οὗτος ὁ υἱός μου νεκρὸς ἦν καὶ ἀνέζησεν, ἦν ἀπολωλὼς καὶ εὑρέθη → This son of mine was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and he's been found.
ward off from oneself: P. and V. ἀμύνεσθαι, εὐλαβεῖσθαι.
parry a question: P. διακρούεσθαι, ὑπεξίστασθαι.
