6. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing
idle, and 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; and whatsoever is right, that
shall ye receive.
8. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his
steward, call the laborers, and give 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 penny.
10. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have
received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
11. And when they had received it, they murmured against the good man
of the house,
12. Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made
them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
[Illustration]
13. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong:
didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
14. Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last,
even as unto thee.
15. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine
eye evil, because I am good?
16. So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be
called, but few chosen.
(_St. Matthew, xx. 1-16._)
_VIII.--PARABLE OF THE SOWER AND THE SEED._