^{9 Ref} He began to tell the people this parable. "A {NU (in brackets) and TR add "certain"}man planted a vineyard, and rented it out to some farmers, and went into another country for a long time.

^{10 Ref} 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 Ref} 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 Ref} 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 Ref} "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 Ref} They threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do to them?

^{16 Ref} He will come and destroy these farmers, and will give the vineyard to others." When they heard it, they said, "May it never be!"

^{17 Ref} But he looked at them, and said, "Then what is this that is written, 'The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the chief cornerstone?'

^{18 Ref} "Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, But it will crush whomever it falls on to dust."

^{19 Ref} 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.