Matthew 20

1 For the kingdom of heaven is like to a man [that is] a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers 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 laborers 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 idle in the market-place,

On going out again, about nine o’clock, he saw some others standing in the marketplace, doing nothing.

4 And said to them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatever is right, I will give you. And they departed.

“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 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 idle, and saith to 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 to him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith to them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatever is right, [that] shall ye receive.

“Because no one has hired us,” they answered. “You also may go into my vineyard,” he said.

8 So when evening was come, the lord of the vineyard saith to his steward, Call the laborers, and give them [their] hire, beginning from the last to 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 But when the first came, they supposed that they should 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 had received [it], they murmured against the master of the house.

at which they began to grumble at their employer.

12 Saying, These last have wrought [but] one hour, and thou hast made them equal to us, who have borne the burden and heat of the day.

“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 one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst thou not 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 [that] which [is] thine, and depart: I will give to this last, even as 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 lawful for me to do what I will with my own? is thy 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: for many are called, but few chosen.

So those who are last will be first, and the first last.’

17 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said to 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 will be betrayed to the chief priests, and to the 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 will deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify [him]: and the third day he will rise again.

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 Zebedee's children, with her sons, worshiping [him], and desiring 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 to her, What wilt thou: She saith to him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the 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 answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say to 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 And he saith to them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but [it shall be given] to them for whom it is prepared by 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 against the two brethren.

On hearing of this, the ten others were very indignant about the two brothers.

25 But Jesus called them [to him], and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon 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 But it shall not be so among you: but whoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

Among you it is not so.

27 And whoever will be chief among you, let him 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 to, 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 departed 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 passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, [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 the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, [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 shall do to you?

Then Jesus stopped and called them. ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ he said.

33 They say to him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.

‘Master,’ they replied, ‘we want our eyes to be opened.’

34 So Jesus had compassion [on them], and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

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