An Evening with Truth For Life (Sacramento)

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

¹¹And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. ¹²And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me mthe share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided nhis property between them. ¹³Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in oreckless living. ¹⁴And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵So he went and hired himself out to2 one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶And he pwas longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

¹⁷“But qwhen he rcame to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! ¹⁸I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, sI have sinned against theaven and before you. ¹⁹uI am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ ²⁰And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and vran and wembraced him and xkissed him. ²¹And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. uI am no longer worthy to be called your son.’3 ²²But the father said to his servants,4 ‘Bring quickly ythe best robe, and put it on him, and put za ring on his hand, and ashoes on his feet. ²³And bring bthe fattened calf and kill it, and clet us eat and celebrate. ²⁴For this my son dwas dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

²⁵“Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. ²⁷And 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.’ ²⁸But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, ²⁹but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might ecelebrate with my friends. ³⁰But when this son of yours came, fwho has devoured gyour property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ ³¹And he said to him, ‘Son, hyou are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. ³²It was fitting eto celebrate and be glad, for this your brother iwas dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”