The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the workers that they would each receive a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 About the third hour he went out and saw others standing idle in the marketplace. 4 He said to them, ‘You go into my vineyard as well, and I will give you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went. He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did likewise. 6 About the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing [fn]idle and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into my vineyard as [fn]well, and you will receive whatever is right.’

8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay [fn]them their wages, beginning with the last and going on to the first.’ 9 When those who had been hired about the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius. 10 So when those who had been hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but they also each received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they grumbled against the master of the house, 12 saying, ‘These last men worked for one hour, and yoʋ have made them equal to us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ 13 But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing yoʋ no wrong. Did yoʋ not agree with me to work for a denarius? 14 Take what is yoʋrs and go. I wish to give to this last man just as I gave to yoʋ. 15 [fn]Or is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is mine? [fn]Are yoʋ envious because I am good?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last. [fn]For many are called, but few are chosen.”