Matthew 20:1-16  Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition

20 The kingdom of heaven is like to an householder, who went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.

² And having agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

³ And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing in the market place idle.

⁴ And he said to them: Go you also into my vineyard, and I will give you what shall be just.

⁵ And they went their way. And again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did in like manner.

⁶ But about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing, and he saith to them: Why stand you here all the day idle?

⁷ They say to him: Because no man hath hired us. He saith to them: Go you also into my vineyard.

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

⁹ When therefore they were come, that came about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.

¹⁰ But when the first also came, they thought that they should receive more: and they also received every man a penny.

¹¹ And receiving it they murmured against the master of the house,

¹² Saying: These last have worked but one hour, and thou hast made them equal to us, that have borne the burden of the day and the heats.

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

¹⁴ Take what is thine, and go thy way: I will also give to this last even as to thee.

¹⁵ Or, is it not lawful for me to do what I will? is thy eye evil, because I am good?

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