Mat 20:1 “For the reign of the heavens is like a man, a householder who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.
Mat 20:2 “And when he had agreed with the workers for a denariusa a day, he sent them into his vineyard. Footnote: aRoman monetary unit.
Mat 20:3 “And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the market-place,
Mat 20:4 and said to them, ‘You too go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I shall give you.’ And they went.
Mat 20:5 “Having gone out again about the sixth and the ninth hour, he did likewise.
Mat 20:6 “And about the eleventh hour, having gone out, he found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’
Mat 20:7 “They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you shall receive.’
Mat 20:8 “And when evening came, the master of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’
Mat 20:9 “And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denariusa.
Mat 20:10 “And when the first came, they thought they would receive more. But they too received each a silver piece.
Mat 20:11 “And when they received it, they grumbled against the householder,
Mat 20:12 saying, ‘These last have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’
Mat 20:13 “But he answering, said to one of them, ‘Friend, I do you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?a Footnote: aRoman monetary unit.
Mat 20:14 Take yours and go. But I wish to give to this last man as also to you.
Mat 20:15 Is it not right for me to do what I wish with my own? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’
Mat 20:16 “Thus the last shall be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.