1 For the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a house, who went out early in the morning to get workers into his vine-garden.

2 And when he had made an agreement with the workmen for a penny a day, he sent them into his vine-garden.

3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others in the market-place doing nothing;

4 And he said to them, Go into the vine-garden with the others, and whatever is right I will give you. And they went to work.

5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did the same.

6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and saw others doing nothing; and he says to them, Why are you here all the day doing nothing?

7 They say to him, Because no man has given us work. He says to them, Go in with the rest, into the vine-garden.

8 And when evening came, the lord of the vine-garden said to his manager, Let the workers come, and give them their payment, from the last to the first.

9 And when those men came who had gone to work at the eleventh hour, they were given every man a penny.

10 Then those who came first had the idea that they would get more; and they, like the rest, were given a penny.

11 And when they got it, they made a protest against the master of the house,

12 Saying, These last have done only one hour's work, and you have made them equal to us, who have undergone the hard work of the day and the burning heat.

13 But he in answer said to one of them, Friend, I do you no wrong: did you not make an agreement with me for a penny?

14 Take what is yours, and go away; it is my pleasure to give to this last, even as to you.

15 Have I not the right to do as seems good to me in my house? or is your eye evil, because I am good?

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

1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that was a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. 2 And when he had agreed with the laborers for a shilling a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing in the marketplace idle; 4 and to them he said, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing; and he saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard. 8 And when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and pay them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a shilling. 10 And when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received every man a shilling. 11 And when they received it, they murmured against the householder, 12 saying, These last have spent but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat. 13 But he answered and said to one of them, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a shilling? 14 Take up that which is thine, and go thy way; it is my will to give unto this last, even as unto thee. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? or is thine eye evil, because I am good? 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last.