11. And He said, "A
certain man had two sons;
12. and the younger of them said
to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the
estate that falls to me.' And he divided his wealth
between them.
13. "And not many days later,
the younger son gathered everything together and went
on a journey into a distant country, and there he
squandered his estate with loose living.
14. "Now when he had spent
everything, a severe famine occurred in that country,
and he began to be in need.
15. "And he went and attached
himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he
sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16. "And he was longing to fill
his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating,
and no one was giving anything to him.
17. "But when he came to his
senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men
have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with
hunger!
18. 'I will get up and go to my
father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned
against heaven, and in your sight;
19. "I am no longer worthy to be
called your son; make me as one of your hired
men."'
20. "And he got up and came to
his father. But while he was still a long way off, his
father saw him, and felt compassion for him, and ran
and embraced him, and kissed him.
21. "And the son said to him,
'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your
sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your
son.'
22. "But the father said to his
slaves, 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on
him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his
feet;
23. and bring the fattened calf,
kill it, and let us eat and be merry;
24. for this son of mine was
dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has
been found.' And they began to be merry.
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 might
be.
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 became angry, and
was not willing to go in; and his father came out and
began entreating him.
29. "But he answered and said to
his father, 'Look! For so many years I have been
serving you, and I have never neglected a command of
yours; and yet you have never given me a kid, that I
might be merry with my friends;
30. but when this son of yours
came, who has devoured your wealth with harlots, you
killed the fattened calf for him.'
31. "And he said to him, 'My
child, you have always been with me, and all that is
mine is yours.
32. 'But we had to be merry and
rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has
begun to live, and was lost and has been
found.'