| 20:1 |
“The kingdom of heaven is like the father of a family who went out in early morning to lead workers into his vineyard. |
| 20:2 |
Then, having made an agreement with the workers for one denarius per day, he sent them into his vineyard. |
| 20:3 |
And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace. |
| 20:4 |
And he said to them, ‘You may go into my vineyard, too, and what I will give you will be just.’ |
| 20:5 |
So they went forth. But again, he went out about the sixth, and about the ninth hour, and he acted similarly. |
| 20:6 |
Yet truly, about the eleventh hour, he went out and found others standing, and he said to them, ‘Why have you stood here idle all day?’ |
| 20:7 |
They say to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also may go into my vineyard.’ |
| 20:8 |
And when evening had arrived, the lord of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last, even to the first.’ |
| 20:9 |
And so, when those who had arrived about the eleventh hour came forward, each received a single denarius. |
| 20:10 |
Then when the first ones also came forward, they considered that they would receive more. But they, too, received one denarius. |
| 20:11 |
And upon receiving it, they murmured against the father of the family, |
| 20:12 |
saying, ‘These last have worked for one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who worked bearing the weight and heat of the day.’ |
| 20:13 |
But responding to one of them, he said: ‘Friend, I caused you no injury. Did you not agree with me to one denarius? |
| 20:14 |
Take what is yours and go. But it is my will to give to this last, just as to you. |
| 20:15 |
And is it not lawful for me to do what I will? Or is your eye wicked because I am good?’ |
| 20:16 |
So then, the last shall be first, and the first shall be last. For many are called, but few are chosen.” |
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