The Prodigal Son

11 And He said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me (A)the share of the estate that [a]is coming to me.’ And so he divided his [b](B)wealth between them. 13 And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his estate in [c]wild living. 14 Now when he had [d]spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began doing without. 15 So he went and [e]hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he longed to have his fill of the carob pods that the pigs were eating, and no one was giving him anything. 17 But when he came to [f]his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired laborers have more than enough bread, but I am dying here [g]from hunger! 18 I will set out and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and [h]in your sight; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired laborers.”’ 20 So he set out and came to [i]his father. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and [j](C)embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and [k]in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out (D)the best robe and put it on him, and [l](E)put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet; 23 and bring the fattened calf, slaughter it, and let’s eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was (F)dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.

25 “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. 29 But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never [m]neglected a command of yours; and yet you never gave me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; 30 but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your [n](G)wealth with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you [o]have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was (H)dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 15:12 Lit falls
  2. Luke 15:12 Lit means of subsistence
  3. Luke 15:13 Or wasteful
  4. Luke 15:14 Or wasted
  5. Luke 15:15 Lit joined himself to
  6. Luke 15:17 Lit himself
  7. Luke 15:17 Lit by
  8. Luke 15:18 Lit before you
  9. Luke 15:20 Lit his own
  10. Luke 15:20 Lit fell on his neck
  11. Luke 15:21 Lit before you
  12. Luke 15:22 Lit give...into his hand
  13. Luke 15:29 Or disobeyed
  14. Luke 15:30 Lit means of subsistence
  15. Luke 15:31 Lit are always with me

The Story of the Loving Father

11 Then Jesus[a] said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger one told his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So the father[b] divided his property between them. 13 A few days later, the younger son gathered everything he owned and traveled to a distant country. There he wasted it all[c] on wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went out to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 No one would give him anything, even though he would gladly have filled himself with the husks the pigs were eating.

17 “Then he came to his senses and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more food than they can eat, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven[d] and you. 19 I don’t deserve to be called your son anymore. Treat me like one of your hired men.”’

20 “So he got up and went to his father. While he was still far away, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son,[e] threw his arms around him, and kissed him affectionately. 21 Then his son told him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven[f] and you. I don’t deserve to be called your son anymore.’[g] 22 But the father told his servants, ‘Hurry! Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let’s eat and celebrate! 24 Because my son was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.

25 “Now the father’s[h] older son was in the field. As he was coming back to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called to one of the servants and asked what was happening. 27 The servant[i] told him, ‘Your brother has come home, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he got him back safely.’

28 “Then the older son[j] became angry and wouldn’t go into the house.[k] So his father came out and began to plead with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Listen! All these years I’ve worked like a slave for you. I’ve never disobeyed a command of yours. Yet you’ve never given me so much as a young goat for a festival[l] so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But this son of yours spent your money on prostitutes, and when he came back, you killed the fattened calf for him!’

31 “His father[m] told him, ‘My child, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and has been found.’”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 15:11 Lit. he
  2. Luke 15:12 Lit. he
  3. Luke 15:13 Lit. wasted his possessions
  4. Luke 15:18 I.e. God
  5. Luke 15:20 The Gk. lacks to his son
  6. Luke 15:21 I.e. God
  7. Luke 15:21 Other mss. read anymore. Treat me like one of your hired men.
  8. Luke 15:25 Lit. Now his
  9. Luke 15:27 Lit. He
  10. Luke 15:28 Lit. he
  11. Luke 15:28 Lit. wouldn’t go in
  12. Luke 15:29 The Gk. lacks for a festival
  13. Luke 15:31 Lit. He