1 "天国好像一个家主， 清早出去雇请工人到他的葡萄园工作。

2 他和工人讲定了一天的工钱是一个银币， 然后派他们到葡萄园去。

3 大约九点钟， 他又出去， 看见还有人闲站在街市上，

4 就对他们说： ‘你们也到葡萄园来吧， 我会给你们合理的工钱。’

5 他们就去了。约在正午和下午三点钟， 他又出去， 也是这样作。

6 下午五点钟左右， 他再出去， 看见还有人站着， 就问他们： ‘你们为什么整天站在这里不去作工？’

7 他们回答： ‘没有人用我们。’他说： ‘你们也到葡萄园来吧。’

8 到了黄昏， 园主对管工说： ‘把工人叫来， 给他们工钱， 从最后的开始， 到最先来的。’

9 那些下午五点钟才开始作工的人来了， 每个人都领到一个银币。

10 最先作工的人也来了， 以为会多得一点， 但每个人也是领到一个银币。

11 他们领到之后， 就埋怨家主， 说：

12 ‘我们整天在烈日之下劳苦， 这些后来的人只工作了一个小时， 你却给他们跟我们一样的工钱。’

13 家主回答他们当中的一个， 说： ‘朋友， 我并没有亏待你。你我不是讲定了一个银币吗？

14 拿你的工钱走吧！ 我给那后来的和给你的一样， 是我的主意。

15 难道我不可以照自己的主意用我的财物吗？还是因为我仁慈你就嫉妒呢？’

16 因此， 在后的将要在前， 在前的将要在后。"

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