1 For the kingdome of heauen is like vnto a man that is an housholder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
2 And when hee had agreed with the labourers for a peny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3 And he went out about the third houre, and saw others standing idle in the market place,
4 And said vnto them, Go ye also into the vineyard, & whatsoeuer is right, I wil giue you. And they went their way.
5 Againe he went out about the sixth and ninth houre, and did likewise.
6 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?
7 They say vnto him, Because no man hath hired vs. He saith vnto them, Go ye also into the vineyard: and whatsoeuer is right, that shall ye receiue.
8 So when euen was come, the lord of the vineyard saith vnto his Steward, Call the labourers, and giue them their hire, beginning from the last, vnto the first.
9 And when they came that were hired about the eleuenth houre, they receiued euery man a penie.
10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should haue receiued more, and they likewise receiued euery man a penie.
11 And when they had receiued it, they murmured against the good man of the house,
12 Saying, These last haue wrought but one houre, and thou hast made them equall vnto vs, which haue borne the burden, and heat of the day.
13 But he answered one of them and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penie?
14 Take that thine is, and goe thy way, I will giue vnto this last, euen as vnto thee.
15 Is it not lawfull for mee to doe what I wil with mine owne? Is thine eye euill, because I am good?
16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many bee called, but fewe chosen.
Mt 20:1-16
Laborers in the Vineyard. (1769). Holy Bible: Gospel According to Matthew; Authorized King James Version, Pure Cambridge Edition. Oxford, England.
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