5
And they reasoned with themselves, saying -- `If we may say, From heaven, he will say, Wherefore, then, did ye not believe him?
6
and if we may say, From men, all the people will stone us, for they are having been persuaded John to be a prophet.'
7
And they answered, that they knew not whence [it was],
8
and Jesus said to them, `Neither do I say to you by what authority I do these things.'
9
And he began to speak unto the people this simile: `A certain man planted a vineyard, and gave it out to husbandmen, and went abroad for a long time,
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and at the season he sent unto the husbandmen a servant, that from the fruit of the vineyard they may give to him, but the husbandmen having beat him, did send [him] away empty.
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`And he added to send another servant, and they that one also having beaten and dishonoured, did send away empty;
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and he added to send a third, and this one also, having wounded, they did cast out.
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`And the owner of the vineyard said, What shall I do? I will send my son -- the beloved, perhaps having seen this one, they will do reverence;
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and having seen him, the husbandmen reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir; come, we may kill him, that the inheritance may become ours;
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and having cast him outside of the vineyard, they killed [him]; what, then, shall the owner of the vineyard do to them?