Mark 12:1-11

The Parable of the Vineyard Owner

1 Then He began to speak to them in parables: "A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug out a pit for a winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went away.

2 At harvest time he sent a slave to the farmers to collect some of the fruit of the vineyard from the farmers.

3 But they took him, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed.

4 Again he sent another slave to them, and they ^[a] hit him on the head and treated him shamefully. ^[b]

5 Then he sent another, and they killed that one. [He] also [sent] many others; they beat some and they killed some.

6 "He still had one to send, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.'

7 "But those tenant farmers said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours!'

8 So they seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.

9 "Therefore, what will the owner ^[c] of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the farmers and give the vineyard to others.

10 Haven't you read this Scripture: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. ^[d]

11 This came from the Lord and is wonderful in our eyes ?" ^{[e] [f]}

Footnotes

• [a]. Other mss add threw stones and
• [b]. Other mss add and sent him off
• [c]. Or lord
• [d]. Lit the head of the corner
• [e]. 1 Pt 2:7
• [f]. Ps 118:22-23