead nekros, and kai has come anazaō back to life again ; he was eimi lost apollymi, and kai has been found heuriskō.’ So kai they began archō to celebrate euphrainō.

25  Meanwhile de his autos older presbyteros son hyios was eimi · ho · ho in en the field agros, and kai as hōs he came erchomai and drew engizō near to the ho house oikia, he heard akouō music symphōnia and kai dancing choros. 26 So kai calling proskaleō one heis of his ho servants pais, he asked pynthanomai what tis this houtos might be an. 27 The ho · de servant said legō to him autos, · ho Your sy brother adelphos has come hēkō, and kai your sy father patēr has killed thuō · ho the ho fattened siteutos calf moschos, · ho because hoti he received apolambanō him autos back apolambanō safe hygiainō and sound .’ 28 But de the older son became angry orgizō and kai refused ou thelō to go eiserchomai in . · ho · de His autos father patēr came exerchomai out and began to appeal parakaleō to him autos, 29 but de he ho answered apokrinomai legō · ho his autos father patēr, ‘ Look idou, these tosoutos many years etos I have served douleuō you sy, and kai I parerchomai never oudepote disregarded parerchomai a command entolē of yours sy, yet kai you didōmi never oudepote gave didōmi me egō a young goat eriphos, that hina I might celebrate euphrainō with meta · ho my egō friends philos. 30 But de when hote · ho this houtos son hyios of yours sy came erchomai, who ho has consumed katesthiō your sy · ho estate bios with meta prostitutes pornē, you killed thuō the ho fattened siteutos calf moschos for him autos!’ 31 Then de the ho father said legō to him autos, ‘ Son teknon, you sy are eimi always pantote with meta me egō, and kai everything pas · ho I emos have is eimi yours sos. 32 We had dei to celebrate euphrainō · de and kai rejoice chairō, because hoti · ho this houtos brother adelphos of yours sy, was eimi dead nekros and kai has come alive zaō; · kai he was lost apollymi and kai has been found heuriskō.’”

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