The Parable of the Lost Son

¹¹ He also said, “A man had two sons. ¹² The 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^[a] to them. ¹³ Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered^(A) his estate in foolish living.^{(B) 14} After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing.^{[b] 15} Then he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.^{(C) 16} He longed to eat his fill from^[c] the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one would give him anything. ¹⁷ When he came to his senses,^[d] he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger!^{[e] 18} I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned^(D) against heaven^(E) and in your sight. ¹⁹ I’m no longer worthy^(F) to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.”’ ²⁰ So 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.^(G) He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed^(H) him. ²¹ The 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 servants, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe^(I) and put it on him; put a ring^(J) on his finger and sandals^(K) on his feet. ²³ Then bring the fattened calf^(L) and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, ²⁴ because this son of mine was dead and is alive again;^(M) he 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. ²⁶ So he summoned one of the servants, questioning 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.’^[f]

²⁸ “Then he became angry and didn’t want to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ But 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 goat so that I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets^[g] with prostitutes,^(N) you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’

³¹ “‘Son,’^[h] he said to him, ‘you are always with me,^(O) and everything I have is yours. ³² But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”