1 The kyngdom of heuenes is lijc to an housbonde man, that wente out first bi the morewe, to hire werk men in to his vyneyerd.

2 And whanne the couenaunt was maad with werk men, of a peny for the dai, he sente hem in to his vyneyerd.

3 And he yede out aboute the thridde our, and say othere stondynge idel in the chepyng.

4 And he seide to hem, Go ye also in to myn vynyerd, and that that schal be riytful, Y schal yyue to you.

5 And thei wenten forth. Eftsoones he wente out aboute the sixte our, and the nynthe, and dide in lijk maner.

6 But aboute the elleuenthe our he wente out, and foond other stondynge; and he seide to hem, What stonden ye idel here al dai?

7 Thei seien to him, For no man hath hirid vs. He seith to hem, Go ye also in to my vyneyerd.

8 And whanne euenyng was comun, the lord of the vyneyerd seith to his procuratoure, Clepe the werk men, and yelde to hem her hire, and bigynne thou at the laste til to the firste.

9 And so whanne thei weren comun, that camen aboute the elleuenthe our, also thei token eueryche of hem a peny.

10 But the firste camen, and demeden, that thei schulden take more, but thei token ech oon bi hem silf a peny;

11 and in the takyng grutchiden ayens the hosebonde man, and seiden,

12 These laste wrouyten oon our, and thou hast maad hem euen to vs, that han born the charge of the dai, and heete?

13 And he answeride to oon of hem, and seide, Freend, Y do thee noon wrong; whether thou hast not acordid with me for a peny?

14 Take thou that that is thin, and go; for Y wole yyue to this laste man, as to thee.

15 Whether it is not leueful to me to do that that Y wole? Whether thin iye is wickid, for Y am good?

16 So the laste schulen be the firste, and the firste the laste; for many ben clepid, but fewe ben chosun.