The Kingdom of Heaven is like a householder who went out early in the
morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with
them 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 marketplace
idle, and said to them: Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is
right I will give you. Again he went out about the sixth and about the
ninth hour and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out
again and found others standing, and he said: Why stand ye here all the
day idle? They said: Because no man hired us. He said unto them: Go ye
also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. When
even was come, the lord of the vineyard said to his steward: Call the
laborers, and pay them their hire, beginning from the last unto the
first. They that were hired about the eleventh hour came and 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.
Then they murmured against the householder and said: These last have
spent but one hour, and thou hast made them equal to us, who have borne
the burden of the day and the scorching heat. He answered: Friend, I do
thee no wrong. Didst thou not agree with me for a shilling? Take up that
which is thine, and go thy way. But I will give the last as much as
thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Or doth
it hurt thee that I am good? (Matt. 20:1-15.)