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Again Yeshua said, "A man had two sons.
12
The younger of them said to his father, `Father,
give me the share of the estate that will be mine.' So the father divided
the property between them.
13
As soon as he could convert his share into cash, the
younger son left home and went off to a distant country, where he
squandered his money in reckless living.
14
But after he had spent it all, a severe famine arose
throughout that country, and he began to feel the pinch.
15
"So he went and attached himself to one of the
citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
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He longed to fill his stomach with the carob pods
the pigs were eating, but no one gave him any.
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"At last he came to his senses and said, `Any
number of my father's hired workers have food to spare; and here I am,
starving to death!
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I'm going to get up and go back to my father and say
to him, "Father, I have sinned against Heaven and against you;
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I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat
me like one of your hired workers." '
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So he got up and started back to his father.
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was
moved with pity. He ran and threw his arms around him and kissed him
warmly.
21
His 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 his father said to his slaves, `Quick, bring out
a robe, the best one, and put it on him; and put a ring on his finger and
shoes on his feet;
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and bring the calf that has been fattened up, and
kill it. Let's eat and have a celebration!
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For this son of mine was dead, but now he's alive
again! He was lost, but now he has been found!' And they began
celebrating.
25
"Now his older son was in the field. As he came
close to the house, he heard music and dancing.
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So he called one of the servants and asked, `What's
going on?'
27
The servant told him, `Your brother has come back,
and your father has slaughtered the calf that was fattened up, because he
has gotten him back safe and sound.'
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But the older son became angry and refused to go
inside. "So his father came out and pleaded with him.
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`Look,' the son answered, `I have worked for you all
these years, and I have never disobeyed your orders. But you have never
even given me a young goat, so that I could celebrate with my
friends.
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Yet this son of yours comes, who squandered your
property with prostitutes, and for him you slaughter the fattened
calf!'
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`Son, you are always with me,' said the father, `and
everything I have is yours.
32
We had to celebrate and rejoice, because this
brother of yours was dead but has come back to life -- he was lost but has
been found.'" |
