A certain man had two sons, and the younger of them said

to his father, "Father, give me the portion of goods that

falleth to me." And it divided unto them his 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.

[LAUGHTER]

And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in

that land, and he began to be in want.

And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country,

and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that

the swine did eat, and no man gave to him.

And when he came to himself, he said, "How many hired

servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare?

I will go to my father, and will say unto him, 'Father, I

have sinned against Heaven and before thee, and am no more

worthy to be called thy son.

Make me as one of thy hired servants.'"

And he rose, and came unto 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 sun 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 servants, "Bring forth the

best robe, and put it on him.

Put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet.

And bring hither the fatted calf and kill it, and let us

eat and be merry, for this my son was dead

and is alive again.

He was lost and is found." And they began to be merry.

Now his eldest son was in the field, and as he came and drew

nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.

And he called one of the servants and asked him what

these things meant, 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."

And he was angry, and would not go in.

Therefore came his father out and entreated him.

And he, answering his father, said, "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 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 unto him, "Son, thou art ever with me, and all

that I have is thine.

It was meet that we should make merry and be glad, for

this, thy brother, was dead and is alive, and was lost,

and is found."