The Lost Boys

^[11] Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. ^[12] The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. ^[13] “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. ^[14] After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. ^[15] So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. ^[16] He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. ^[17] “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! ^[18] I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ^[19] I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ ^[20] So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. ^[21] “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ ^[22] “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ^[23] Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. ^[24] For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. ^[25] “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. ^[26] So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ^[27] ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ ^[28] “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. ^[29] But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. ^[30] But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ ^[31] “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. ^[32] But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'”

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.