1 “ 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.

For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.

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

And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

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

And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,

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

And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

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

Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.

6 A bout 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?’

And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?

7 T hey 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.’

They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.

8 “ 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.’

So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.

9 T he workmen who had been hired at five o’clock came up. Each one of them got a day’s pay for his work.

And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.

10 W hen 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.

But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.

11 A fter they received it, they talked against the owner.

And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,

12 T hey 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.’

Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.

13 B ut 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?

But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?

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

Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.

15 D o 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?’

Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

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

So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

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

And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,

18 “ 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.

Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,

19 T hey 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

And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.

20 T he 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.

Then came to him the mother of Zebedees children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.

21 H e 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.”

And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.

22 J esus 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.”

But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.

23 H e 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.”

And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

24 T he other ten followers heard this. They were angry with the two brothers.

And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.

25 J esus 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.

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

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

But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

27 W hoever wants to be first among you, let him be your servant.

And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

28 F or 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

Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

29 A s they went away from the city of Jericho, many people followed Him.

And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.

30 T wo 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!”

And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.

31 M any 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!”

And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.

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

And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?

33 T he blind men said to Jesus, “Lord, we want our eyes opened!”

They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.

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

So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.