FOR THE kingdom of heaven is like the owner of an estate who went out in the morning along with the dawn to hire workmen for his vineyard.
After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
And going out about the third hour (nine o'clock), he saw others standing idle in the marketplace;
And he said to them, You go also into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will pay you. And they went.
He went out again about the sixth hour (noon), and the ninth hour (three o'clock) he did the same.
And about the eleventh hour (five o'clock) he went out and found still others standing around, and said to them, Why do you stand here idle all day?
They answered him, Because nobody has hired us. He told them, You go out into the vineyard also and you will get whatever is just and fair.
When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, Call the workmen and pay them their wages, beginning with the last and ending with the first.
When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, Call the workmen and pay them their wages, beginning with the last and ending with the first.
And those who had been hired at the eleventh hour (five o'clock) came and received a denarius each.
Now when the first came, they supposed they would get more, but each of them also received a denarius.
And when they received it, they grumbled at the owner of the estate,
Saying, These [men] who came last worked no more than an hour, and yet you have made them rank with us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.
But he answered one of them, Friend, I am doing you no injustice. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?
Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this man hired last the same as I give to you.
Am I not permitted to do what I choose with what is mine? [Or do you begrudge my being generous?] Is your eye evil because I am good?
So those who [now] are last will be first [then], and those who [now] are first will be last [then]. For many are called, but few chosen.
