The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like^(A) a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.^{(B) 2} He agreed to pay them a denarius^[a] for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

³ “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. ⁴ He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ ⁵ So they went.

“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. ⁶ About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’

⁷ “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.

“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’

⁸ “When evening came,^(C) the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’

⁹ “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. ¹⁰ So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. ¹¹ When they received it, they began to grumble^(D) against the landowner. ¹² ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat^(E) of the day.’

¹³ “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend.^(F) Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? ¹⁴ Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. ¹⁵ Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’^(G)

¹⁶ “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”^(H)

Paul Sails for Rome

27 When it was decided that we^(A) would sail for Italy,^(B) Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment.^{(C) 2} We boarded a ship from Adramyttium about to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia,^(D) and we put out to sea. Aristarchus,^(E) a Macedonian^(F) from Thessalonica,^(G) was with us.

³ The next day we landed at Sidon;^(H) and Julius, in kindness to Paul,^(I) allowed him to go to his friends so they might provide for his needs.^{(J) 4} From there we put out to sea again and passed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us.^{(K) 5} When we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia^(L) and Pamphylia,^(M) we landed at Myra in Lycia. ⁶ There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship^(N) sailing for Italy^(O) and put us on board. ⁷ We made slow headway for many days and had difficulty arriving off Cnidus. When the wind did not allow us to hold our course,^(P) we sailed to the lee of Crete,^(Q) opposite Salmone. ⁸ We moved along the coast with difficulty and came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea.

⁹ Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Day of Atonement.^[a](R) So Paul warned them, ¹⁰ “Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.”^{(S) 11} But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship. ¹² Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there. This was a harbor in Crete,^(T) facing both southwest and northwest.

The Storm

¹³ When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. ¹⁴ Before very long, a wind of hurricane force,^(U) called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. ¹⁵ The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. ¹⁶ As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat^(V) secure, ¹⁷ so the men hoisted it aboard. Then they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Because they were afraid they would run aground^(W) on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor^[b] and let the ship be driven along. ¹⁸ We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard.^{(X) 19} On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. ²⁰ When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.

²¹ After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice^(Y) not to sail from Crete;^(Z) then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. ²² But now I urge you to keep up your courage,^(AA) because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. ²³ Last night an angel^(AB) of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve^(AC) stood beside me^{(AD) 24} and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar;^(AE) and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’^{(AF) 25} So keep up your courage,^(AG) men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.^{(AH) 26} Nevertheless, we must run aground^(AI) on some island.”^(AJ)

Psalm 44^[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.^[b]

Unlawful Sexual Relations

18 The Lord said to Moses, ² “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘I am the Lord your God.^{(A) 3} You must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. Do not follow their practices.^{(B) 4} You must obey my laws^(C) and be careful to follow my decrees.^(D) I am the Lord your God.^{(E) 5} Keep my decrees and laws,^(F) for the person who obeys them will live by them.^(G) I am the Lord.

⁶ “‘No one is to approach any close relative to have sexual relations. I am the Lord.

⁷ “‘Do not dishonor your father^(H) by having sexual relations with your mother.^(I) She is your mother; do not have relations with her.

⁸ “‘Do not have sexual relations with your father’s wife;^(J) that would dishonor your father.^(K)

⁹ “‘Do not have sexual relations with your sister,^(L) either your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether she was born in the same home or elsewhere.^(M)

¹⁰ “‘Do not have sexual relations with your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter; that would dishonor you.

¹¹ “‘Do not have sexual relations with the daughter of your father’s wife, born to your father; she is your sister.

¹² “‘Do not have sexual relations with your father’s sister;^(N) she is your father’s close relative.

¹³ “‘Do not have sexual relations with your mother’s sister,^(O) because she is your mother’s close relative.

¹⁴ “‘Do not dishonor your father’s brother by approaching his wife to have sexual relations; she is your aunt.^(P)

¹⁵ “‘Do not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law.^(Q) She is your son’s wife; do not have relations with her.^(R)

¹⁶ “‘Do not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife;^(S) that would dishonor your brother.

¹⁷ “‘Do not have sexual relations with both a woman and her daughter.^(T) Do not have sexual relations with either her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter; they are her close relatives. That is wickedness.

¹⁸ “‘Do not take your wife’s sister^(U) as a rival wife and have sexual relations with her while your wife is living.

¹⁹ “‘Do not approach a woman to have sexual relations during the uncleanness^(V) of her monthly period.^(W)

²⁰ “‘Do not have sexual relations with your neighbor’s wife^(X) and defile yourself with her.

²¹ “‘Do not give any of your children^(Y) to be sacrificed to Molek,^(Z) for you must not profane the name of your God.^(AA) I am the Lord.^(AB)

²² “‘Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman;^(AC) that is detestable.^(AD)

²³ “‘Do not have sexual relations with an animal and defile yourself with it. A woman must not present herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it; that is a perversion.^(AE)

²⁴ “‘Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you^(AF) became defiled.^{(AG) 25} Even the land was defiled;^(AH) so I punished it for its sin,^(AI) and the land vomited out its inhabitants.^{(AJ) 26} But you must keep my decrees and my laws.^(AK) The native-born and the foreigners residing among you must not do any of these detestable things, ²⁷ for all these things were done by the people who lived in the land before you, and the land became defiled. ²⁸ And if you defile the land,^(AL) it will vomit you out^(AM) as it vomited out the nations that were before you.

²⁹ “‘Everyone who does any of these detestable things—such persons must be cut off from their people. ³⁰ Keep my requirements^(AN) and do not follow any of the detestable customs that were practiced before you came and do not defile yourselves with them. I am the Lord your God.^(AO)’”

Various Laws

19 The Lord said to Moses, ² “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel^(AP) and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God,^(AQ) am holy.^(AR)

³ “‘Each of you must respect your mother and father,^(AS) and you must observe my Sabbaths.^(AT) I am the Lord your God.^(AU)

⁴ “‘Do not turn to idols or make metal gods for yourselves.^(AV) I am the Lord your God.^(AW)

⁵ “‘When you sacrifice a fellowship offering to the Lord, sacrifice it in such a way that it will be accepted on your behalf. ⁶ It shall be eaten on the day you sacrifice it or on the next day; anything left over until the third day must be burned up.^{(AX) 7} If any of it is eaten on the third day, it is impure and will not be accepted.^{(AY) 8} Whoever eats it will be held responsible^(AZ) because they have desecrated what is holy^(BA) to the Lord; they must be cut off from their people.^(BB)

⁹ “‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges^(BC) of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest.^{(BD) 10} Do not go over your vineyard a second time^(BE) or pick up the grapes that have fallen.^(BF) Leave them for the poor and the foreigner.^(BG) I am the Lord your God.

¹¹ “‘Do not steal.^(BH)

“‘Do not lie.^(BI)

“‘Do not deceive one another.^(BJ)

¹² “‘Do not swear falsely^(BK) by my name^(BL) and so profane^(BM) the name of your God. I am the Lord.

¹³ “‘Do not defraud or rob^(BN) your neighbor.^(BO)

“‘Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker^(BP) overnight.^(BQ)

¹⁴ “‘Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind,^(BR) but fear your God.^(BS) I am the Lord.

¹⁵ “‘Do not pervert justice;^(BT) do not show partiality^(BU) to the poor or favoritism to the great,^(BV) but judge your neighbor fairly.^(BW)

¹⁶ “‘Do not go about spreading slander^(BX) among your people.

“‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life.^(BY) I am the Lord.

¹⁷ “‘Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart.^(BZ) Rebuke your neighbor frankly^(CA) so you will not share in their guilt.

¹⁸ “‘Do not seek revenge^(CB) or bear a grudge^(CC) against anyone among your people,^(CD) but love your neighbor^(CE) as yourself.^(CF) I am the Lord.

¹⁹ “‘Keep my decrees.^(CG)

“‘Do not mate different kinds of animals.

“‘Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed.^(CH)

“‘Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.^(CI)

²⁰ “‘If a man sleeps with a female slave who is promised to another man^(CJ) but who has not been ransomed or given her freedom, there must be due punishment.^[a] Yet they are not to be put to death, because she had not been freed. ²¹ The man, however, must bring a ram to the entrance to the tent of meeting for a guilt offering to the Lord.^{(CK) 22} With the ram of the guilt offering the priest is to make atonement for him before the Lord for the sin he has committed, and his sin will be forgiven.^(CL)

²³ “‘When you enter the land and plant any kind of fruit tree, regard its fruit as forbidden.^[b] For three years you are to consider it forbidden^[c]; it must not be eaten. ²⁴ In the fourth year all its fruit will be holy,^(CM) an offering of praise to the Lord. ²⁵ But in the fifth year you may eat its fruit. In this way your harvest will be increased. I am the Lord your God.

²⁶ “‘Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it.^(CN)

“‘Do not practice divination^(CO) or seek omens.^(CP)

²⁷ “‘Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.^(CQ)

²⁸ “‘Do not cut^(CR) your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.

²⁹ “‘Do not degrade your daughter by making her a prostitute,^(CS) or the land will turn to prostitution and be filled with wickedness.^(CT)

³⁰ “‘Observe my Sabbaths^(CU) and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the Lord.^(CV)

³¹ “‘Do not turn to mediums^(CW) or seek out spiritists,^(CX) for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.

³² “‘Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect^(CY) for the elderly^(CZ) and revere your God.^(DA) I am the Lord.^(DB)

³³ “‘When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. ³⁴ The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born.^(DC) Love them as yourself,^(DD) for you were foreigners^(DE) in Egypt.^(DF) I am the Lord your God.

³⁵ “‘Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight or quantity.^{(DG) 36} Use honest scales^(DH) and honest weights, an honest ephah^[d](DI) and an honest hin.^[e](DJ) I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt.^(DK)

³⁷ “‘Keep all my decrees^(DL) and all my laws^(DM) and follow them. I am the Lord.’”

Punishments for Sin

20 The Lord said to Moses, ² “Say to the Israelites: ‘Any Israelite or any foreigner residing in Israel who sacrifices any of his children to Molek is to be put to death.^(DN) The members of the community are to stone him.^{(DO) 3} I myself will set my face against him and will cut him off from his people;^(DP) for by sacrificing his children to Molek, he has defiled^(DQ) my sanctuary^(DR) and profaned my holy name.^{(DS) 4} If the members of the community close their eyes when that man sacrifices one of his children to Molek and if they fail to put him to death,^{(DT) 5} I myself will set my face against him and his family and will cut them off from their people together with all who follow him in prostituting themselves to Molek.

⁶ “‘I will set my face against anyone who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute themselves by following them, and I will cut them off from their people.^(DU)

⁷ “‘Consecrate yourselves^(DV) and be holy,^(DW) because I am the Lord your God.^{(DX) 8} Keep my decrees^(DY) and follow them. I am the Lord, who makes you holy.^(DZ)

⁹ “‘Anyone who curses their father^(EA) or mother^(EB) is to be put to death.^(EC) Because they have cursed their father or mother, their blood will be on their own head.^(ED)

¹⁰ “‘If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife^(EE)—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death.^(EF)

¹¹ “‘If a man has sexual relations with his father’s wife, he has dishonored his father.^(EG) Both the man and the woman are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.^(EH)

¹² “‘If a man has sexual relations with his daughter-in-law,^(EI) both of them are to be put to death. What they have done is a perversion; their blood will be on their own heads.

¹³ “‘If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable.^(EJ) They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.

¹⁴ “‘If a man marries both a woman and her mother,^(EK) it is wicked. Both he and they must be burned in the fire,^(EL) so that no wickedness will be among you.^(EM)

¹⁵ “‘If a man has sexual relations with an animal,^(EN) he is to be put to death,^(EO) and you must kill the animal.

¹⁶ “‘If a woman approaches an animal to have sexual relations with it, kill both the woman and the animal. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.

¹⁷ “‘If a man marries his sister^(EP), the daughter of either his father or his mother, and they have sexual relations, it is a disgrace. They are to be publicly removed^(EQ) from their people. He has dishonored his sister and will be held responsible.^(ER)

¹⁸ “‘If a man has sexual relations with a woman during her monthly period,^(ES) he has exposed the source of her flow, and she has also uncovered it. Both of them are to be cut off from their people.^(ET)

¹⁹ “‘Do not have sexual relations with the sister of either your mother or your father,^(EU) for that would dishonor a close relative; both of you would be held responsible.

²⁰ “‘If a man has sexual relations with his aunt,^(EV) he has dishonored his uncle. They will be held responsible; they will die childless.^(EW)

²¹ “‘If a man marries his brother’s wife,^(EX) it is an act of impurity; he has dishonored his brother. They will be childless.^(EY)

²² “‘Keep all my decrees and laws^(EZ) and follow them, so that the land^(FA) where I am bringing you to live may not vomit you out. ²³ You must not live according to the customs of the nations^(FB) I am going to drive out before you.^(FC) Because they did all these things, I abhorred them.^{(FD) 24} But I said to you, “You will possess their land; I will give it to you as an inheritance, a land flowing with milk and honey.”^(FE) I am the Lord your God, who has set you apart from the nations.^(FF)

²⁵ “‘You must therefore make a distinction between clean and unclean animals and between unclean and clean birds.^(FG) Do not defile yourselves by any animal or bird or anything that moves along the ground—those that I have set apart as unclean for you. ²⁶ You are to be holy to me^(FH) because I, the Lord, am holy,^(FI) and I have set you apart from the nations^(FJ) to be my own.

²⁷ “‘A man or woman who is a medium^(FK) or spiritist among you must be put to death.^(FL) You are to stone them;^(FM) their blood will be on their own heads.’”