Matthew 20

1 “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who was the master of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.

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

2 When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

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

3 He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace.

And going out about the third hour [9 a.m.] he saw others standing idle in the marketplace.

4 He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went their way.

And he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard and I will give you whatever is right.’ So off they went.

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

He went out again about the sixth hour, and the ninth, and did the same.

6 About the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle. He said to them, ‘Why do you stand here all day idle?’

Now about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and he says to them, ‘Why have you stood here idle all day?’

7 “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 right.’

They say to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He says to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and you will receive whatever is right.’

8 “When evening had come, the lord of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last to the first.’

So when evening had come the owner of the vineyard says to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wage, beginning at the last to the first.’

9 “When those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius.

The eleventh hour ones came and each received a denarius.

10 When the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise each received a denarius.

So when the first ones came they supposed that they would receive more; yet each of them also received a denarius.

11 When they received it, they murmured against the master of the household,

When they received it they began grumbling against the landowner

12 saying, ‘These last have spent one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat!’

saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who bore the burden and the heat of the day!’

13 “But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me for a denarius?

But in answer he said to one of them: ‘Friend, I am not wronging you. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?

14 Take that which is yours, and go your way. It is my desire to give to this last just as much as to you.

Take what is yours and go. I wish to give to this last one just as to you.

15 Isn’t it lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?’

Or is it not permissible for me to do what I want with what is mine? Is your eye evil because I am good?’

16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Just so the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”

17 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them,

As Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem He took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them privately:

18 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death,

“Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem and the Son of the Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and scribes; and they will condemn Him to death,

19 and will hand him over to the Gentiles to mock, to scourge, and to crucify; and the third day he will be raised up.”

and they will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock, to scourge and to crucify. And on the third day He will rise!”

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

Then the mother of Zebedee's sons approached Him, with her sons, and kneeling down she asked something from Him.

21 He said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Command that these, my two sons, may sit, one on your right hand and one on your left hand, in your Kingdom.”

So He said to her, “What do you wish?” She says to Him, “State that these my two sons may sit one on Your right and one on Your left in Your kingdom.”

22 But Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to him, “We are able.”

But in answer Jesus said: “You (pl.) do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup which I am about to drink, or to be baptized with the baptism that I am being baptized with?” They say to Him, “We are able.”

23 He said to them, “You will indeed drink my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give, but it is for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

And He says to them: “You will indeed drink my cup, and you will be baptized with the baptism that I am being baptized with, but to sit on my right and on my left is not mine to give; rather it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

24 When the ten heard it, they were indignant with the two brothers.

Now when the ten heard it they were indignant at the two brothers.

25 But Jesus summoned them, and said, “You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.

But summoning them Jesus said: “You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and the great exercise authority over them;

26 It shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.

but it must not be so among you. Rather, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,

27 Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant,

and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave;

28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

just like the Son of the Man—He did not come to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

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

Now as they went on from Jericho a large crowd followed Him.

30 Behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, you son of David!”

And then, two blind men sitting alongside the road and hearing, “Jesus is passing by!” cried out saying, “Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!”

31 The multitude rebuked them, telling them that they should be quiet, but they cried out even more, “Lord, have mercy on us, you son of David!”

So the crowd threatened them to be quiet, but they cried out all the more saying, “Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!”

32 Jesus stood still and called them, and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?”

Jesus stopped, called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?”

33 They told him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.”

They say to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened!”

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

So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes, and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.