Matthew 20

1For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that was a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard.

1For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

2And when he had agreed with the laborers for a shilling a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

2After agreeing to pay the workers a standard daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard.

3And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing in the marketplace idle;

3Around nine o'clock in the morning, he went out again and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing.

4and to them he said, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

4He told them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went.

5Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise.

5He went out again around noon and at three o'clock in the afternoon and did the same thing.

6And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing; and he saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?

6About five o'clock in the afternoon, he went out and found others standing around. He asked them, 'Why have you been standing here all day doing nothing?'

7They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard.

7'Because no one hired us,' they answered. He told them, 'You also go into the vineyard.'

8And when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and pay them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.

8When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last ones hired and finishing with the first.'

9And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a shilling.

9The men hired at five o'clock came and each escaped with a full day's wage.

10And when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received every man a shilling.

10When those who were hired first came, they expected to receive more. But they also each received a full day’s wage.

11And when they received it, they murmured against the householder,

11When they received it, they began to complain to the landowner.

12saying, These last have spent but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.

12They said, 'These men who were hired last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who worked through the heat of the day and did all the heavy labor.'

13But he answered and said to one of them, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a shilling?

13But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a full day's wage?'

14Take up that which is thine, and go thy way; it is my will to give unto this last, even as unto thee.

14'Take your pay and go. I want to give this last worker the same as I gave you.'

15Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? or is thine eye evil, because I am good?

15'Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you jealous because I am generous?'

16So the last shall be first, and the first last.

16So the last will be first, and the first will be last.

17And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples apart, and on the way he said unto them,

17While Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them as they walked,

18Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests and scribes; and they shall condemn him to death,

18'Listen, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the leading priests and the teachers of the law. They will sentence him to death.'

19and shall deliver him unto the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify: and the third day he shall be raised up.

19'Then they will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked, whipped, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised to life.'

20Then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons, worshipping him, and asking a certain thing of him.

20Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt down and asked him for a favor.

21And he said unto her, What wouldest thou? She saith unto him, Command that these my two sons may sit, one on thy right hand, and one on thy left hand, in thy kingdom.

21'What do you want?' he asked. She said, 'Give the word that in your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit at your side, one on your right and one on your left.'

22But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink the cup that I am about to drink? They say unto him, We are able.

22'You don't know what you are asking,' Jesus said to them. 'Can you drink the cup that I am about to drink?' 'We can,' they answered.

23He saith unto them, My cup indeed ye shall drink: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left hand, is not mine to give; but it is for them for whom it hath been prepared of my Father.

23Jesus said to them, 'You will indeed drink from my cup. But to sit at my right or left is not mine to give. Those places belong to those for whom my Father has prepared them.'

24And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation concerning the two brethren.

24When the other ten disciples heard about this, they were angry with the two brothers.

25But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.

25Jesus called them together and said, 'You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.'

26Not so shall it be among you: but whosoever would become great among you shall be your minister;

26'It should not be that way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.'

27and whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant:

27'And whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave.'

28even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

28'In the same way, the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many people.'

29And as they went out from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.

29As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him.

30And behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, Lord, have mercy on us, thou son of David.

30Two blind men were sitting by the roadside. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, 'Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!'

31And the multitude rebuked them, that they should hold their peace: but they cried out the more, saying, Lord, have mercy on us, thou son of David.

31The crowd told them to be quiet, but they shouted even louder, 'Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!'

32And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I should do unto you?

32Jesus stopped and called them. 'What do you want me to do for you?' he asked.

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

33'Lord,' they answered, 'we want our eyes to be opened.'

34And Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and straightway they received their sight, and followed him.

34Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Immediately they could see, and they followed him.