Luke 15:16

he would fain Literally, "he was longing."

filled his belly with The plain expression purposely adopted to add the last touch to the youth's degradation gave offence to some copyists, who substituted for it the verb -to be fed." The reading adopted in our text is, however, certainly the true one, and perhaps implies that from such food nothing could be hoped for but to allay the pangs of famine. He only hopes to -fill his belly," not to sate his hunger. Even the world's utmost gorgeousness and most unchecked sensuality could not avail to raise the soul of men or of nations out of utter misery.

the husks that the swine did eat Literally, "the carob-pods of which the swine were eating." The word rendered -husks" means -little horns," i.e. the long, coarse, sweetish, bean-shaped pods of the carob tree (ceratonia siliqua, St John's bread tree), which were only used by the poorest of the population. Some (incorrectly) give the same meaning to the ἀκρίδες (-locusts") which formed the food of St John the Baptist.

and no man gave unto him No one -was giving," or -chose to give" him either the husks or anything else. Satan has no desire for, and no interest in, even the smallest alleviation of the anguish and degradation of his victims. Even the vile earthly gifts, and base sensual pleasures, are withheld or become impossible. "Who follozvspleasure, pleasure slays."