^21:28“What⁴² do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ ^21:29The boy answered,⁴³ ‘I will not.’ But later he had a change of heart⁴⁴ and went. ^21:30The father⁴⁵ went to the other son and said the same thing. This boy answered,⁴⁶ ‘I will, sir,’ but did not go.

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Footnotes

42 Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
43 Grk “And answering, he said.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation. Here the referent (“the boy”) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
44 The Greek text reads here μεταμέλομαι (metamelomai): “to change one’s mind about something, with the probable implication of regret” (L&N 31.59); cf. also The idea in this context involves more than just a change of mind, for the son regrets his initial response. The same verb is used in v. 32.
45 “And he”; here δέ (de) has not been translated.
46 Grk “And answering, he said.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation. Here δέ (de) has not been translated. Here the referent (“this boy”) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but did not go.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’

“ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

“What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘My son, go work in the vineyard today.’

“He answered, ‘I don’t want to,’ but later he changed his mind and went. Then the man went to the other and said the same thing. ‘I will, sir,’ he answered, but he didn’t go.

NLTNew Living Translation

“But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ The son answered, ‘No, I won’t go,’ but later he changed his mind and went anyway. Then the father told the other son, ‘You go,’ and he said, ‘Yes, sir, I will.’ But he didn’t go.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

“Now what do you think? A man had two sons. He approached the first and said, ‘Son, go work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered and said, ‘I do not want to!’ But later he changed his mind and went. And he approached the second and said the same thing. So he answered and said, ‘I will, sir,’ and he did not go.

KJV 1900King James Version

But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

Public Domain