Luke 15:11-32
Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Parable of the Lost Son
11 He also said: “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.’ So he distributed the assets[a] to them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered(A) his estate in foolish living.(B) 14 After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing.[b] 15 Then he went to work for[c] one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.(C) 16 He longed to eat his fill from[d] the carob pods[e] the pigs were eating, but no one would give him any. 17 When he came to his senses,[f] he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger![g] 18 I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, Father, I have sinned(D) against heaven(E) and in your sight. 19 I’m no longer worthy(F) to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired hands.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion.(G) He ran, threw his arms around his neck,[h] and kissed(H) him. 21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father told his slaves, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe(I) and put it on him; put a ring(J) on his finger[i] and sandals(K) on his feet. 23 Then bring the fattened calf(L) and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, 24 because this son of mine was dead and is alive again;(M) he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his older son was in the field; as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he summoned one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 ‘Your brother is here,’ he told him, ‘and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’[j]
28 “Then he became angry and didn’t want to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 But he replied to his father, ‘Look, I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets[k] with prostitutes,(N) you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’
31 “‘Son,’[l] he said to him, ‘you are always with me,(O) and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Luke 15:12 Or living; lit livelihood
- Luke 15:14 Lit and he began to be in need
- Luke 15:15 Lit went and joined with
- Luke 15:16 Other mss read to fill his stomach with
- Luke 15:16 Seed casings of a tree used as food for cattle, pigs, and sometimes the poor
- Luke 15:17 Lit to himself
- Luke 15:17 Or dying in the famine; v. 14
- Luke 15:20 Lit He ran, fell on his neck
- Luke 15:22 Lit hand
- Luke 15:27 Lit him back healthy
- Luke 15:30 Lit livelihood, or living
- Luke 15:31 Or Child
Luke 15:11-32
New Living Translation
Parable of the Lost Son
11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. 12 The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.
13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.
17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’
20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.[a]’
22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, 26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’
28 “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, 29 but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. 30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’
31 “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. 32 We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 15:21 Some manuscripts add Please take me on as a hired servant.
Luke 15:11-32
English Standard Version
The Parable of the Prodigal Son
11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me (A)the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided (B)his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in (C)reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to[a] one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he (D)was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
17 “But (E)when he (F)came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, (G)I have sinned against (H)heaven and before you. 19 (I)I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and (J)ran and (K)embraced him and (L)kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. (M)I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’[b] 22 But the father said to his servants,[c] ‘Bring quickly (N)the best robe, and put it on him, and put (O)a ring on his hand, and (P)shoes on his feet. 23 And bring (Q)the fattened calf and kill it, and (R)let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son (S)was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 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 was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might (T)celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, (U)who has devoured (V)your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, (W)you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting (X)to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother (Y)was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Luke 15:15 Greek joined himself to
- Luke 15:21 Some manuscripts add treat me as one of your hired servants
- Luke 15:22 Or bondservants
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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
