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 heaven is like an employer who went out in the early morning to hire labourers for his vineyards.
2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
He agreed with the labourers to pay them the standard daily rate of two silver coins, and sent them into his vineyard.
3 And he went out about the third hour, and 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 them he said, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
“You also may go into my vineyard,” he said, “and I will pay you what is fair.”
5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise.
So they went. Going out again about midday and about three o’clock, he did as before.
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?
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 unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard.
“Because no one has hired us,” they answered. “You also may go into my vineyard,” he said.
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.
In the evening the owner of the vineyard said to his steward “Call the labourers, and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, and ending with the first.”
9 And when they came that [were hired] about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
Now when those who had been hired about five o’clock went up, they received two silver coins each.
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 went up, they thought that they would receive more, but they also received two silver coins each;
11 And when they received it, they murmured against the householder,
at which they began to grumble at their employer.
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.
“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 But he answered and said to one of them, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
“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 up that which is thine, and go thy way; it is my will to give unto this last, even as unto thee.
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 for me to do what I will with mine own? or is thine 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 shall be first, and the first last.
So those who are last will be first, and the first last.’
17 And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples apart, and in the way he said unto them,
When Jesus was on the point of going up to Jerusalem, he gathered the twelve disciples round 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 shall be delivered unto the chief priests and scribes; and they shall condemn him to death,
‘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 shall deliver him unto the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify: and the third day he shall be raised up.
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 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 came to him with her sons, bowing to the ground, and begging a favour.
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.
‘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 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.
‘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 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.
‘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 when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation concerning the two brethren.
On hearing of this, the ten others were very indignant about 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.
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 Not so shall it be among you: but whosoever would become great among you shall be your minister;
Among you it is not so.
27 and whosoever would be first among you shall 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 came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life 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 as they went out from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.
As they were going out of Jericho, a great 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.
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 rebuked them, that they should hold their peace: but they cried out the more, saying, Lord, have mercy on us, thou 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 Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I should do unto you?
Then Jesus stopped and called them. ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ he said.
33 They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.
‘Master,’ they replied, ‘we want our eyes to be opened.’
34 And Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes: and straightway they received their sight, and followed him.
So Jesus, moved with compassion, touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight, and followed him.
