Then He said, "A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me now the share of the property that I will inherit." And he divided to his substance between his two sons. And not many days after, having gathered all together, the younger son went away into a far country, and there wasted his property, living dissolutely. "Now when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he longed to fill himself from the carob pods which the swine were eating; and no one gave to him.

"But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many hired servants of my father have more than enough bread, and I am perishing here with hunger. I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee. I am no longer worthy to be called thy son; make me as one of thy hired servants."

"And he arose and came to his father. Now while he was yet far distant, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him repeatedly. "Then the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee, and am no longer worthy to be called thy son." But the father said to his servants, 'Bring forth quickly a robe, the best one, and put it on him; and put a ring upon his hand, and sandals on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill It, and let us eat and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again, was lost and is found." And they began to be merry.

"Now his elder son was in the field; and as he was coming and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And calling one of the servants to him, he inquired what these things meant. And he said to him, 'Thy brother is come, and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him back safe and sound."

"Then he was angry, and would not go in. Now his father came out and entreated him. But he answered and said to his father, 'Behold, so many years have I served thee, and I never transgressed thy commandment; and to me thou didst never give a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But when this thy son, who hath squandered thy substance with harlots, came, thou didst kill for him the fatted calf."

"Then the father said to him, 'Son, thou art ever with me, and all that is mine is thine. But we ought to make merry and rejoice; because this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found."