Matthew 20

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

"For the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who went out at dawn to hire workmen for his vineyard.

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

"And when he had agreed with the workmen for two shillings a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

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

"About nine o’clock he went out and noticed some other workmen standing idle in the market-place;

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

"and he said to them, "‘Do you also go into the vineyard, and whatever is just I will pay you.’

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

"So they went. Again at noon, and about three o’clock, he went out and did the same thing.

6 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?’

"When he went out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, "‘Why have you been standing here idle, all the day long?’

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

"‘Because no one has hired us,’ they replied. "He said to them, ‘Do you also go into the vineyard.’

8 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.’

"And when evening came, the Lord of the vineyard said to his steward, "‘Call the workmen and pay them their wages, beginning with the last hired and ending with the first.’

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

"When those came who had begun at five o’clock, they received two shillings apiece;

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

"and when the first came they supposed that they would get more, but they also received each two shillings.

11 at which they began to grumble at their employer.

"And as they took it they began to grumble against the master of the house.

12 ‘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.’

"‘Those last men,’ they said, ‘have toiled only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the burning heat of the day.’

13 ‘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?

"In reply he said to one of them. ‘My friend, I am doing no wrong. Did you not agree with me for two shillings?

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

"Take your wage and begone! I chose to give to this last man the same as to you.

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

"Have I not the right to do what I choose with my own property? Or is your eye evil because I am generous?’

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

"So the last shall be first, and the first, last."

17 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,

When Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, he took the Twelve aside by themselves, and as they went he said to them.

18 “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,

"Look! We are on the way up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the scribes. They will condemn him to death,

19 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.”

"and hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified; and on the third day he will rise from the grave."

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

Then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee, with her sons, kneeling down and begging a favor of him.

21 “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.”

"What is it you wish?" he said. She answered, "Command that these my two sons may sit upon your right hand and your left in your kingdom."

22 “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 “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.”

"None of you indeed shall drink," he answered, "but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but belongs to those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."

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

When the ten heard of this, they were indignant at the two brothers;

25 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.

but Jesus called them to him and said. "You know how the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.

26 Among you it is not so.

"Not so shall it be among you. But whoever among you wishes to become great, shall be your minister,

27 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;

"and whoever wishes to be first among you, shall be your slave;

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

"just as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

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

Now as they were leaving Jericho a great crowd followed him.

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

And two blind men, sitting by the side of the road, heard that it was Jesus who was passing by, and cried out, "Have pity on us, Master, Son of David!"

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

But the crowd checked them, to make them keep still. They cried out all the louder, saying, "Master, have pity on us, Son of David!"

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

Then Jesus stopped and called to them, "What do you want me to do for you?"

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

"Master," they answered, "let our eyes be opened."

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

Then Jesus, moved with compassion, touched their eyes, and they saw at once, and followed him.