And he said, 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 he 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. 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 unto him. 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 arise and 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 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 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; and 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 elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked 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 intreated him. 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 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 again; and was lost, and is found.
A younger son asks his father for his share of the inheritance, leaves home and squanders it. Destitute in a famine and reduced to feeding pigs, he resolves to go back and ask to be a hired worker. His father runs to meet him, embraces him and throws a feast. The elder son, who has always served faithfully, refuses to join in, and the father pleads with him that they had to celebrate, because his brother was dead and is alive, was lost and is found.
What does this mean?
"Riotous living" (KJV) means reckless, wasteful living. The "husks" (KJV) or "pods" were probably carob pods, used as animal feed. The best robe, a ring and sandals signal honour and restored status as a son; slaves went barefoot.
Historical context
Under the Law the elder son received a double share (Deuteronomy 21:17), so the younger would receive a third. Some scholars argue that asking for it while the father lived was a grave insult, almost wishing him dead, and that a dignified older man running in public would have been shameful. Pigs were unclean for Jews, so tending them marks the son's lowest point.
Why does it matter?
The story ends without saying whether the elder brother goes in, leaving the grumbling Pharisees and scribes of verse 2 to see themselves in him. It is traditionally called the parable of the prodigal ("wasteful") son.
Editorial notes, not scripture.