⁴ in order that the righteous requirement^(A) of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.^(B)

⁵ Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires;^(C) but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.^{(D) 6} The mind governed by the flesh is death,^(E) but the mind governed by the Spirit is life^(F) and peace. ⁷ The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God;^(G) it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. ⁸ Those who are in the realm of the flesh^(H) cannot please God.

⁹ You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh^(I) but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.^(J) And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ,^(K) they do not belong to Christ. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you,^(L) then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life^[a] because of righteousness. ¹¹ And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead^(M) is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies^(N) because of^[b] his Spirit who lives in you.

¹² Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it.^{(O) 13} For if you live according to the flesh, you will die;^(P) but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body,^(Q) you will live.^(R)

¹⁴ For those who are led by the Spirit of God^(S) are the children of God.^{(T) 15} The Spirit^(U) you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again;^(V) rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.^[c] And by him we cry, “Abba,^[d] Father.”^{(W) 16} The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit^(X) that we are God’s children.^{(Y) 17} Now if we are children, then we are heirs^(Z)—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings^(AA) in order that we may also share in his glory.^(AB)

The Parable of the Lost Son

¹¹ Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons.^{(A) 12} The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’^(B) So he divided his property^(C) between them.

¹³ “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth^(D) in wild living. ¹⁴ After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵ So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.^{(E) 16} He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

¹⁷ “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! ¹⁸ I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned^(F) against heaven and against you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.^(G)

²¹ “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.^(H) I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

²² “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe^(I) and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger^(J) and sandals on his feet. ²³ Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. ²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again;^(K) he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.^(L)

²⁵ “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ²⁷ ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

²⁸ “The older brother became angry^(M) and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours who has squandered your property^(N) with prostitutes^(O) comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

³¹ “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. ³² But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”^(P)