Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
Luke 15
A Father and Two Lost Sons
Then Jesus said, “A man had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that belongs to me.’ So the father divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and traveled to a distant country. There he squandered his estate in reckless living. After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and attached himself to one of that country’s citizens, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough bread, while I am dying of hunger here! I will get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.”’ So he got up and went to his father. While he was still far away, his father saw him and was moved with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him tenderly. 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. Bring the fattened calf and slaughter it. Let us eat and celebrate, because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate. Now his older son was in the field. As he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. The servant told him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he received him back safe and sound.’ The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look, I have served you like a slave for all these years and never disobeyed your command. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back after devouring your property with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him!’ The father said to him, ‘Child, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive; he was lost and has been found.’”