9
He began to tell the people this parable. "A man planted a vineyard, and rented it out to some farmers, and went into another country for a long time.
10
At the proper season, he sent a servant to the farmers to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the farmers beat him, and sent him away empty.
11
He sent yet another servant, and they also beat him, and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.
12
He sent yet a third, and they also wounded him, and threw him out.
13
The lord of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. It may be that seeing him, they will respect him.'
14
"But when the farmers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.'
15
They threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do to them?
16
He will come and destroy these farmers, and will give the vineyard to others." When they heard it, they said, "May it never be!"
17
But he looked at them, and said, "Then what is this that is written, 'The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the chief cornerstone?'
18
"Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, But it will crush whoever it falls on to dust."
19
The chief Kohanim and the Sofrim sought to lay hands on Him that very hour, but they feared the people -- for they knew He had spoken this parable against them.