^{1 Ref} "For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who was the master of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.

^{2 Ref} When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius{A denarius is a silver Roman coin worth 1/25th of a Roman aureus. This was a common wage for a day of farm labor.} a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

^{3 Ref} He went out about the third hour,{Time was measured from sunrise to sunset, so the third hour would be about 9:00 AM.} and saw others standing idle in the marketplace.

^{4 Ref} To them he said, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.' So they went their way.

^{5 Ref} Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour,{noon and 3:00 P. M.} and did likewise.

^{6 Ref} About the eleventh hour{5:00 PM} he went out, and found others standing idle. He said to them, 'Why do you stand here all day idle?'

^{7 Ref} "They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' "He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and you will receive whatever is right.'

^{8 Ref} When evening had come, the lord of the vineyard said to his steward, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last to the first.'

^{9 Ref} "When those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius.

¹⁰ When the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise each received a denarius.

^{11 Ref} When they received it, they murmured against the master of the household,

^{12 Ref} saying, 'These last have spent one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat!'

^{13 Ref} "But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Didn't you agree with me for a denarius?

^{14 Ref} Take that which is yours, and go your way. It is my desire to give to this last just as much as to you.

^{15 Ref} Isn't it lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?'

^{16 Ref} So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen."