Study Desk

And He said, "A man had two sons.

And he said, A certain man had two sons:

"The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the estate that is coming to me.' And so he divided his wealth between them.

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.

"And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his estate in wild living.

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.

"Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began doing without.

And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

"So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs.

And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

"And he longed to have his fill of the carob pods that the pigs were eating, and no one was giving him anything.

And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

"But when he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired laborers have more than enough bread, but I am dying here from hunger!

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!

'I will set out and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight;

I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired laborers."'

And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

"So he set out and came to his father. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

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.

"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.'

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.

"But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet;

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:

and bring the fattened calf, slaughter it, and let's eat and celebrate;

And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

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.

For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

"Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.

Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

"And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be.

And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

"And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.'

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.

"But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him.

And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

"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 never gave me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends;

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:

but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.'

But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

"And he said to him, 'Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours.

And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

'But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.'"

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.