15 ¹¹ Again he said: 'There was once a man who had two sons; 15 ¹² and the younger said to his father, "Father, give me my share of the property." So he divided his estate between them. 15 ¹³ A few days later the younger son turned the whole of his share into cash and left home for a distant country, where he squandered it in reckless living. 15 ¹⁴ He had spent it all, when a severe famine fell upon that country and he began to feel the pinch. 15 ¹⁵ So he went and attached himself to one of the local landowners, who sent him on to his farm to mind the pigs. 15 ¹⁶ He would have been glad to fill his belly with Some witnesses read: to have his fill of ... the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 15 ¹⁷ Then he came to his senses and said, "How many of my father's paid servants have more food than they can eat, and here am I, starving to death! 15 ¹⁸ I will set off and go to my father, and say to him, 'Father, I have sinned, against God and against you; 15 ¹⁹ I am no longer fit to be called your son; treat me as one of your paid servants.' 15 ²⁰ "So he set out for his father's house. But while he was still a long way off his father saw him, and his heart went out to him. He ran to meet him, flung his arms round him, and kissed him. 15 ²¹ The son said, "Father, I have sinned, against God and against you; I am no longer fit to be called your son." Some witnesses add: treat me as one of your paid servants. 15 ²² But the father said to his servants, "Quick! fetch a robe, my best one, and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet. 15 ²³ Bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us have a feast to celebrate the day. 15 ²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found." And the festivities began.

15 ²⁵ 'Now the elder son was out on the farm; and on his way back, as he approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 15 ²⁶ He called one of the servants and asked what it meant. 15 ²⁷ The servant told him, "Your brother has come home, and your father has killed the fatted 15 ²⁸ calf because he has him back safe and sound." But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out 15 ²⁹ and pleaded with him; but he retorted, "You know how I have slaved for you all these years; I never once disobeyed your orders; and you never gave me so much as a kid, for a feast with my friends. 15 ³⁰ But now that this son of yours turns up, after running through your money with his women, you kill the fatted calf for him." 15 ³¹ "My boy," said the father, "you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 15 ³² How could we help celebrating this happy day? Your brother here was dead and has come back to life, was lost and is found."'