1 "For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who was the master of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace. 4 He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went their way. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 About the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle. He said to them, ‘Why do you stand here all day idle?’
7 "They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’
"He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and you will receive whatever is right.’
8 "When evening had come, the lord of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last to the first.’ 9 "When those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius. 10 When the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise each received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they murmured against the master of the household, 12 saying, ‘These last have spent one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat!’
13 "But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take that which is yours, and go your way. It is my desire to give to this last just as much as to you. 15 Isn’t it lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen."
1 "天国好像一个家主， 清早出去雇请工人到他的葡萄园工作。
2 他和工人讲定了一天的工钱是一个银币， 然后派他们到葡萄园去。
3 大约九点钟， 他又出去， 看见还有人闲站在街市上，
4 就对他们说： ‘你们也到葡萄园来吧， 我会给你们合理的工钱。’
5 他们就去了。约在正午和下午三点钟， 他又出去， 也是这样作。
6 下午五点钟左右， 他再出去， 看见还有人站着， 就问他们： ‘你们为什么整天站在这里不去作工？’
7 他们回答： ‘没有人用我们。’他说： ‘你们也到葡萄园来吧。’
8 到了黄昏， 园主对管工说： ‘把工人叫来， 给他们工钱， 从最后的开始， 到最先来的。’
9 那些下午五点钟才开始作工的人来了， 每个人都领到一个银币。
10 最先作工的人也来了， 以为会多得一点， 但每个人也是领到一个银币。
11 他们领到之后， 就埋怨家主， 说：
12 ‘我们整天在烈日之下劳苦， 这些后来的人只工作了一个小时， 你却给他们跟我们一样的工钱。’
13 家主回答他们当中的一个， 说： ‘朋友， 我并没有亏待你。你我不是讲定了一个银币吗？
14 拿你的工钱走吧！ 我给那后来的和给你的一样， 是我的主意。
15 难道我不可以照自己的主意用我的财物吗？还是因为我仁慈你就嫉妒呢？’
16 因此， 在后的将要在前， 在前的将要在后。"