1 For the Administration of Heaven will resemble the conduct of a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.

2 Having agreed with some for a denarius a-day, he sent them into his vineyard.

3 About the third hour he went out, and seeing others unemployed in the market place,

4 said to them, Go you likewise into my vineyard, and I will give you what is reasonable. Accordingly they went.

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

6 Lastly, about the eleventh hour, he went out, and finding others standing, said to them, Why do you stand here all the day doing nothing?

7 They answered, Because no person has hired us. He said to them, Go you also into my vineyard, and you shall receive what is reasonable.

8 When it was night, the proprietor of the vineyard said to his steward, Call the laborers, and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, and ending with the first.

9 Then they who had been hired at the eleventh hour came, and received each a denarius.

10 When the first came, they imagined they should receive more; but they got only a denarius a-piece.

11 Upon receiving it, they murmured against the householder,

12 saying, These last have worked but one hour; yet you have made them equal to us, who have borne the burden and heat of the day.

13 He answering, said to one of them, Friend, I do you no injury. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?

14 Take what is yours, and depart. It is my will to give to this last as much as to you.

15 And may not I do what I will with my own? Is your eye evil, because I am good?

16 Thus the last shall be first, and first last; for there are many called, but few chosen.