Matthew 20:1-16
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].
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 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.
2001 by Terence P. Noble