Adapted from the NRSV
Then Jesus said, “There was a woman who had two daughters. The younger of them said to her mother, ‘Mother, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So she divided her property between them. A few days later the younger daughter gathered all she had and traveled to a distant country, and there she squandered her property in dissolute living. When she had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and she began to be in need. So she went and hired herself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent her to a brothel to work as a prostitute. She would gladly have eaten the scraps left by her clients; and no one gave her anything. But when she came to herself she said, ‘How many of my mother’s servants have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my mother, and I will say to her, “Mother, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your daughter; treat me like one of your servants.”’ So she set off and went to her mother. But while she was still far off, her mother saw her and was filled with compassion; she ran and put her arms around her and kissed her. Then the daughter said to her, ‘Mother, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your daughter.’ But the mother said to her slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on her; put a ring on her finger and sandals on her feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this daughter of mine was dead and is alive again; she was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate. “Now her elder daughter was in the field; and when she came and approached the house, she heard music and dancing. She called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. She replied, ‘Your sister has come, and your mother has killed the fatted calf, because she has got her back safe and sound.’ Then she became angry and refused to go in. Her mother came out and began to plead with her. But she answered her mother, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this daughter of yours came back, who has devoured your property chasing after lovers, you killed the fatted calf for her!’ Then the mother said to her, ‘Daughter, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this sister of yours was dead and has come to life; she was lost and has been found.’”
