Lectionary Calendar
Sunday, August 17th, 2025
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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Read the Bible
Good News Translation
Matthew 20:6
It was nearly five o'clock when he went to the marketplace and saw some other men still standing there. ‘Why are you wasting the whole day here doing nothing?' he asked them.
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Concordances:
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- CondensedParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
Then about five
Then about five
King James Version (1611)
And about the eleuenth houre, he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith vnto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
And about the eleuenth houre, he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith vnto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
King James Version
And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
English Standard Version
And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?'
And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?'
New American Standard Bible
"And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, 'Why have you been standing here idle all day long?'
"And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, 'Why have you been standing here idle all day long?'
New Century Version
About five o'clock the man went to the marketplace again and saw others standing there. He asked them, ‘Why did you stand here all day doing nothing?'
About five o'clock the man went to the marketplace again and saw others standing there. He asked them, ‘Why did you stand here all day doing nothing?'
Amplified Bible
"And about the eleventh hour (5:00 p.m.) he went out and found others standing around, and he said to them, 'Why have you been standing here idle all day?'
"And about the eleventh hour (5:00 p.m.) he went out and found others standing around, and he said to them, 'Why have you been standing here idle all day?'
Geneva Bible (1587)
And he went about the eleuenth houre, and found other standing idle, & sayd vnto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
And he went about the eleuenth houre, and found other standing idle, & sayd vnto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, 'Why have you been standing here idle all day long?'
"And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, 'Why have you been standing here idle all day long?'
Legacy Standard Bible
And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he *said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day long?'
And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he *said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day long?'
Berean Standard Bible
About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. 'Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?' he asked.
About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. 'Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?' he asked.
Contemporary English Version
Finally, about five in the afternoon the man went back and found some others standing there. He asked them, "Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?"
Finally, about five in the afternoon the man went back and found some others standing there. He asked them, "Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?"
Complete Jewish Bible
About an hour before sundown, he went out, found still others standing around, and asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day, doing nothing?"
About an hour before sundown, he went out, found still others standing around, and asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day, doing nothing?"
Darby Translation
But about the eleventh [hour], having gone out, he found others standing, and says to them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
But about the eleventh [hour], having gone out, he found others standing, and says to them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
Easy-to-Read Version
About five o'clock the man went to the marketplace again. He saw some other people standing there. He asked them, ‘Why did you stand here all day doing nothing?'
About five o'clock the man went to the marketplace again. He saw some other people standing there. He asked them, ‘Why did you stand here all day doing nothing?'
George Lamsa Translation
And towards the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and he said to them, Why do you stand all day idle?
And towards the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and he said to them, Why do you stand all day idle?
Lexham English Bible
And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing there and said to them, ‘Why are you standing here the whole day unemployed?'
And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing there and said to them, ‘Why are you standing here the whole day unemployed?'
Literal Translation
And going out about the eleventh hour, he found others standing idle, and said to them, Why do you stand here idle all day?
And going out about the eleventh hour, he found others standing idle, and said to them, Why do you stand here idle all day?
American Standard Version
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?
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?
Bible in Basic English
And about the eleventh hour he went out and saw others doing nothing; and he says to them, Why are you here all the day doing nothing?
And about the eleventh hour he went out and saw others doing nothing; and he says to them, Why are you here all the day doing nothing?
Hebrew Names Version
About the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle. He said to them, 'Why do you stand here all day idle?'
About the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle. He said to them, 'Why do you stand here all day idle?'
International Standard Version
About five o'clockthe eleventh hour">[fn] he went out and found some others standing around. He said to them, 'Why are you standing here all day long without work?'
About five o'clockthe eleventh hour">[fn] he went out and found some others standing around. He said to them, 'Why are you standing here all day long without work?'
Etheridge Translation
And about eleven hours he went out, and found others who were standing and unemployed; and he said to them, Why are you standing all the day unemployed ?
And about eleven hours he went out, and found others who were standing and unemployed; and he said to them, Why are you standing all the day unemployed ?
Murdock Translation
And about the eleventh hour, he went out and found others who were standing and idle; and he said to them: Why stand ye all the day, and are idle?
And about the eleventh hour, he went out and found others who were standing and idle; and he said to them: Why stand ye all the day, and are idle?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And about the eleuenth houre, he wet out, and founde other standyng idle, and saide vnto them: why stande ye here all the day idle?
And about the eleuenth houre, he wet out, and founde other standyng idle, and saide vnto them: why stande ye here all the day idle?
English Revised Version
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?
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?
World English Bible
About the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle. He said to them, 'Why do you stand here all day idle?'
About the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle. He said to them, 'Why do you stand here all day idle?'
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And going out about the eleventh hour, he found others standing idle and saith to them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
And going out about the eleventh hour, he found others standing idle and saith to them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
Weymouth's New Testament
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?'
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?'
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But aboute the elleuenthe our he wente out, and foond other stondynge; and he seide to hem, What stonden ye idel here al dai?
But aboute the elleuenthe our he wente out, and foond other stondynge; and he seide to hem, What stonden ye idel here al dai?
Update Bible Version
And about the eleventh [hour] he went out, and found others standing; and he says to them, Why do you stand here all the day idle?
And about the eleventh [hour] he went out, and found others standing; and he says to them, Why do you stand here all the day idle?
Webster's Bible Translation
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?
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?
New English Translation
And about five o'clock that afternoon he went out and found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why are you standing here all day without work?'
And about five o'clock that afternoon he went out and found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why are you standing here all day without work?'
New King James Version
And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, [fn] and said to them, 'Why have you been standing here idle all day?'
And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, [fn] and said to them, 'Why have you been standing here idle all day?'
New Living Translation
"At five o'clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven't you been working today?'
"At five o'clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven't you been working today?'
New Life Bible
About five o'clock he went out and still found others doing nothing. He asked them, ‘Why do you stand here all day and do nothing?'
About five o'clock he went out and still found others doing nothing. He asked them, ‘Why do you stand here all day and do nothing?'
New Revised Standard
And about five o'clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?'
And about five o'clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?'
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, about the eleventh, going forth, he found others, standing, and saith unto them - Why, here, stand ye, all the day, unemployed?
And, about the eleventh, going forth, he found others, standing, and saith unto them - Why, here, stand ye, all the day, unemployed?
Douay-Rheims Bible
But about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing, and he saith to them: Why stand you here all the day idle?
But about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing, and he saith to them: Why stand you here all the day idle?
Revised Standard Version
And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing; and he said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?'
And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing; and he said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?'
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And he went out aboute the eleventhe houre and founde other stondynge ydell and sayde vnto them: Why stonde ye here all the daye ydell?
And he went out aboute the eleventhe houre and founde other stondynge ydell and sayde vnto them: Why stonde ye here all the daye ydell?
Young's Literal Translation
And about the eleventh hour, having gone forth, he found others standing idle, and saith to them, Why here have ye stood all the day idle?
And about the eleventh hour, having gone forth, he found others standing idle, and saith to them, Why here have ye stood all the day idle?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And aboute the eleuenth houre he wete out, and founde other stodynge ydle, and sayde vnto them: Why stonde ye here all the daye ydle?
And aboute the eleuenth houre he wete out, and founde other stodynge ydle, and sayde vnto them: Why stonde ye here all the daye ydle?
Mace New Testament (1729)
at last, about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and said to them, why do you stand idling thus all day long?
at last, about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and said to them, why do you stand idling thus all day long?
THE MESSAGE
A Story About Workers "God's kingdom is like an estate manager who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. They agreed on a wage of a dollar a day, and went to work. "Later, about nine o'clock, the manager saw some other men hanging around the town square unemployed. He told them to go to work in his vineyard and he would pay them a fair wage. They went. "He did the same thing at noon, and again at three o'clock. At five o'clock he went back and found still others standing around. He said, ‘Why are you standing around all day doing nothing?'
A Story About Workers "God's kingdom is like an estate manager who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. They agreed on a wage of a dollar a day, and went to work. "Later, about nine o'clock, the manager saw some other men hanging around the town square unemployed. He told them to go to work in his vineyard and he would pay them a fair wage. They went. "He did the same thing at noon, and again at three o'clock. At five o'clock he went back and found still others standing around. He said, ‘Why are you standing around all day doing nothing?'
Simplified Cowboy Version
"At about five he rode by the saloon and found some cowboys just sittin' there playin' cards and drinkin' whiskey. The rancher asked them, 'Why have y'all just been sittin' around here not doin' anything all day long?'
"At about five he rode by the saloon and found some cowboys just sittin' there playin' cards and drinkin' whiskey. The rancher asked them, 'Why have y'all just been sittin' around here not doin' anything all day long?'
Contextual Overview
1 "The Kingdom of heaven is like this. Once there was a man who went out early in the morning to hire some men to work in his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them the regular wage, a silver coin a day, and sent them to work in his vineyard. 3 He went out again to the marketplace at nine o'clock and saw some men standing there doing nothing, 4 so he told them, ‘You also go and work in the vineyard, and I will pay you a fair wage.' 5 So they went. Then at twelve o'clock and again at three o'clock he did the same thing. 6 It was nearly five o'clock when he went to the marketplace and saw some other men still standing there. ‘Why are you wasting the whole day here doing nothing?' he asked them. 7 ‘No one hired us,' they answered. ‘Well, then, you go and work in the vineyard,' he told them. 8 "When evening came, the owner told his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with those who were hired last and ending with those who were hired first.' 9 The men who had begun to work at five o'clock were paid a silver coin each. 10 So when the men who were the first to be hired came to be paid, they thought they would get more; but they too were given a silver coin each.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
the eleventh: Ecclesiastes 9:10, Luke 23:40-43, John 9:4
Why: Proverbs 19:15, Ezekiel 16:49, Acts 17:21, Hebrews 6:12
Reciprocal: Joshua 18:3 - How long are Matthew 20:3 - standing Matthew 20:9 - they received 2 Peter 1:8 - barren
Cross-References
Genesis 3:3
"except the tree in the middle of it. God told us not to eat the fruit of that tree or even touch it; if we do, we will die."
"except the tree in the middle of it. God told us not to eat the fruit of that tree or even touch it; if we do, we will die."
Genesis 20:6
God replied in the dream, "Yes, I know that you did it with a clear conscience; so I kept you from sinning against me and did not let you touch her.
God replied in the dream, "Yes, I know that you did it with a clear conscience; so I kept you from sinning against me and did not let you touch her.
Genesis 20:7
But now, give the woman back to her husband. He is a prophet, and he will pray for you, so that you will not die. But if you do not give her back, I warn you that you are going to die, you and all your people."
But now, give the woman back to her husband. He is a prophet, and he will pray for you, so that you will not die. But if you do not give her back, I warn you that you are going to die, you and all your people."
Genesis 26:11
Abimelech warned all the people: "Anyone who mistreats this man or his wife will be put to death."
Abimelech warned all the people: "Anyone who mistreats this man or his wife will be put to death."
Genesis 31:7
Yet he has cheated me and changed my wages ten times. But God did not let him harm me.
Yet he has cheated me and changed my wages ten times. But God did not let him harm me.
Genesis 35:5
When Jacob and his sons started to leave, great fear fell on the people of the nearby towns, and they did not pursue them.
When Jacob and his sons started to leave, great fear fell on the people of the nearby towns, and they did not pursue them.
Genesis 39:9
I have as much authority in this house as he has, and he has not kept back anything from me except you. How then could I do such an immoral thing and sin against God?"
I have as much authority in this house as he has, and he has not kept back anything from me except you. How then could I do such an immoral thing and sin against God?"
Exodus 34:24
After I have driven out the nations before you and extended your territory, no one will try to conquer your country during the three festivals.
After I have driven out the nations before you and extended your territory, no one will try to conquer your country during the three festivals.
Leviticus 6:2
An offering is to be made if any of you sin against the Lord by refusing to return what another Israelite has left as a deposit or by stealing something from him or by cheating him
An offering is to be made if any of you sin against the Lord by refusing to return what another Israelite has left as a deposit or by stealing something from him or by cheating him
1 Samuel 25:26
It is the Lord who has kept you from taking revenge and killing your enemies. And now I swear to you by the living Lord that your enemies and all who want to harm you will be punished like Nabal.
It is the Lord who has kept you from taking revenge and killing your enemies. And now I swear to you by the living Lord that your enemies and all who want to harm you will be punished like Nabal.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And about the eleventh hour he went out,.... About five o'clock in the afternoon. The Persic version reads it, "the twelfth hour", which was six o'clock in the afternoon, the last hour of the day. The Jews divided their day into twelve hours,
John 11:9 and these twelve hours into four parts; Nehemiah 9:3 each part containing three hours, to which division there is a manifest respect in this parable. These different seasons of the husbandman's going out to hire labourers, may have regard either to the several periods of time, and ages of the world, as before the law, under the law, the times of the Messiah, and the last days; or the various dispensations of the Gospel, first by Christ, and John the Baptist to the Jews, then by the apostles to the same in their first mission, afterwards when their commission was renewed, first to the Jews in Judea, and then to the same among the nations of the world, and last of all to the Gentiles; or to the several stages of human life, and may regard Christ's call of persons in childhood, youth, manhood, and old age; which last may be signified by the eleventh hour, as also the Gentiles, and the remainder of God's elect in the last day:
and found others standing idle; in the same place and position as before: for the state and condition of God's elect, by nature, as it is the same with others, it is the same with them all. The word "idle" is omitted here by the Vulgate Latin, the Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, and in Munster's Hebrew Gospel; but is retained in the Syriac and Persic versions; and stands in the Greek copies:
and saith unto them, why stand ye here all the day idle? for being about the eleventh hour, the day was far spent, it was almost gone, a small portion of it remained, but one hour, as appears from
Matthew 20:12.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
The eleventh hour - About five o’clock in the afternoon, or when there was but one working hour of the day left.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Matthew 20:6. Eleventh — Five o'clock in the evening, when there was only one hour before the end of the Jewish day, which, in matters of labour, closed at six.
