English Standard Version

New Living Translation

1“For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.

1 “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

2After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

2 He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work.

3And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace,

3 “At nine o’clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing.

4and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’

4 So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day.

5So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same.

5 So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o’clock he did the same thing.

6And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’

6 “At five o’clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven’t you been working today?’

7They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’

7 “They replied, ‘Because no one hired us.’ “The landowner told them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.’

8And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’

8 “That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first.

9And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius.

9 When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage.

10Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius.

10 When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage.

11And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house,

11 When they received their pay, they protested to the owner,

12saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’

12 ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’

13But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?

13 “He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage?

14Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you.

14 Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you.

15Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’

15 Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’

16So the last will be first, and the first last.”

16 “So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.” Jesus Again Predicts His Death

17And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them,

17As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him.

18“See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death

18 “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die.

19and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”

19 Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead.” Jesus Teaches about Serving Others

20Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something.

20Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor.

21And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.”

21 “What is your request?” he asked. She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”

22Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.”

22But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?” “Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!”

23He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

23Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.”

24And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers.

24When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant.

25But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.

25But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them.

26It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,

26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant,

27and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,

27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave.

28even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus Heals Two Blind Men

29And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him.

29As Jesus and the disciples left the town of Jericho, a large crowd followed behind.

30And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!”

30Two blind men were sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was coming that way, they began shouting, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

31The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!”

31“Be quiet!” the crowd yelled at them. But they only shouted louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

32And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?”

32When Jesus heard them, he stopped and called, “What do you want me to do for you?”

33They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.”

33“Lord,” they said, “we want to see!”

34And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.

34Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Instantly they could see! Then they followed him.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.