Matthew 20
Wycliffe Bible
20 The kingdom of heavens is like to an husbandman, that went out first by the morrow [that went out early, or by the morrow], to hire workmen into his vineyard.
2 And when the covenant was made with the workmen, of a penny for the day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market.
4 And he said to them, Go ye also into mine vineyard [Go ye also into my vinery], and that that shall be rightful, I shall give to you. And they went forth.
5 Again he went out about the sixth hour, and the ninth, and did in like manner.
6 But about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing; and said to them, What stand ye idle here all day [What stand ye here idle all day]?
7 They say to him, For no man hath hired us. He saith to them, Go ye also into my vineyard.
8 And when evening was come, the lord of the vineyard saith to his procurator, Call the workmen, and yield to them their hire, and begin thou at the last till to the first [beginning at the last till to the first].
9 And so when they were come, that came about the eleventh hour, also they took every each of them a penny.[a]
10 But the first came, and deemed, that they should take more, but they took each one by themselves a penny;[b]
11 and in the taking they grumbled against the husbandman, [And they taking grutched against the husbandman,]
12 and said [saying], These last wrought one hour, and thou hast made them even to us, that have borne the charge of the day, and [the] heat?
13 And he answered to one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee none wrong [Friend, I do thee no wrong]; whether thou hast not accorded with me for a penny?
14 Take thou that that is thine, and go; for I will give to this last man, as to thee.[c]
15 Whether it is not leaveful to me to do that that I will? Whether thine eye is wicked, for I am good?
16 So the last shall be the first, and the first the last; for many be called, but few be chosen [for many be called, but few chosen].
17 And Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and took his twelve disciples in private, and said to them, [And Jesus, ascending up to Jerusalem, took his twelve disciples in private, and said to them,]
18 Lo! we go up to Jerusalem, and man's Son shall be betaken to princes of priests, and to scribes; and they shall condemn him to death.
19 And they shall betake him to heathen men, for to be scorned, and scourged, and crucified; and the third day he shall rise again to life. [And they shall betake him to heathen men, to be scorned, and scourged, and crucified; and the third day he shall rise again.]
20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, honouring, and asking something of him. [Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came nigh to him with her sons, worshipping, and asking something of him.]
21 And he said to her, What wilt thou? She saith to him, Say that these two my sons sit [Say that these my two sons sit], one at thy right half, and one at thy left half, in thy kingdom.
22 [Forsooth] Jesus answered, and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Be ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of [Be ye able to drink the cup that I am to drink]? They say to him, We be able.
23 He saith to them, Ye shall drink my cup; but to sit at my right half or [at my] left half, is not mine to give to you; but to whom it is made ready of my Father.
24 And the ten hearing, had indignation of the two brethren.
25 But Jesus called them to him, and said, Ye know, that [the] princes of heathen men be lords of them, and they that be [the] greater, use power on them [and they that be more, haunt power on them].
26 It shall not be so among you; but whoever will be made greater among you [but whoever will be made more among you], be he your minister;
27 and whoever among you will be the first [and whoever among you will be first], he shall be your servant.
28 As man's Son came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life redemption for many.
29 And when they went out of Jericho, much people followed him. [And they going out of Jericho, many companies followed him.]
30 And lo! two blind men sat beside the way, and heard that Jesus passed; and they cried, and said, Lord, the son of David, have mercy on us. [And lo! two blind men sitting beside the way, heard that Jesus passed; and they cried, saying, Lord, the son of David, have mercy on us.]
31 And the people blamed them, that they should be still; and they cried the more, and said, Lord, the son of David, have mercy on us. [Forsooth the company blamed them, that they should be still; and they cried more, saying, Lord, the son of David, have mercy on us.]
32 And Jesus stood, and called them, and said, What will ye, that I do to you?
33 They say to him, Lord, that our eyes be opened.
34 And Jesus had mercy on them, and touched their eyes; and at once [and anon] they saw, and followed him.
Footnotes
- Matthew 20:9 Therefore when they came, that had come about the eleventh hour, also they took even-pence, that is, every man a penny.
- Matthew 20:10 Truly and the first coming deemed, that they were worthy to take more, truly and they took each one by himself a penny/but also they took even-pence.
- Matthew 20:14 Take that that is thine, and go; forsooth I will give also to this the last, as and to thee.
Matthew 20
New Matthew Bible
Christ teaches by a similitude that God is debtor to no man, and how he is always calling people to his work. He teaches his disciples to be lowly, and gives two blind men their sight.
20 For the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a householder who went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. 2 And he agreed with the labourers for a denarius a day, and sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the market place, 4 and said to them, Go ye also into my vineyard, and whatever is right, I will give you. And they went their way.
5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And he went out about the eleventh hour and found others standing idle, and said to them, Why do you stand here idle all the day? 7 They said to him, Because no one has hired us. He said to them, Go ye also into my vineyard, and whatever is right, that you will receive.
8 When evening was come, the lord of the vineyard said to his steward, Call the labourers and give them their wages, beginning at the last till you come to the first.
9 And those who were hired about the eleventh hour came and received every man a denarius. 10 Then came the first, supposing that they would receive more, but they likewise received every man a denarius. 11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the master of the house, 12 saying, These last have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and heat of the day.
13 He answered to one of them, saying, Friend, I do you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take that which is your due, and go your way. I want to give to the last one as much as to you. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do as I please with what belongs to me? Is your eye evil because I am good?
16 In like manner the last may be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.
17 And Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and took the twelve disciples apart along the way and said to them, 18 Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, 19 and will deliver him to the Gentiles to be mocked, to be scourged, and to be crucified; and the third day he will rise again.
20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s children came to him with her sons, doing reverence to him and desiring a certain thing of him. 21 He said to her, What would you like? She answered him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on your right hand and the other on your left hand, in your kingdom.
22 Jesus answered and said, You know not what you ask. Are you able to drink of the cup that I must drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I must be baptized with?
They answered to him, That we are.
23 And he said to them, You shall drink of my cup, and shall be baptized with the baptism that I will be baptized with. But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give, but is for those for whom it is prepared by my Father.
24 And when the ten heard about this, they were indignant at the two brethren. 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, You know that the lords of the Gentiles have dominion over them, and those who are great exercise power over them. 26 It shall not be this way among you, but whosoever would be great among you, let him minister to you, 27 and whoever would be chief, let him be your servant – 28 even as the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life for the redemption of many.
29 And as they departed from Jericho, crowds of people followed Jesus. 30 And two blind men sitting by the wayside, when they heard Jesus pass by, cried out, saying, Lord Son of David, have mercy on us! 31 And the people admonished them to hold their peace. But they cried out all the more, saying, Have mercy on us, Lord Son of David!
32 Then Jesus stood still and called them, and said, What do you want me to do for you? 33 They said to him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened! 34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes, and immediately their eyes received sight. And they followed him.
Matthew 20
1599 Geneva Bible
20 1 Laborers hired into the vineyard. 15 The evil eye. 17 He foretelleth his passion. 20 Zebedee’s sons. 22 The cup. 28 Christ is our minister. 30 Two blind men.
1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain [a]householder, which went out at the dawning of the day to hire laborers into his vineyard.
2 And he [b]agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, and sent them into his vineyard.
3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
4 And said unto them, Go ye also into my vineyard, and whatsoever is right, I will give you: and they went their way.
5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
6 And he went about the [c]eleventh hour, and found others standing idle, and said unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
7 They said unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He said to them, Go ye also into my vineyard, and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
8 ¶ And when even was come, the master of the vineyard said unto his steward, Call the laborers, and give them their hire, beginning at the last, till thou come to the first.
9 And they which were hired about the eleventh hour, came and received every man a penny.
10 Now when the first came, they supposed that they should receive more, but they likewise received every man a penny.
11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the master of the house,
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.
13 And he answered one of them, saying, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst thou not agree with me for a penny?
14 Take that which is thine own, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, as much as to thee.
15 Is it not lawful for me to do as I will with mine own? Is thine eye [d]evil, because I am good?
16 (A) So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many are called, but few chosen.
17 (B)[e]And Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,
18 [f]Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief Priests, and unto the Scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,
19 [g]And (C)shall deliver him to the Gentiles, to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him, but the third day he shall rise again.
20 (D)[h]Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
21 And he said unto her, What wouldest thou? She said to him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one at thy right hand, and the other at thy left hand in thy kingdom.
22 And Jesus answered, and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to [i]drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the [j]baptism that I shall be baptized with? they said to him, We are able.
23 And he said unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and shall be baptized with the baptism, that I am baptized with, but to sit at my right hand, and at my left hand, is [k]not mine to give: but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
24 (E)And when the other ten heard this, they disdained at the two brethren.
25 Therefore Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the lords of the Gentiles have [l]domination over them, and they that are great, exercise authority over them.
26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your servant.
27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.
28 (F)Even as the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life for the ransom of many.
29 ¶ (G)[m]And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.
30 And behold, two blind men, sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried, saying, O Lord, the Son of David, have mercy on us.
31 And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, O Lord, the Son of David, have mercy on us.
32 Then Jesus stood still, and [n]called them, and said, What will ye that I should do to you?
33 They said to him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.
34 And Jesus moved with compassion, touched their eyes, and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
Footnotes
- Matthew 20:1 God is bound to no man, and therefore he calleth whomsoever and whensoever he listeth. This only every man ought to take heed of, and hereupon bestow his whole endeavor, that he go forward and come to the mark without all stopping or staggering, and not curiously to examine other men’s doings, or the judgments of God.
- Matthew 20:2 Word for word, fell in time: it is a kind of speech taken from song.
- Matthew 20:6 The last hour: for the day was twelve hours long, and the first hour began at the Sun rising.
- Matthew 20:15 Naught, that is, to say, dost thou envy at my goodness towards them? for the Hebrews by an evil eye, meant envy, because such dispositions appear chiefly in the eyes, as above in Matt. 6:23. It is set to answer the word, single, and is taken there for corrupt: for whereas he said there before, verse 22, If thine eye be single, he addeth in verse 23, but if thine eye be wicked, or corrupt, the word being the same in that place, as it is here.
- Matthew 20:17 Christ goeth to the cross necessarily, but yet willingly.
- Matthew 20:18 They that least ought, are the greatest persecutors of Christ.
- Matthew 20:19 The ignomy of the cross, is the sure way to the glory of everlasting life.
- Matthew 20:20 The manner of the heavenly kingdom is quite contrary to the earthly kingdom.
- Matthew 20:22 This is spoken by a figure, taking the cup, for that which is contained in the cup. And again the Hebrews understand by this word, Cup, sometime the manner of punishment which is rendered to sin, as Ps. 11:6, or the joy that is given to the faithful, as Ps. 23:5, and sometime a lot or condition, as Ps. 16:5.
- Matthew 20:22 This is applied to afflictions, as David commonly useth.
- Matthew 20:23 The almightiness of Christ his divinity is not shut out by this, but it showeth the debasing of himself by taking man’s nature upon him.
- Matthew 20:25 Somewhat sharply and roughly.
- Matthew 20:29 Christ by healing these blind men with an only touch, showeth that he is the only light of the world.
- Matthew 20:32 Himself, not by other men’s means.
Matthew 20
Authorized (King James) Version
20 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. 2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle 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. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. 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? 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. 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. 9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. 11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, 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. 13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? 14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
17 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto 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, 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.
20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. 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. 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. 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.
24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. 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. 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 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.
29 And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. 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. 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. 32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? 33 They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. 34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
2001 by Terence P. Noble
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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