Matthew 20

1 For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

"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 After he had agreed with the workers for one denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

and having made an agreement with them for a shilling a day, sent them into his vineyard.

3 He went out again about the third hour and saw other workers standing idle in the marketplace.

About nine o'clock he went out and saw others loitering in the market-place.

4 To them he said, 'You also, go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.' So they went to work.

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

5 Again he went out about the sixth hour and again the ninth hour, and did the same.

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

6 Once more about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle. He said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all the day long?'

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 They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard.'

"'Because no one has hired us,' they replied. "'You also, go into the vineyard,' he said.

8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last to 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 When the workers who had been hired at the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius.

"When those came who had begun at five o'clock, they received a shilling apiece;

10 When the first workers came, they thought that they would receive more, but they also received one denarius each.

and when the first came, they expected to get more, but they also each got the shilling.

11 When they received their wages, they complained about the landowner.

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

12 They said, 'These last workers have spent only one hour in work, but you have made them equal to us, we who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching 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 But the owner answered and said to one of them, 'Friend, I do you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for one denarius?

"'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 your way. I choose to give to these last hired workers just 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 Do I not have the right to do as I want with what belongs to me? Or 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 the last will be first, and the first last.”

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

17 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve aside, and on the way he said to them,

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 “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes. 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 will deliver him to the Gentiles for them to mock, to flog, and to crucify him. But on the third day he will be raised up.”

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 the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons. She bowed down before him and asked for something from him.

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 Jesus said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to him, “Command that these my two sons may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left hand, in your kingdom.”

"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 But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.”

"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 He said to them, “My cup you will indeed drink. But to sit at my right hand and at my left hand 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 When the other ten disciples heard this, they were very angry with the two brothers.

The other ten heard of this, and their indignation was aroused against the two brothers.

25 But Jesus called them to himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles subjugate them, and their important men exercise authority over 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 But it must not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant,

Not so shall it be among you; but whoever desires to be great among you shall be your servant,

27 and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your servant,

and whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant;

28 just as the Son of Man did not come 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 went out from Jericho, a great crowd followed him.

As they were leaving Jericho, an immense crowd following Him,

30 There were two blind men sitting by the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us.”

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 rebuked them, telling them to be quiet, but they cried out even more loudly, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us.”

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 stood still and called to them and said, “What do you wish me to do for you?”

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

33 They said to him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.”

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

34 Then Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

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