Luke 15:11-32

Listen to Luke 15:11-32

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 ¹the share of property that is coming to me. ’ And he divided ²his 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 ³reckless 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 ⁴was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

17 “But ⁵when he ⁶came 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, ⁷I have sinned against ⁸heaven and before you.

19 ⁹I 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 ¹⁰ran and ¹¹embraced him and ¹²kissed him.

21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. ¹³I am no longer worthy to be called your son. ’ ^[b]

22 But the father said to his servants, ^[c]‘Bring quickly ¹⁴the best robe, and put it on him, and put ¹⁵a ring on his hand, and ¹⁶shoes on his feet.

23 And bring ¹⁷the fattened calf and kill it, and ¹⁸let us eat and celebrate.

24 For this my son ¹⁹was 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 ²⁰celebrate with my friends.

30 But when this son of yours came, ²¹who has devoured ²²your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him! ’

31 And he said to him, ‘Son, ²³you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.

32 It was fitting ²⁴to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother ²⁵was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found. ’”

Read Chapter Compare Translations Commentaries Cross References