24
My son was dead, but now he is alive again! He was lost, but now he is found!' So they began to celebrate.
25
"The older son was in the field, and as he came closer to the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing.
26
So he called to one of the servants and asked what all this meant.
27
The servant said, 'Your brother has come back, and your father killed the fat calf, because your brother came home safely.'
28
The older son was angry and would not go in to the feast. So his father went out and begged him to come in.
29
But the older son said to his father, 'I have served you like a slave for many years and have always obeyed your commands. But you never gave me even a young goat to have at a feast with my friends.
30
But your other son, who wasted all your money on prostitutes, comes home, and you kill the fat calf for him!'
31
The father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.
32
We had to celebrate and be happy because your brother was dead, but now he is alive. He was lost, but now he is found.'"