Matthew 20

1 “For the kingdom of the heavens is like to a man, a householder, who went forth with the morning to hire workmen for his vineyard,

For the kingdom of heaven is like an employer who went out in the early morning to hire laborers for his vineyards.

2 and having agreed with the workmen for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

He agreed with the laborers to pay them the standard daily rate of two silver coins, and sent them into his vineyard.

3 And having gone forth about the third hour, he saw others standing in the marketplace idle,

On going out again, about nine o’clock, he saw some others standing in the marketplace, doing nothing.

4 and to these he said, Go—also you—to the vineyard, and whatever may be righteous I will give you;

‘You also may go into my vineyard,’ he said, ‘and I will pay you what is fair.’

5 and they went away. Again, having gone forth about the sixth and the ninth hour, he did in like manner.

So they went. Going out again about midday and about three o’clock, he did as before.

6 And about the eleventh hour, having gone forth, he found others standing idle and says to them, Why have you stood here idle all day?

When he went out about five, he found some others standing there, and said to them ‘Why have you been standing here all day long, doing nothing?’

7 They say to him, Because no one hired us; he says to them, Go—you also—to the vineyard, and whatever may be righteous you will receive.

‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. ‘You also may go into my vineyard,’ he said.

8 And evening having come, the lord of the vineyard says to his steward, Call the workmen, and pay them the reward, having begun from the last—to the first.

In the evening the owner of the vineyard said to his steward ‘Call the laborers, and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, and ending with the first.’

9 And they of about the eleventh hour having come, each received a denarius.

Now when those who had been hired about five o’clock went up, they received two silver coins each.

10 And the first having come, supposed that they will receive more, and they received, they also, each a denarius,

So, when the first went up, they thought that they would receive more, but they also received two silver coins each;

11 and having received [it], they were murmuring against the householder, saying,

at which they began to grumble at their employer.

12 that, These, the last, worked one hour, and you made them equal to us, who were bearing the burden of the day—and the heat.

‘These last,’ they said, ‘have done only one hour’s work, and yet you have put them on the same footing with us, who have borne the brunt of the day’s work, and the heat.’

13 And he answering said to one of them, Friend, I do no unrighteousness to you; did you not agree with me for a denarius?

‘My friend,’ was his reply to one of them, ‘I am not treating you unfairly. Didn’t you agree with me for two silver coins?

14 Take that which is yours, and go; and I will to give to this, the last, also as to you;

Take what belongs to you, and go. I choose to give to this last man the same as to you.

15 is it not lawful to me to do what I will in my own? Is your eye evil because I am good?

Don’t I have the right to do as I choose with what is mine? Are you envious because I am generous?’

16 So the last will be first, and the first last, for many are called, and few chosen.”

So those who are last will be first, and the first last.”

17 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples by themselves in the way and said to them,

When Jesus was on the point of going up to Jerusalem, he gathered the twelve disciples around him by themselves, and said to them as they were on their way,

18 “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes,

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

19 and they will condemn Him to death, and will deliver Him to the nations to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify, and the third day He will rise again.”

and give him up to the Gentiles for them to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify; and on the third day he will rise.”

20 Then came near to Him the mother of the sons of Zebedee, with her sons, prostrating and asking something from Him,

Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to him with her sons, bowing to the ground, and begging a favor.

21 and He said to her, “What do you will?” She says to Him, “Say that they may sit—these two sons of mine—one on Your right hand and one on the left, in Your kingdom.”

“What is it that you want?” he asked. “I want you to say,” she replied, “that in your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right, and the other on your left.”

22 And Jesus answering said, “You have not known what you ask for yourselves; are you able to drink of the cup that I am about to drink? And with the immersion that I am immersed with, to be immersed?” They say to Him, “We are able.”

“You do not know what you are asking,” was Jesus’ answer. “Can you drink the cup that I am to drink?” “Yes,” they exclaimed, “we can.”

23 And He says to them, “Of My cup indeed you will drink, and with the immersion that I am immersed with you will be immersed; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but—to those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.”

“You will indeed drink my cup,” he said, “but as to a seat at my right and at my left – that is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

24 And the ten having heard, were much displeased with the two brothers,

On hearing of this, the ten others were very indignant about the two brothers.

25 and Jesus having called them near, said, “You have known that the rulers of the nations exercise lordship over them, and those [who are] great exercise authority over them,

Jesus, however, called the ten to him, and said, “The rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them as you know, and their high officials oppress them.

26 but not so will it be among you, but whoever may will among you to become great, let him be your servant;

Among you it is not so.

27 and whoever may will among you to be first, let him be your servant;

No, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to take the first place among you, must be your slave;

28 even as the Son of Man did not come to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give His life [as] a ransom for many.”

just as the Son of Man came, not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

29 And they going forth from Jericho, there followed Him a great multitude,

As they were going out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him.

30 and behold, two blind men sitting by the way, having heard that Jesus passes by, cried, saying, “Deal kindly with us, Lord—Son of David.”

Two blind men who were sitting by the roadside, hearing that Jesus was passing, called out, “Take pity on us, Master, Son of David!”

31 And the multitude charged them that they might be silent, and they cried out the more, saying, “Deal kindly with us Lord—Son of David.”

The crowd told them to be quiet; but the men only called out the louder, “Take pity on us, Master, Son of David!”

32 And having stood, Jesus called them and said, “What do you will [that] I may do to you?”

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

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

“Master,” they replied, “we want our eyes to be opened.”

34 and having been moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes, and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.

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