Luke 15:11-24

The Prodigal Son

11 And He said, "A man had two sons.

12 "The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me ¹the share of the estate that falls to me.' So he divided his ²wealth between them.

13 "And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.

14 "Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished.

15 "So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

16 "And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.

17 "But when he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger!

18 'I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight;

19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men."'

20 "So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and ³embraced * * him and kissed him.

21 "And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

22 "But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out ⁴the best robe and put it on him, and ⁵put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet;

23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;

24 for this son of mine was ⁶dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.' And they began to celebrate.

Cross References

• 1. Deuteronomy 21:17
• 2. Mark 12:44; Luke 15:30
• 3. Genesis 45:14; Genesis 46:29; Acts 20:37
• 4. Zechariah 3:4; Revelation 6:11
• 5. Genesis 41:42
• 6. Matthew 8:22; Luke 9:60; Luke 15:32; Romans 11:15; Ephesians 2:1, 5; Ephesians 5:14; Colossians 2:13; 1 Timothy 5:6

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "living"
• [b]. Lit "was joined to"
• [c]. I.e. of the carob tree
• [d]. Lit "himself"
• [e]. Lit "before you"
• [f]. Lit "his own"
• [g]. Lit "fell on his neck"