Luke 15:11 ¶ He said, “Acertainmanhadtwosons.12Theyoungerofthemsaidtohisfather,‘Father,givememyshareofyourproperty.’Sohedividedhislivelihoodbetweenthem.13Notmanydaysafter,theyoungersongatheredallofthistogetherandtraveledintoafarcountry.Therehewastedhispropertywithriotousliving.14Whenhehadspentallofit,therearoseaseverefamineinthatcountry,andhebegantobeinneed.15Hewentandjoinedhimselftooneofthecitizensofthatcountry,andhesenthimintohisfieldstofeedpigs.16Hewantedtofillhisbellywiththepodsthatthepigsate,butnoonegavehimany.17Butwhenhecametohimself,hesaid,‘Howmanyhiredservantsofmyfather’shavebreadenoughtospare,andI’mdyingwithhunger!18Iwillgetupandgotomyfather,andwilltellhim,“Father,Ihavesinnedagainstheavenandinyoursight.19Iamnomoreworthytobecalledyourson.Makemeasoneofyourhiredservants.” ’
Luke 15:20 ¶ “Hearoseandcametohisfather.Butwhilehewasstillfaroff,hisfathersawhimandwasmovedwithcompassion,andran,fellonhisneck,andkissedhim.21Thesonsaidtohim,‘Father,Ihavesinnedagainstheavenandinyoursight.Iamnolongerworthytobecalledyourson.’
Luke 15:22 ¶ “Butthefathersaidtohisservants,‘Bringoutthebestrobeandputitonhim.Putaringonhishandandsandalsonhisfeet.23Bringthefattenedcalf,killit,andlet’seatandcelebrate;24forthis,myson,wasdeadandisaliveagain.Hewaslostandisfound.’Thentheybegantocelebrate.
Luke 15:25 ¶ “Nowhiseldersonwasinthefield.Ashecameneartothehouse,heheardmusicanddancing.26Hecalledoneoftheservantstohimandaskedwhatwasgoingon.27Hesaidtohim,‘Yourbrotherhascome,andyourfatherhaskilledthefattenedcalf,becausehehasreceivedhimbacksafeandhealthy.’28Buthewasangryandwouldnotgoin.Thereforehisfathercameoutandbeggedhim.29Butheansweredhisfather,‘Behold,thesemanyyearsIhaveservedyou,andIneverdisobeyedacommandmentofyours,butyounevergavemeagoat,thatImightcelebratewithmyfriends.30Butwhenthisyoursoncame,whohasdevouredyourlivingwithprostitutes,youkilledthefattenedcalfforhim.’
Luke 15:31 ¶ “Hesaidtohim,‘Son,youarealwayswithme,andallthatismineisyours.32Butitwasappropriatetocelebrateandbeglad,forthis,yourbrother,wasdead,andisaliveagain.Hewaslost,andisfound.’ ”