Matthew 20
1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man [that is] an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.
2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
He agreed to pay the workers one denarius for the day, and sent them to work in his vineyard.
3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
Around 9 a.m. he went out and saw others without work standing in the marketplace.
4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
‘Go and work in the vineyard too, and I'll pay you what's right,’ he told them. So they went to work.
5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
Around noon and 3 p.m. he went out and did the same thing.
6 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?
At 5 p.m. he went out and found others standing there. ‘Why are you standing around all day doing nothing?’ he asked them.
7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, [that] shall ye receive.
‘Because nobody has hired us,’ they replied. ‘Go and work in the vineyard too,’ he told them.
8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them [their] hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
When evening came, the owner of the vineyard told his manager, ‘Call the workers in, and pay them their wages. Begin with the workers hired last and then move on to those hired first.’
9 And when they came that [were hired] about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
When those who were hired at 5 p.m. came in, they each received one denarius.
10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
So when those who were hired first came in, they thought they would get more, but they also received one denarius.
11 And when they had received [it], they murmured against the goodman of the house,
When they received their pay, they complained to the owner.
12 Saying, These last have wrought [but] one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
‘Those who were hired last only worked for an hour, and you've paid them the same as us who worked the whole day in the burning heat,’ they grumbled.
13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
The owner answered one of them, ‘My friend, I haven't treated you unfairly. Didn't you agree with me to work for one denarius?
14 Take [that] thine [is], and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
Take your pay and go. I want to pay those who were hired last the same as I paid you.
15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
Can't I choose to do what I want with my own money? Why should you give me evil looks because I want to do good?’
16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
In this way the last shall be first and the first shall be last.”
17 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,
On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus took the twelve disciples aside as they walked along and told them,
18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,
“Look, we're going to Jerusalem, and the Son of man will be betrayed to the chief priests and religious teachers. They will condemn him to death
19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify [him]: and the third day he shall rise again.
and hand him over to the foreigners to mock him, whip him, and crucify him. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead.”
20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping [him], and desiring a certain thing of him.
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came with her two sons to Jesus. She kneeled down before him to make a request.
21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
“What is it you are asking me for?” Jesus said to her. “Please appoint my sons to sit beside you in your kingdom, one on your right and the other on your left,” she asked.
22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
“You don't know what you're asking,” Jesus told them. “Are you able to drink the cup I'm about to drink?” “Yes, we are able to do that,” they told him.
23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but [it shall be given to them] for whom it is prepared of my Father.
“You will certainly drink from my cup,” he said to them, “but the privilege to sit on my right or on my left isn't mine to give. My Father is the one who has decided who that will be.”
24 And when the ten heard [it], they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.
When the other ten disciples heard what they had asked, they were annoyed with the two brothers.
25 But Jesus called them [unto him], and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
Jesus called them together and told them, “You know that foreign rulers lord it over their subjects, and powerful leaders oppress them.
26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
It shall not be like that for you. Whoever among you wants to be the most important will be your servant.
27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
Whoever among you wants to be first will be like a slave.
28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
In the same way the Son of man didn't come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
29 And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.
As they left Jericho, a huge crowd followed Jesus.
30 And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, [thou] Son of David.
Two blind men were sitting at the side of the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they called out, “Have mercy on us, Lord, son of David!”
31 And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, [thou] Son of David.
The crowd told them to be quiet, but they shouted even louder, “Have mercy on us, Lord, son of David!”
32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?
Jesus stopped. He called them over, asking, “What do you want me to do for you?”
33 They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.
“Lord, please make us able to see,” they replied.
34 So Jesus had compassion [on them], and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
Jesus had pity on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they could see, and they followed him.
