The Prodigal Son

The Parable of The Prodigal Son

Introduction

This well-known passage from St. Luke 15 is from the 1992 Krio translation of the New Testament, Gud Nyus Fɔ Ɔlman (© 1992, The Bible Society in Sierra Leone, e-mail: bssl@sierratel.sl). The English version on the right hand side is from King James Bible.

Wewɔd Bɔy Pikin (Lyuk 15)		The Prodigal Son (St. Luke 15)
11.	Jizɔs tɛl dɛn se, “Wan man bin de we bin gɛt tu bɔy pikin	11.	And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12.	Di smɔl brɔda kam to in papa ɛn tɛl am se, ‘Papa, gi mi mi yon pat pan yu prɔpati we a fɔ gɛt.’ So di papa sheb di prɔpati ɛn gi di tu brɔda dɛn yon pat.	12.	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.
13.	I nɔ lɔng igen afta dat, di lili brɔda sɛl ɔl in yon pat pan di prɔpati, gɛda di kɔpɔ ɛn go na wan kɔntri we de fawe. Na de i wes ɔl wetin i bin gɛt pan fulish layf.	13.	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.
14.	Wɛn ɔltin dɔn dɔn na in an, natin nɔ bin de fɔ it na di kɔntri we i de, so i bin angri ɛn i nɔ bin gɛt ɛnitin we i want.	14.	And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15.	So i beg wan pan dɛn bigman na di tɔng fɔ mek i fɛn wok fɔ am. Di man sɛn am go na in fam fɔ go luk in ɔg dɛn ɛn gi dɛn it.	15.	And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16.	I bin so angri bad dat i bin want it di it sɛf we di ɔg dɛn de it, bɔt nɔbɔdi nɔ gi am pan am.	16.	And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17.	Wɛn i si wetin bi, i tɔk na in at se, ‘Mi papa in lebra dɛn de it te dɛn bɛlful, ɛn it kin lɛf, bɔt mi de day wit angri!	17.	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!
18.	A nɔ go sidɔm igen, a go go to mi papa ɛn tɛl am se, Papa, a dɔn sin to Gɔd ɛn a dɔn sin to yu.	18.	I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19.	A nɔ fit fɔ bi yu pikin igen, duya, tek mi lɛkɛ wan pan yu lebra dɛn.’	19.	And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20.	I kɔmɔt na di kɔntri we i bin de ɛn go bak to in papa. “Wɛn i de go, i bin stil de fawe wɛn in papa si am. In papa sɔri fɔ am, so i rɔn go mit am, i grip am ɛn kis am.	20.	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.
21.	Di pikin tɛl in papa se, ‘Papa, a dɔn sin to Gɔd ɛn a dɔn sin to yu. A nɔ fit fɔ mek yu kɔl mi yu pikin igen.’	21.	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.
22.	Bɔt di papa tɛl in bɔy dɛn se, ‘Una rɔn go bring da klos we fayn pas ɔl dɛn ɔda klos kam wɛr am pan dis mi pikin ya, una put ring na in finga ɛn wɛr sus na in fut.	22.	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:
23.	Una bring da lili kaw we fat pas ɔl, kam; una kil am, lɛ wi it ɛn gladi!	23.	And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24.	Dis mi pikin ya bin dɔn day, bɔt i dɔn gɛt layf bak. I bin lɔs, bɔt a dɔn fɛn am.’ Dɛn bigin sing ɛn dans	24.	For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25.	“Di big brɔda bin de wok na fam ɔl da tɛm de. Wɛn i dɔn kɔmɔt na di fam de kam klos dɛn os, i yɛri dɛn de sing ɛn dans.	25.	Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
26.	I kɔl wan pan di bɔy dɛn ɛn aks am wetin mek dɛn de sing ɛn dans.	26.	And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27.	Di bɔy tɛl am se, ‘Yu smɔl brɔda dɔn kam ɛn yu papa dɔn kil da lili kaw we fat pas ɔl, bikɔs yu brɔda dɔn kam bak wit in layf ɛn i wɛl.’	27.	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
28.	“Wɛn di big brɔda yɛri dat, i vɛks ɛn i nɔ gri fɔ go insay di os, so in papa go mit am na do ɛn koks am fɔ go insay.	28.	And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
29.	I tɛl in papa se, ‘Papa, luk ɔmɔs ia naw we a de wok fɔ yu, wande a nɔ jomp yu wɔd, bɔt yu nɔ wande tek wan lili got sɛf gi mi fɔ mek mi ɛn mi padi dɛn go kam it ɛn mek wi ɔl gladi.	29.	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:
30.	Wɛn dis yu pikin ya we dɔn go wes yu prɔpati pan dɛn trit uman, kam, yu kil di lili kaw we fat pas ɔl fɔ am!’	30.	But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31.	In papa tɛl am se, ‘Bɔbɔ, yu de naya wit mi ɔltɛm ɛn ɔl wetin a gɛt na yu yon.	31.	And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32.	Aw wi nɔ fɔ ɛnjɔy wisɛf ɛn gladi, dis yu brɔda bin dɔn day, bɔt i dɔn gɛt layf bak; i bin lɔs, bɔt wi dɔn fɛn am.’”	32.	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.