Mattheum 20
1 simile est enim regnum caelorum homini patri familias qui exiit primo mane conducere operarios in vineam suam
For the kingdom of heaven is like an employer who went out in the early morning to hire labourers for his vineyards.
2 conventione autem facta cum operariis ex denario diurno misit eos in vineam suam
He agreed with the labourers to pay them the standard daily rate of two silver coins, and sent them into his vineyard.
3 et egressus circa horam tertiam vidit alios stantes in foro otiosos
On going out again, about nine o’clock, he saw some others standing in the marketplace, doing nothing.
4 et illis dixit ite et vos in vineam et quod iustum fuerit dabo vobis
“You also may go into my vineyard,” he said, “and I will pay you what is fair.”
5 illi autem abierunt iterum autem exiit circa sextam et nonam horam et fecit similiter
So they went. Going out again about midday and about three o’clock, he did as before.
6 circa undecimam vero exiit et invenit alios stantes et dicit illis quid hic statis tota die otiosi
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 dicunt ei quia nemo nos conduxit dicit illis ite et vos in vineam
“Because no one has hired us,” they answered. “You also may go into my vineyard,” he said.
8 cum sero autem factum esset dicit dominus vineae procuratori suo voca operarios et redde illis mercedem incipiens a novissimis usque ad primos
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 cum venissent ergo qui circa undecimam horam venerant acceperunt singulos denarios
Now when those who had been hired about five o’clock went up, they received two silver coins each.
10 venientes autem et primi arbitrati sunt quod plus essent accepturi acceperunt autem et ipsi singulos denarios
So, when the first went up, they thought that they would receive more, but they also received two silver coins each;
11 et accipientes murmurabant adversus patrem familias
at which they began to grumble at their employer.
12 dicentes hii novissimi una hora fecerunt et pares illos nobis fecisti qui portavimus pondus diei et aestus
“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 at ille respondens uni eorum dixit amice non facio tibi iniuriam nonne ex denario convenisti mecum
“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 tolle quod tuum est et vade volo autem et huic novissimo dare sicut et tibi
Take what belongs to you, and go. I choose to give to this last man the same as to you.
15 aut non licet mihi quod volo facere an oculus tuus nequam est quia ego bonus sum
Don’t I have the right to do as I choose with what is mine? Are you envious because I am generous?”
16 sic erunt novissimi primi et primi novissimi multi sunt enim vocati pauci autem electi
So those who are last will be first, and the first last.’
17 et ascendens Iesus Hierosolymam adsumpsit duodecim discipulos secreto et ait illis
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 ecce ascendimus Hierosolymam et Filius hominis tradetur principibus sacerdotum et scribis et condemnabunt eum morte
‘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 et tradent eum gentibus ad deludendum et flagellandum et crucifigendum et tertia die resurget
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 tunc accessit ad eum mater filiorum Zebedaei cum filiis suis adorans et petens aliquid ab eo
Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to him with her sons, bowing to the ground, and begging a favour.
21 qui dixit ei quid vis ait illi dic ut sedeant hii duo filii mei unus ad dexteram tuam et unus ad sinistram in regno tuo
‘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 respondens autem Iesus dixit nescitis quid petatis potestis bibere calicem quem ego bibiturus sum dicunt ei possumus
‘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 ait illis calicem quidem meum bibetis sedere autem ad dexteram meam et sinistram non est meum dare vobis sed quibus paratum est a Patre meo
‘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 et audientes decem indignati sunt de duobus fratribus
On hearing of this, the ten others were very indignant about the two brothers.
25 Iesus autem vocavit eos ad se et ait scitis quia principes gentium dominantur eorum et qui maiores sunt potestatem exercent in eos
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 non ita erit inter vos sed quicumque voluerit inter vos maior fieri sit vester minister
Among you it is not so.
27 et qui voluerit inter vos primus esse erit vester servus
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 sicut Filius hominis non venit ministrari sed ministrare et dare animam suam redemptionem pro multis
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 et egredientibus eis ab Hiericho secuta est eum turba multa
As they were going out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him.
30 et ecce duo caeci sedentes secus viam audierunt quia Iesus transiret et clamaverunt dicentes Domine miserere nostri Fili 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 turba autem increpabat eos ut tacerent at illi magis clamabant dicentes Domine miserere nostri Fili 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 et stetit Iesus et vocavit eos et ait quid vultis ut faciam vobis
Then Jesus stopped and called them. ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ he said.
33 dicunt illi Domine ut aperiantur oculi nostri
‘Master,’ they replied, ‘we want our eyes to be opened.’
34 misertus autem eorum Iesus tetigit oculos eorum et confestim viderunt et secuti sunt eum
So Jesus, moved with compassion, touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight, and followed him.
