1. “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at daybreak to hire workers for his vineyard.
2. After agreeing to pay the workers the usual day’s wages, he sent them to work in his vineyard.
3. About 9 a.m. he saw others standing in the marketplace without work.
4. He said to them, ‘Work in my vineyard, and I’ll give you whatever is right.’ So they went.
5. “He went out again about noon and 3 p.m. and did the same thing.
6. About 5 p.m. he went out and found some others standing around. He said to them, ‘Why are you standing here all day long without work?’
7. “‘No one has hired us,’ they answered him.“He said to them, ‘Work in my vineyard.’
8. “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard told the supervisor, ‘Call the workers, and give them their wages. Start with the last, and end with the first.’
9. “Those who started working about 5 p.m. came, and each received a day’s wages.