Luke 15:14-31

¹⁴But when he had spent it all, there was a severe famine throughout that country, and he began to be in need.

¹⁵Then he went and attached himself to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.

¹⁶He would gladly have filled his stomach with the carob pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

¹⁷But when he came to himself he said: ‘How many of my father's hired servants have an abundance of bread, while I am dying of hunger!

¹⁸I will get up and go to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,

¹⁹and I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired servants.’

²⁰“So he got up and went to his own father. But while he was still a good ways off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion—he ran and fell on his neck and kissed him!

²¹Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

²²But the father said to his slaves: ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.

²³And bring in and kill the fatted calf, and let us eat and celebrate;

²⁴because this son of mine was dead and came to life; he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.

²⁵“Now his older son was in the field; and as he came approaching the house he heard music and dancing.

²⁶So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.

²⁷He said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’

²⁸So he became angry and refused to go in. Then his father came out and began to plead with him.

²⁹But in answer he said to the father: ‘Just look at how many years I have been serving you without ever transgressing your commandment; yet you never gave me even a young goat that I might celebrate with my friends.

³⁰But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’

³¹So he said to him: ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.