[15:11] Jesus went on to say, “There was once a man who had two sons.
[15:12] The younger one said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the property now.’ So the man divided his property between his two sons.
[15:13] After a few days the younger son sold his part of the property and left home with the money. He went to a country far away, where he wasted his money in reckless living.
[15:14] He spent everything he had. Then a severe famine spread over that country, and he was left without a thing.
[15:15] So he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him out to his farm to take care of the pigs.
[15:16] He wished he could fill himself with the bean pods the pigs ate, but no one gave him anything to eat.
[15:17] At last he came to his senses and said, ‘All my father's hired workers have more than they can eat, and here I am about to starve!
[15:18] I will get up and go to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against God and against you.
[15:19] I am no longer fit to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired workers.”’
[15:20] So he got up and started back to his father. “He was still a long way from home when his father saw him; his heart was filled with pity, and he ran, threw his arms around his son, and kissed him.
[15:21] ‘Father,’ the son said, ‘I have sinned against God and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son.’
[15:22] But the father called to his servants. ‘Hurry!’ he said. ‘Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet.
[15:23] Then go and get the prize calf and kill it, and let us celebrate with a feast!
[15:24] For this son of mine was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost, but now he has been found.’ And so the feasting began.
[15:25] “In the meantime the older son was out in the field. On his way back, when he came close to the house, he heard the music and dancing.
[15:26] So he called one of the servants and asked him, ‘What's going on?’
[15:27] ‘Your brother has come back home,’ the servant answered, ‘and your father has killed the prize calf, because he got him back safe and sound.’
[15:28] The older brother was so angry that he would not go into the house; so his father came out and begged him to come in.
[15:29] But he spoke back to his father, ‘Look, all these years I have worked for you like a slave, and I have never disobeyed your orders. What have you given me? Not even a goat for me to have a feast with my friends!
[15:30] But this son of yours wasted all your property on prostitutes, and when he comes back home, you kill the prize calf for him!’
[15:31] ‘My son,’ the father answered, ‘you are always here with me, and everything I have is yours.
[15:32] But we had to celebrate and be happy, because your brother was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost, but now he has been found.’”