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He began to tell the people this parable. “A [a] man planted a vineyard, and rented it out to some farmers, and went into another country for a long time. 10 At the proper season, he sent a servant to the farmers to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the farmers beat him, and sent him away empty. 11 He sent yet another servant, and they also beat him, and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. 12 He sent yet a third, and they also wounded him, and threw him out. 13 The lord of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. It may be that seeing him, they will respect him.’

14 “But when the farmers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.’ 15 Then they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and destroy these farmers, and will give the vineyard to others.”

When they heard that, they said, “May that never be!”

17 But he looked at them and said, “Then what is this that is written,

‘The stone which the builders rejected
    was made the chief cornerstone?’Psalm 118:22
18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces,
    but it will crush whomever it falls on to dust.”

19 The chief priests and the scribes sought to lay hands on him that very hour, but they feared the people—for they knew he had spoken this parable against them.

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Footnotes

  1. 20:9 NU (in brackets) and TR add “certain”

The Parable of the Vineyard Owner

Now(A) he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard,(B) leased it to tenant farmers, and went away for a long time. 10 At harvest time he sent a servant to the farmers so that they might give him some fruit from the vineyard. But the farmers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 He sent yet another servant, but they beat that one too, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. 12 And he sent yet a third, but they wounded this one too and threw him out.

13 “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What should I do? I will send my beloved(C) son. Perhaps[a] they will respect him.’

14 “But when the tenant farmers saw him, they discussed it among themselves and said, ‘This is the heir. Let’s kill him, so that the inheritance will be ours.’(D) 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

“What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and kill(E) those farmers and give the vineyard to others.”

But when they heard this they said, “That must never happen!” (F)

17 But he looked at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of this Scripture:[b](G)

The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone?[c](H)

18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but on whomever it falls, it will shatter him.”(I)

19 Then the scribes and the chief priests(J) looked for a way to get their hands on him(K) that very hour, because they knew he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people.(L)

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Footnotes

  1. 20:13 Other mss add when they see him
  2. 20:17 Lit “What then is this that is written
  3. 20:17 Ps 118:22