¹For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that was a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. ²And when he had agreed with the laborers for a shilling a day, he sent them into his vineyard. ³And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing in the marketplace idle; ⁴and to them he said, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. ⁵Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. ⁶And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing; and he saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? ⁷They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard. ⁸And when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and pay them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. ⁹And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a shilling. ¹⁰And when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received every man a shilling. ¹¹And when they received it, they murmured against the householder, ¹²saying, These last have spent but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat. ¹³But he answered and said to one of them, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a shilling? ¹⁴Take up that which is thine, and go thy way; it is my will to give unto this last, even as unto thee. ¹⁵Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? or is thine eye evil, because I am good? ¹⁶So the last shall be first, and the first last.