Luke 15:11–32
11Then Jesus said, "A man had 2 sons. 12The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the inheritance.' So the father divided his property between them. 13Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had together and traveled to a far country, where he wasted his wealth with riotous living. 14After he had spent everything, a severe famine hit that country, and he found himself with nothing. 15He went and attached himself to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16He was so hungry he would have gladly eaten the pods the pigs were eating, but nobody gave him a thing. 17Finally he came to his senses and said, 'My father's hired workers have more food than they can eat, and here I am starving to death! 18I will arise and go to my father and say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.' 19I don't deserve to be called your son anymore. Just treat me like one of your hired workers."' 20So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him, felt compassion, ran to him, embraced him, and kissed him. 21The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I don't deserve to be called your son anymore.' 22But the father turned to his servants and said, 'Quick! Bring out the finest robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and slaughter it. Let's have a feast and celebrate! 24Because this son of mine was dead, and now he's alive again. He was lost, and now he's found.' And the celebration began. 25Meanwhile, the older son was out working in the field. As he approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26He called over one of the servants and asked what was going on. 27The servant told him, 'Your brother has come home, and your father slaughtered the fattened calf because he got him back safe and sound.' 28The older son was angry and refused to go inside. So his father came out and pleaded with him. 29But he answered his father, 'Look, I've served you all these years and never disobeyed your command. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.' 30But as soon as this son of yours came, who has wasted your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him. 31His father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again. He was lost, and now he's found.'"