1 For the kingdom of the heavens is like unto a man, the husband of a house, who went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. 2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a denarius 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 whatever is right I will give you. And they went. 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 said unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7 They say unto him, Because no one has hired us. He said unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatever is right, that shall ye receive. 8 So when evening was come, the lord of the vineyard said unto his steward, Call the labourers and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 9 And when those came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a denarius. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more but they likewise received each one a denarius. 11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the husband of the house, 12 saying, These last have worked but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us who 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 denarius? 14 Take that which is thine and go, for I desire to give unto this last one, 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 first shall be last, and the last first; for many are called, but few are chosen.