1
"The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at daybreak to hire workers for his vineyard.
2
After agreeing to pay the workers the usual day's wages, he sent them to work in his vineyard.
3
About 9 a.m. he saw others standing in the marketplace without work.
4
He said to them, 'Work in my vineyard, and I'll give you whatever is right.' So they went.
5
"He went out again about noon and 3 p.m. and did the same thing.
6
About 5 p.m. he went out and found some others standing around. He said to them, 'Why are you standing here all day long without work?'
7
"'No one has hired us,' they answered him. "He said to them, 'Work in my vineyard.'
8
"When evening came, the owner of the vineyard told the supervisor, 'Call the workers, and give them their wages. Start with the last, and end with the first.'
9
"Those who started working about 5 p.m. came, and each received a day's wages.
10
When those who had been hired first came, they expected to receive more. But each of them received a day's wages.
11
Although they took it, they began to protest to the owner.