The Parable of the Vineyard Workers

20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. i 2 After agreeing with the workers on one * denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 When he went out about nine in the morning, j he saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 To those men he said, ‘You also go to my vineyard, and I’ll give you whatever is right.’ So off they went. 5 About noon and at three, k he went out again and did the same thing. 6 Then about five l he went and found others standing around, m and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day doing nothing?’

7 “ ‘Because no one hired us,’ they said to him.

“ ‘You also go to my vineyard,’ he told them. n 8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard told his foreman, ‘Call the workers and give them their pay, o starting with the last and ending with the first.’ p

9 “When those who were hired about five q came, they each received one denarius. 10 So when the first ones came, they assumed they would get more, but they also received a denarius each. 11 When they received it, they began to complain to the landowner: 12 ‘These last men put in one hour, and you made them equal to us who bore the burden of the day and the burning heat!’ r

13 “He replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I’m doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me on a denarius? s 14 Take what’s yours and go. I want to give this last man the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my business? t Are you jealous u because I’m generous?’ v w

16 “So the last will be first, and the first last.” x y