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