Matthew 20:1–16

The kingdom of heaven is like to an householder, who went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.

²And having agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

³And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing in the marketplace idle.

⁴And he said to them: Go you also into my vineyard, and I will give you what shall be just.

⁵And they went their way. And again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did in like manner.

⁶But about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing, and he saith to them: Why stand you here all the day idle?

⁷They say to him: Because no man hath hired us. He saith to them: Go ye also into my vineyard.

⁸And when evening was come, the lord of the vineyard saith to his steward: Call the labourers and pay them their hire, beginning from the last even to the first.

⁹When therefore they were come that came about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.

¹⁰But when the first also came, they thought that they should receive more: And they also received every man a penny.

¹¹And receiving it they murmured against the master of the house,

¹²Saying: These last have worked but one hour. and thou hast made them equal to us, that have borne the burden of the day and the heats.

¹³But he answering said to one of them: friend, I do thee no wrong: didst thou not agree with me for a penny?

¹⁴Take what is thine, and go thy way: I will also give to this last even as to thee.

¹⁵Or, is it not lawful for me to do what I will? Is thy eye evil, because I am good?

¹⁶So shall the last be first and the first last. For many are called but few chosen.