Luke 15:11-32

The apostle Luke writing (God speaking via scripture...The Word),  being essentially entirely direct quotes of Jesus' parable of the lost son (the prodigal son)...that the Father is always ready for the return of  all of those who are "sons" and left.

[after reading below, check commentary]

NIV Bible 1973-78:  11Jesus 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 men 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 men.' 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.[1] '
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.' 
 

Wycliffe Bible of 1384: 11 And he seide, A man hadde twei sones;

12 and the yonger of hem seide to the fadir, Fadir, yyue me the porcioun of catel, that fallith to me. And he departide to hem the catel.

13 And not aftir many daies, whanne alle thingis weren gederid togider, the yonger sone wente forth in pilgrymage in to a fer cuntre; and there he wastide hise goodis in lyuynge lecherously.

14 And aftir that he hadde endid alle thingis, a strong hungre was maad in that cuntre, and he bigan to haue nede.

15 And he wente, and drouy hym to oon of the citeseyns of that cuntre. And he sente hym in to his toun, to fede swyn.

16 And he coueitide to fille his wombe of the coddis that the hoggis eeten, and no man yaf hym.

17 And he turnede ayen to hym silf, and seide, Hou many hirid men in my fadir hous han plente of looues; and Y perische here thorouy hungir.

18 Y schal rise vp, and go to my fadir, and Y schal seie to hym, Fadir, Y haue synned in to heuene, and bifor thee;

19 and now Y am not worthi to be clepid thi sone, make me as oon of thin hirid men.

20 And he roos vp, and cam to his fadir. And whanne he was yit afer, his fadir saiy hym, and was stirrid bi mercy. And he ran, and fel on his necke, and kisside hym.

21 And the sone seide to hym, Fadir, Y haue synned in to heuene, and bifor thee; and now Y am not worthi to be clepid thi sone.

22 And the fadir seide to hise seruauntis, Swithe brynge ye forth the firste stoole, and clothe ye hym, and yyue ye a ryng in his hoond,

23 and schoon on hise feet; and brynge ye a fat calf, and sle ye, and ete we, and make we feeste.

24 For this my sone was deed, and hath lyued ayen; he perischid, and is foundun. And alle men bigunnen to ete.

25 But his eldere sone was in the feeld; and whanne he cam, and neiyede to the hous, he herde a symfonye and a croude.

26 And he clepide oon of the seruauntis, and axide, what these thingis weren.

27 And he seide to hym, Thi brother is comun, and thi fadir slewe a fat calf, for he resseyuede hym saaf.

28 And he was wrooth, and wolde not come in. Therfor his fadir wente out, and bigan to preye hym.

29 And he answerde to his fadir, and seide, Lo! so many yeeris Y serue thee, and Y neuer brak thi comaundement; and thou neuer yaf to me a kidde, that Y with my freendis schulde haue ete.

30 But aftir that this thi sone, that hath deuourid his substaunce with horis, cam, thou hast slayn to hym a fat calf.

31 And he seide to hym, Sone, thou art euer more with me, and alle my thingis ben thine.

32 But it bihofte for to make feeste, and to haue ioye; for this thi brother was deed, and lyuede ayen; he perischide, and is foundun.

King James Bible of 1611:   11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12   And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13   And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14   And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15   And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16   And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17   And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18   I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19   And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20   And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21   And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22   But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23   And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24   For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25   Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
26   And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27   And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28   And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
29   And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30   But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31   And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32   It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

NAS Bible of 1960:   11 And He said, "A man had two sons.
12   "The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.' So he divided his wealth 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 embraced 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 the best robe and put it on him, and put 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 dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.' And they began to celebrate.
25   "Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.
26   "And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be.
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 became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him.
29   "But he answered and said to his father, 'Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends;
30   but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.'
31   "And he said to him, 'Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours.
32   'But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.'"

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(posted 3 January 2004; updated 30 March 2006)