The son determines to confess his guilt. He will go to his father, saying, "I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son." But he adds, showing how stinted is his conception of his father's love, "Make me as one of thy hired servants."

Sønnen beslutter sig til at bekende sin skyld. Han vil gå til sin fader og sige: "Jeg har syndet imod Himmelen og overfor dig, jeg er ikke længer værd at kaldes din søn." Men idet han viser hvor ringe forståelse han har af sin faders kærlighed, tilføjer han: "Lad mig gå som en af dine daglejere."