says yes but does nothing. The first son is approved for having done his father’s will. This reading has fairly good manuscript support and is probably correct. (2) What usually are highly reliable manuscripts reverse the order, having the first son saying yes but doing nothing, the second saying no but obeying. The second son is approved. (3) The Western type manuscripts have the surprising reading. The first son says no but repents; the second says yes but does nothing, yet the second is approved.