New International Version NIV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.
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"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
2 He agreed to pay them a denariusfor the day and sent them into his vineyard.
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After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard.
3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing.
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When he went out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace;
4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’
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and he said to them, "You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went.
5 So they went. “He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing.
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When he went out again about noon and about three o'clock, he did the same.
6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’
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And about five o'clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, "Why are you standing here idle all day?'
7 “ ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. “He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’
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They said to him, "Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, "You also go into the vineyard.'
8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’
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When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, "Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.'
9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius.
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When those hired about five o'clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage.
10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius.
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Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage.
11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner.
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And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner,
12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’
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saying, "These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.'
13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius?
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But he replied to one of them, "Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?
14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you.
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Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you.
15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
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Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?'
16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
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So the last will be first, and the first will be last."
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.