1 F or the kingdom of the heavens is like a householder who went out with the early morn to hire workmen for his vineyard.

“For the holy nation of heaven is like the owner of a grape-field. He went out early in the morning to hire workmen to work in his grape-field.

2 A nd having agreed with the workmen for a denarius the day, he sent them into his vineyard.

He promised to give them a day’s pay and then sent them to his grape-field.

3 A nd having gone out about third hour, he saw others standing in the market-place idle;

Later in the morning he went to the center of the town where people gather. He saw men standing there doing nothing.

4 a nd to them he said, Go also ye into the vineyard, and whatsoever may be just I will give you. And they went their way.

He said to them, ‘You go to my grape-field and work also. Whatever is right, I will pay you.’ And they went.

5 A gain, having gone out about the sixth and ninth hour, he did likewise.

Again he went out about noon and at three o’clock and did the same thing.

6 B ut about the eleventh, having gone out, he found others standing, and says to them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?

About five o’clock he went out and still found others doing nothing. He asked them, ‘Why do you stand here all day and do nothing?’

7 T hey say to him, Because no man has hired us. He says to them, Go also ye into the vineyard.

They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said, ‘Go to my grape-field and work. Whatever is right, I will pay you.’

8 B ut when the evening was come, the lord of the vineyard says to his steward, Call the workmen and pay their wages, beginning from the last even to the first.

“When evening came, the owner of the grape-field said to the boss of the workmen, ‘Call the workmen. Give them their pay. Start with the last ones hired and go on to the first ones hired.’

9 A nd when they about the eleventh hour came, they received each a denarius.

The workmen who had been hired at five o’clock came up. Each one of them got a day’s pay for his work.

10 A nd when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more, and they received also themselves each a denarius.

When the workmen who had been hired the first thing in the morning came, they thought they would get more. But each one got a day’s pay.

11 A nd on receiving it they murmured against the master of the house,

After they received it, they talked against the owner.

12 s aying, These last have worked one hour, and thou hast made them equal to us, who have borne the burden of the day and the heat.

They said, ‘The last workmen hired have only worked one hour. You have given to them the same as to us. We have worked hard through the heat of the day.’

13 B ut he answering said to one of them, friend, I do not wrong thee. Didst thou not agree with me for a denarius?

But he said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me when I promised to pay you a day’s pay?

14 T ake what is thine and go. But it is my will to give to this last even as to thee:

Take your pay and go. I want to give the last ones hired the same as I have given you.

15 i s it not lawful for me to do what I will in my own affairs? Is thine eye evil because I am good?

Do I not have the right to do what I want to do with my own money? Does your eye make you want more because I am good?’

16 T hus shall the last be first, and the first last; for many are called ones, but few chosen ones.

So those who are last will be first and the first will be last.” Jesus Tells of His Death the Third Time

17 A nd Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples with apart in the way, and said to them,

As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, He talked also to the twelve followers by the side of the road. He said,

18 B ehold we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man will be delivered up to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death;

“Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the religious leaders and to the teachers of the Law. They will say that He must be put to death.

19 a nd they will deliver him up to the nations to mock and to scourge and to crucify, and the third day he shall rise again.

They will hand Him over to the people who do not know God. They will make fun of Him and will beat Him. They will nail Him to a cross. Three days later He will be raised to life.” The Mother of James and John Asks Jesus Something Hard

20 T hen came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee, with her sons, doing homage, and asking something of him.

The mother of Zebedee’s children (James and John) came to Jesus with her sons. She got down on her knees before Jesus to ask something of Him.

21 A nd he said to her, What wilt thou? She says to him, Speak that these my two sons may sit, one on thy right hand and one on thy left in thy kingdom.

He said to her, “What do you want?” She said, “Say that my two sons may sit, one at Your right side and one at Your left side, when You are King.”

22 A nd Jesus answering said, Ye know not what ye ask. Can ye drink the cup which I am about to drink? They say to him, We are able.

Jesus said to her, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to take the suffering that I am about to take? (Are you able to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?)” They said, “Yes, we are able.”

23 h e says to them, Ye shall drink indeed my cup, but to sit on my right hand and on left, is not mine to give, but to those for whom it is prepared of my Father.

He said to them, “You will suffer as I will suffer. But the places at My right side and at My left side are not Mine to give. Whoever My Father says will have those places.”

24 A nd the ten, having heard, were indignant about the two brothers.

The other ten followers heard this. They were angry with the two brothers.

25 B ut Jesus having called them to, said, Ye know that the rulers of the nations exercise lordship over them, and the great exercise authority over them.

Jesus called them to Him and said, “You know how the kings of the nations show their power to the people. Important leaders use their power over the people.

26 I t shall not be thus amongst you, but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your servant;

It must not be that way with you. But whoever wants to be great among you, let him care for you.

27 a nd whosoever will be first among you, let him be your bondman;

Whoever wants to be first among you, let him be your servant.

28 a s indeed the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.

For the Son of Man came not to be cared for. He came to care for others. He came to give His life so that many could be bought by His blood and made free from the punishment of sin.” The Healing of the Blind Men

29 A nd as they went out from Jericho a great crowd followed him.

As they went away from the city of Jericho, many people followed Him.

30 A nd lo, two blind men, sitting by the wayside, having heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out saying, Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David.

Two blind men were sitting by the side of the road. They called out when they heard that Jesus was going by. They said, “Lord, take pity on us, Son of David!”

31 B ut the crowd rebuked them, that they might be silent. But they cried out the more, saying, Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David.

Many people spoke sharp words to them. They told the blind men not to call out. But they called all the more, “Lord! Take pity on us, Son of David!”

32 A nd Jesus, having stopped, called them and said, What will ye that I shall do to you?

Jesus stopped and called them. He asked, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

33 T hey say to him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.

The blind men said to Jesus, “Lord, we want our eyes opened!”

34 A nd Jesus, moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and immediately their eyes had sight restored to them, and they followed him.

Jesus had loving-pity on them and put His hands on their eyes. At once they could see, and they followed Jesus.