¹¹And He said, “A man had two sons. ¹²The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. ¹³And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. ¹⁴Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. ¹⁵So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. ¹⁶And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. ¹⁷But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! ¹⁸I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; ¹⁹I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.” ’ ²⁰So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. ²¹And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ ²²But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; ²³and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; ²⁴for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.

¹Bless the Lord, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. ²Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; ³Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; ⁴Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; ⁵Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle. ⁶The Lord performs righteous deeds And judgments for all who are oppressed. ⁷He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel. ⁸The Lord is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. ⁹He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. ¹⁰He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. ¹¹For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. ¹²As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. ¹³Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. ¹⁴For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust. ¹⁵As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. ¹⁶When the wind has passed over it, it is no more, And its place acknowledges it no longer. ¹⁷But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children, ¹⁸To those who keep His covenant And remember His precepts to do them. ¹⁹The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all. ²⁰Bless the Lord, you His angels, Mighty in strength, who perform His word, Obeying the voice of His word! ²¹Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, You who serve Him, doing His will. ²²Bless the Lord, all you works of His, In all places of His dominion; Bless the Lord, O my soul!