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 the Heavens is like an employer who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in 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 having made an agreement with them for a shilling a day, 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 saw others loitering in the market-place.

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

To these also he said, "'You also, go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.'

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

"So they went. Again about twelve, and about three o'clock, he went out and did the same.

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?’

And going out about five o'clock he found others loitering, and he asked them, "'Why have you been standing here all day long, doing nothing?'

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. "'You also, go into the vineyard,' he said.

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.’

"When evening came, the master said to his steward, "'Call the men and pay them their wages. Begin with the last set and finish 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 a shilling 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 expected to get more, but they also each got the shilling.

11 at which they began to grumble at their employer.

So when they had received it, they grumbled against the employer, saying,

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.’

"'These who came last have done only one hour's work, and you have put them on a level with us who have worked the whole day and have borne the scorching heat.'

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?

"'My friend,' he answered to one of them, 'I am doing you no injustice. Did you not agree with me for a shilling?

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

Take your money and go. I choose to give this last comer just as much as I give 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 a right to do what I choose with my own property? Or are you envious 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,

Jesus was now going up to Jerusalem, and He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the way 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,

"We are going up to Jerusalem, and there the Son of Man will be betrayed to the High Priests and 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 made sport of and scourged and crucified; and on the third day He will be raised to life."

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

Then the mother of the sons of Zabdi came to Him with her sons, and knelt before Him to make a request 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 desire?" He asked. "Command," she replied, "that these my two sons may sit one at your right hand and one at 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.”

"None of you know what you are asking for," said Jesus; "can you drink out of the cup from which I am about to drink?" "We can," they replied.

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.”

"You shall drink out of my cup," He said, "but a seat at my right hand or at my left it is not for me to allot, but it 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.

The other ten heard of this, and their indignation was aroused against 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 that 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 desires to be great among you shall be your servant,

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 desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant;

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 served but to serve, and to give His life as the redemption-price for many."

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

As they were leaving Jericho, an immense crowd following 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!”

two blind men sitting by the roadside heard that it was Jesus who was passing by, and cried aloud, "Sir, Son of David, pity us."

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

The people angrily tried to silence them, but they cried all the louder. "O Sir, Son of David, pity us," they said.

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

So Jesus stood still and called to them. "What shall I do for you?" He asked.

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

"Sir, let our eyes be opened," they replied.

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

Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes, and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.