Shared Word Translation

Luke 15

The Parable of the Prodigals’ Father

Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that belongs to me.’ So he divided his livelihood between them.

Not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in disordered living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine came upon that country, and he began to be in need.

So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into the fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, and no one gave him anything.

But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have bread in abundance, and here I am perishing with hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired workers.”’

So he got up and went to his father.

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

But the father said to his servants, ‘Quickly, bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.

Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.

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.’ Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him.

But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been serving you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’

Then the father said to him, ‘Child, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”