1For the kingdom of heavenislike unto a man that is an householder,which went out early in the morningtohirelabourersintohisvineyard.2And when he had agreedwith the labourersfor a pennya a day, he sentthemintohisvineyard.3And he went outabout the thirdhour, and sawothersstandingidlein the marketplace,4And said unto them;Goyealsointo the vineyard,andwhatsoeverisright I will giveyou.And they went their way .5Again he went outabout the sixthandninthhour, and didlikewise.6Andabout the eleventhhour he went out , and foundothersstandingidle,andsaith unto them,Why stand yehereall the dayidle?7They say unto him,Because no man hath hiredus. He saith unto them,Goyealsointo the vineyard;andwhatsoeverisright, that shall ye receive .8So when even was come , the lord of the vineyardsaith unto hissteward,Call the labourers,andgivethem their hire,beginningfrom the lastunto the first.9And when they came that were hired about the eleventhhour, they received every man a penny.10But when the firstcame , they supposedthat they should have receivedmore;and they likewisereceived every manapenny.11And when they had received it, they murmuredagainst the goodman of the house,12Saying , Theselast have wroughtb but onehour,and thou hast madethemequal unto us,which have borne the burdenandheat of the day.13But he answeredone of them, and said , Friend, I dotheenowrong : didstnot thou agree with me for a penny?14Take that thine is, and go thy way : I willgive unto thislast,evenas unto thee.15Is it notlawful for me to dowhat I willwith mine own ? Isthineeyeevil,becauseIamgood?16So the last shall befirst,and the firstlast:formanybecalled,butfewchosen.
a.
Matthew 20:2 - penny: the Roman penny is the eighth part of an ounce, which after five shillings the ounce is seven pence halfpenny; about fourteen cents
b.
Matthew 20:12 - have wrought...: or, have continued one hour only