Matthew 20:1-16 - The Parable Of The Workers In The Vineyard

¹ For the kingdom of the Messiah is like a family, the master whereof went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard. ² having agreed with them for a penny a day, he sent them to his vineyard. ³ he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market-place, and said to them, ⁴ go ye likewise to my vineyard, and I will give you what is reasonable: accordingly they went thither. ⁵ about the sixth and ninth hour he went out again, and gave the like directions. ⁶ at last, about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and said to them, why do you stand idling thus all day long?

⁷ they answer'd him, because we are not hired; go work then. said he, in my vineyard, and I will give you what's reasonable. ⁸ so when even was come, the master of the vineyard said to his steward, call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last to the first.

⁹ they then that were hired about the eleventh hour, came and received every man his penny. ¹⁰ last of all they came who were hired first, expecting to have received more, but they had only a penny a man, ¹¹ who upon the receipt of it fell a murmuring against the master, and cry'd, ¹² these last have work'd but an hour, and you put them upon the level with us, who have born the whole fatigue and heat of the day.

¹³ but he answered one of them, friend, I do thee no wrong: did not you agree for a penny a day? ¹⁴ take your due, and be gone: I will give the last the same I give you. ¹⁵ can't I do what I will with my own? because I am bountiful, are you invidious?

¹⁶ thus the last shall be first, and the first last: for though many are invited, few have precedence.