Matthew 20

1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, which went out early in the morning 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 for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

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

3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing in the marketplace idle;

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

4 and to them he said, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

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 he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise.

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

6 And about the eleventh [hour] he went out, and found others standing; and he 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 unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard.

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 And when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and pay them their hire, beginning from the last unto 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 that [were hired] about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.

The eleventh hour ones came and each received a denarius.

10 And when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received every man a penny.

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

11 And when they received it, they murmured against the householder,

When they received it they began grumbling against the landowner

12 saying, These last have spent [but] one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.

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 answered and said to one of them, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?

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 up that which is thine, and go thy way; it is my will to give unto this last, even as unto 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 mine own? or 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 So the last shall be first, and the first last.

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

17 And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples apart, and in the way he said unto them,

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

18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto 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 unto the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify: and the third day he shall be raised up.

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 the sons of Zebedee with her sons, worshipping [him], and asking a certain thing of him.

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

21 And he said unto her, What wouldest thou? She saith unto him, Command that these my two sons may sit, one on thy right hand, and one on thy left hand, 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 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink the cup that I am about to drink? 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 He saith unto them, My cup indeed ye shall drink: but to sit on my right hand, and on [my] left hand, is not mine to give, but [it is for them] for whom it hath been prepared of 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 when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation concerning the two brethren.

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

25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over 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 Not so shall it be among you: but whosoever would become great among you shall be your minister;

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

27 and whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant:

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

28 even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, 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 went out from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.

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

30 And behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, Lord, have mercy on us, thou 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 rebuked them, that they should hold their peace: but they cried out the more, saying, Lord, have mercy on us, thou 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 stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I should do unto 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 And Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes: and straightway they received their sight, and followed him.

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