Workers in the Vineyard

20:1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner1 who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 20:2 And after agreeing with the workers for the standard wage,2 he sent them into his vineyard. 20:3 When it was about nine o’clock in the morning,3 he went out again and saw others standing around in the marketplace without work. 20:4 He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and I will give you whatever is right.’ 20:5 So they went. When4 he went out again about noon and three o’clock that afternoon,5 he did the same thing. 20:6 And about five o’clock that afternoon6 he went out and found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why are you standing here all day without work?’ 20:7 They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go and work in the vineyard too.’ 20:8 When7 it was evening8 the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the workers and give the pay9 starting with the last hired until the first.’ 20:9 When those hired about five o’clock came, each received a full day’s pay.10 20:10 And when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more. But each one also received the standard wage. 20:11 When11 they received it, they began to complain12 against the landowner, 20:12 saying, ‘These last fellows worked one hour, and you have made them equal to us who bore the hardship and burning heat of the day.’ 20:13 And the landowner13 replied to one of them,14 ‘Friend, I am not treating you unfairly. Didn’t you agree with me to work for the standard wage?15 20:14 Take what is yours and go. I16 want to give to this last man17 the same as I gave to you. 20:15 Am I not18 permitted to do what I want with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’19 20:16 So the last will be first, and the first last.”