[1] "For the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who went out early in
the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. [2] After agreeing with the
laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. [3] And
going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market
place; [4] and to them he said, `You go into the vineyard too, and whatever
is right I will give you.' So they went. [5] Going out again about the
sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. [6] And about the eleventh
hour he went out and found others standing; and he said to them, `Why do
you stand here idle all day?' [7] They said to him, `Because no one has
hired us.' He said to them, `You go into the vineyard too.' [8] And when
evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, `Call the
laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the
first.' [9] And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them
received a denarius. [10] Now when the first came, they thought they would
receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. [11] And on
receiving it they grumbled at the householder, [12] saying, `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.' [13] But he replied to one of
them, `Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a
denarius? [14] Take what belongs to you, and go; I choose to give to this
last as I give to you. [15] Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what
belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?' [16] So the last will be
first, and the first last." [17] And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he
took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, [18]
"Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered
to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death, [19]
and deliver him to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified,
and he will be raised on the third day." [20] Then the mother of the sons
of Zeb'edee came up to him, with her sons, and kneeling before him she
asked him for something. [21] And he said to her, "What do you want?" She
said to him, "Command that these two sons of mine may sit, one at your
right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom." [22] But Jesus 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." [23] He 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."
[24] And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers.
[25] But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of
the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over
them. [26] It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among
you must be your servant, [27] and whoever would be first among you must be
your slave; [28] even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve,
and to give his life as a ransom for many." [29] And as they went out of
Jericho, a great crowd followed him. [30] And behold, two blind men sitting
by the roadside, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out,
"Have mercy on us, Son of David!" [31] The crowd rebuked them, telling them
to be silent; but they cried out the more, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of
David!" [32] And Jesus stopped and called them, saying, "What do you want
me to do for you?" [33] They said to him, "Lord, let our eyes be opened."
[34] And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they received
their sight and followed him.
