A certain man had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father:
“Give me the goods that falleth to me.” And he divided to them his living.
And the younger son gathered together, and journeyed to a far-off country,
and wasted his substance in riotous living. And when he had spent all,
there arose a famine in that land, and he began to be In want, and no man gave unto him.
But when he came to himself, he said:
“How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough, and to spare,
while I perish with hunger! I will arise, and go unto my father, and will say unto him:
“Father, I have sinned, sinned against heaven, and in thy sight. . .
and am no more worthy to be called thy son. Make me as one of thy hired servants!
And he arose and came to his father, who saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and said:
“Bring forth the best robe and put it on him, and shoes on his feet! And a ring on his hand!
For this, my son, was dead, but is alive again! He was lost, and is found! . . .
My son was lost, but he is found!”