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

¹ For the Realm of heaven is like a householder who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard; ² and after agreeing with the labourers to pay them a shilling a day he sent them into his vineyard. ³ Then, on going out at nine o'clock he noticed some other labourers standing in the marketplace doing nothing; ⁴ to them he said, 'You go into the vineyard too, and I will give you whatever wage is fair.' So they went in. ⁵ Going out again at twelve o'clock and at three o'clock, he did the same thing. ⁶ And when he went out at five o'clock he came upon some others who were standing; he said to them, 'Why have you stood doing nothing all the day?'

⁷ 'Because nobody hired us,' they said. He told them, 'You go into the vineyard too.' ⁸ Now when evening came the master of the vineyard said to his bailiff, 'Summon the labourers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last and going on to the first.'

⁹ When those who had been hired about five o'clock came, they got a shilling each. ¹⁰ So when the first labourers came up, they supposed they would get more; but they too got each their shilling. ¹¹ And on getting it they grumbled at the householder. ¹² 'These last,' they said, 'have only worked a single hour, and yet you have ranked them equal to us who have borne the brunt of the day's work and the heat!'

¹³ Then he replied to one of them, 'My man, I am not wronging you. Did you not agree with me for a shilling? ¹⁴ Take what belongs to you and be off. I choose to give this last man the same as you. ¹⁵ Can I not do as I please with what belongs to me? Have you a grudge because I am generous?'

¹⁶ So shall the last be first and the first last."