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

¹ For the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who went out early in the morning to hire laborers in his vineyard. ² And agreeing with the laborers for a denarius [14 cents] a day, he sent them into his vineyard. ³ And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing idle in the market; ⁴ and he said to them, go also into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you. And they went. ⁵ Again going out about the sixth and ninth hours, he did likewise. ⁶ And going out about the eleventh hour he found others standing, and said to them, Why stand you all the day idle?

⁷ They said to him, Because no man has hired us. He said to them, Go also into the vineyard. ⁸ And when it was evening the lord of the vineyard said to his steward, Call the laborers, and pay them the wages [stipulated], beginning from the last even to the first.

⁹ And those who came about the eleventh hour, received a denarius [14 cents] each. ¹⁰ And those who came first supposed that they should receive more. And they also received a denarius [14 cents] each; ¹¹ and when they had received it, they complained of the householder, ¹² saying, These last have worked but one hour, and you have made them equal with us, who have borne the burden and heat of the day.

¹³ But he answered and said to one of them, Neighbor, I do you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius [14 cents]? ¹⁴ Take what belongs to you, and go, for I will give to the last even as to you. ¹⁵ Is it not right for me to do what I will with my own? Is your eye evil because I am good?

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