Matthew 20
1 For the kingdom of the heavens, is like, a man, a householder, —who went forth with 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 denary the day, he sent them into his vineyard.
He agreed with the labourers to pay them two shillings a day, and sent them into his vineyard.
3 And, going forth about the third hour, he saw others, standing in the market-place, unemployed;
On going out again, about nine o’clock, he saw some others standing in the market-place, doing nothing.
4 and, to them, he said—ye also, go your way into the vineyard, and, whatsoever may be right, I will give you;
‘You also may go into my vineyard,’ he said, ‘and I will pay you what is fair.’
5 and, they, departed. And, again, going forth about the sixth and ninth hour, he did likewise.
So the men went. Going out again about mid-day and about three o’clock, he did as before.
6 And, about the eleventh, going forth, he found others, standing, and saith unto them—Why, here, stand ye, all the day, unemployed?
When he went out about five, he found some other men standing there, and said to them ‘Why have you been standing here all day long, doing nothing?’
7 They say unto him—Because, no one, hath hired, us. He saith unto them—Ye also, go your way into the vineyard.
‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. ‘You also may go into my vineyard,’ he said.
8 And, when evening came, the master of the vineyard saith unto his steward—Call the labourers, and pay the 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 they of the eleventh hour, coming, received severally a denary.
Now when those who had been hired about five o’clock went up, they received two shillings each.
10 And, when the first came, they supposed that, more, they should receive, —and, they also, received severally a denary.
So, when the first went up, they thought that they would receive more, but they also received two shillings each;
11 And, having received it, they began to murmur against the householder, saying—
on which they began to grumble at their employer.
12 These last, one hour, wrought, and thou hast made them, equal unto us, who 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 And, he, answering, unto one of them, said, —Friend! I wrong thee not: Was it not, for a denary, thou didst agree with me?
‘My friend,’ was his reply to one of them, ‘I am not treating you unfairly. Did not you agree with me for two shillings?
14 Take thine own, and go thy way; but I please, unto this last, to give, as also to 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 allowed me to do, what I please, with my own? or is, thine eye, evil, because I good?
Have not I the right to do as I choose with what is mine? Are you envious because I am liberal?’
16 Thus, shall be—The last first, and the first last.
So those who are last will be first, and the first last.”
17 And, Jesus, being about to go up unto Jerusalem, took unto him 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 Lo! we are going up unto Jerusalem; and, the Son of Man, will be delivered up unto the chief-priests and Scribes, and they will 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 deliver him up unto the nations, to mock and to scourge and to crucify, —and, on the third day, he will, arise.
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 unto him the mother of the sons of Zebedee, with her sons, bowing down, and asking something from him.
Then the mother of Zebediah’s sons came to him with her sons, bowing to the ground, and begging a favour.
21 And, he, said to her—What desirest thou? She saith unto him—Bid, that these my two sons may sit, one on thy right hand, and one on thy left, 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, answering, said—Ye know not what ye are asking: Are ye able to drink the cup, which, 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, is not mine to give, —except unto those for whom it hath been prepared by my Father.
“You shall 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, hearing, were sorely displeased, concerning the two brethren.
On hearing of this, the ten others were very indignant about the two brothers.
25 But, Jesus, calling them near, said—Ye know that, the rulers of the nations, lord it over them, and, the great ones, wield 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 great men oppress them.
26 Not so, is it, among you, —but, whosoever shall desire, among you, to become, great, shall be, your minister;
Among you it is not so.
27 And, whosoever shall desire, among you, to be first, 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 Just as, the Son of Man, came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom instead of 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 were going forth from Jericho, there followed him a great multitude;
As they were going out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him.
30 and lo! two blind men, sitting beside the road, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried aloud saying—Lord! have mercy on us! Son of David!
Two blind men who were sitting by the road-side, hearing that Jesus was passing, called out: “Take pity on us, Master, Son of David!”
31 But the multitude rebuked them, that they might hold their peace. But, they, the more, cried aloud, saying—Lord, have mercy on us! 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, standing still, Jesus called them, and said—What desire ye I should do for 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 open.
“Master,” they replied, “we want our eyes to be opened.”
34 And, moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes, —and, straightway, they recovered sight, and followed him.
So Jesus, moved with compassion, touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight, and followed him.
