Matthew 20

1 FOR the kingdom of heaven is like a man, the master of a family, who went out at break of day, to hire labourers into his vineyard.

“For the kingdom of the heavens is like a certain landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

2 And when he had agreed with the labourers at a denarius a day, he sent them into the vineyard.

And agreeing with the workers for a denarius a day he sent them into his vineyard.

3 And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing in the market place unemployed.

And going out about the third hour [9 a.m.] he saw others standing idle in the marketplace.

4 And he said to them, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatever is equitable, I will give it you. So they went.

And he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard and I will give you whatever is right.’ So off they went.

5 Again going out, about the sixth and ninth hour, he did after the same manner.

He went out again about the sixth hour, and the ninth, and did the same.

6 But about the eleventh hour, going out, he found others standing unemployed, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?

Now about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and he says to them, ‘Why have you stood here idle all day?’

7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith to them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatever is equitable, ye shall receive.

They say to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He says to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and you will receive whatever is right.’

8 Now when the evening came, the master of the vineyard said to his overseer, Call the labourers, and give them their wages, beginning from the last to the first.

So when evening had come the owner of the vineyard says to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wage, beginning at the last to the first.’

9 And when they came, who began about the eleventh hour, they received each a denarius.

The eleventh hour ones came and each received a denarius.

10 But when the first came, they expected that they should receive more; and they also received every man a denarius.

So when the first ones came they supposed that they would receive more; yet each of them also received a denarius.

11 But when they received it, they murmured against the master of the family:

When they received it they began grumbling against the landowner

12 saying, These last have wrought only a single hour, and thou hast put them on an equality with us, who have borne the burden and heat of the day.

saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who bore the burden and the heat of the day!’

13 But he answering, said to one of them, Friend, I do thee no injustice; did I not agree with thee for a denarius?

But in answer he said to one of them: ‘Friend, I am not wronging you. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?

14 Take then thine own, and begone: I chuse to give to this last even as to thee.

Take what is yours and go. I wish to give to this last one just as to you.

15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

Or is it not permissible for me to do what I want with what is mine? Is your eye evil because I am good?’

16 Thus shall the last be first, and the first last; for many are called, but the elect are few.

Just so the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”

17 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem, took his twelve disciples aside on the road, and said to them;

As Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem He took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them privately:

18 Lo! we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man will be betrayed to the chief priests and scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,

“Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem and the Son of the Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and scribes; and they will condemn Him to death,

19 and shall deliver him to the Gentiles, to insult, and to scourge, and to crucify: and the third day he shall rise again.

and they will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock, to scourge and to crucify. And on the third day He will rise!”

20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children, with her sons, paying him obeisance, and petitioning a favour of him.

Then the mother of Zebedee's sons approached Him, with her sons, and kneeling down she asked something from Him.

21 Then he said to her, What is thy wish? She saith unto him, Tell me that these my two sons shall sit, the one at thy right hand, and the other at thy left, in thy kingdom.

So He said to her, “What do you wish?” She says to Him, “State that these my two sons may sit one on Your right and one on Your left in Your kingdom.”

22 Then Jesus answering said, Ye know not what ye ask. Can ye drink of the cup that I am going to drink, and be baptised with the baptism with which I am baptised? They say unto him, We are able.

But in answer Jesus said: “You (pl.) do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup which I am about to drink, or to be baptized with the baptism that I am being baptized with?” They say to Him, “We are able.”

23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of my cup, and with the baptism with which I am baptised, shall ye be baptised; but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, it is not in my power to bestow, but on those, for whom it was prepared by my Father.

And He says to them: “You will indeed drink my cup, and you will be baptized with the baptism that I am being baptized with, but to sit on my right and on my left is not mine to give; rather it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

24 And the twelve, on hearing this, were filled with indignation against the two brethren.

Now when the ten heard it they were indignant at the two brothers.

25 But Jesus, calling them to him, said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority among them.

But summoning them Jesus said: “You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and the great exercise authority over them;

26 But thus shall it not be with you. But whosoever will be a great man among you, let him be your servant;

but it must not be so among you. Rather, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,

27 and whosoever will be first, let him be your slave.

and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave;

28 Even as the Son of man came not to be waited upon, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.

just like the Son of the Man—He did not come to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

29 And as they were going out of Jericho, a great multitude followed him.

Now as they went on from Jericho a large crowd followed Him.

30 And, behold, two blind men sat by the road side, who hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, son of David!

And then, two blind men sitting alongside the road and hearing, “Jesus is passing by!” cried out saying, “Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!”

31 And the multitude checked them, that they should be silent; but they cried out the more, Have mercy on us, Lord, son of David.

So the crowd threatened them to be quiet, but they cried out all the more saying, “Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!”

32 And Jesus standing called them, and said, What desire ye, that I should do for you?

Jesus stopped, called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?”

33 They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.

They say to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened!”

34 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and immediately their eyes recovered sight, and they followed him.

So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes, and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.