Study Desk

For the kingdom of Heaven is like a man, a housemaster, who went out when it was early to hire workers into his vineyard.

And agreeing with the workers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard.

And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing idle in the market.

And he said to them, You also go into the vineyard, and I will give you whatever is just. And they went.

Again, going out about the sixth and ninth hour, he did the same.

And going out about the eleventh hour, he found others standing idle, and said to them, Why do you stand here idle all day?

They said to him, Because no one has hired us. He said to them, You also go into the vineyard, and you will receive whatever is just.

But evening having come, the lord of the vineyard said to his manager, Call the workers and pay them the wage, beginning from the last to the first.

And the ones having come the eleventh hour each received a denarius.

And having come, the first supposed that they would receive more. And they also each received a denarius.

And having received it , they murmured against the housemaster,

saying, These last have performed one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.

But answering, he said to one of them, Friend, I do not wrong you. Did you not agree to a denarius with me?

Take yours and go. But I desire to give to this last as also to you.

Or is it not lawful for me to do what I desire with my things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?

So the last shall be first, and the first last; for many are called, but few chosen.