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33. Of the Labourers in the Vineyard.

A householder went out in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard, and became one with them for a penny a day's wages, and so sent them into the vineyard. He went out again about the third hour of the day and saw others standing idle in the marketplace. To them he said: "Go into the vineyard too! I will give you what is right." He did the same at the sixth and ninth hour. Finally, at the eleventh hour of the day, he went out and found some still standing idle. He asked them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ They answered him: ‘No one has served us.’ He also said to them, ‘Go into my vineyard, and what is right shall be yours.’

In the evening, at the twelfth hour of the day, he had all the labourers paid and started with the last of them. They came and received a penny each. When the first ones came, they thought they would receive more, but they also received every man his penny. At this they murmured and said, ‘These have laboured but one hour, and you have made them like us, who have borne the burden and heat of the day.’ Then the father of the house said to one of them, "My friend, I am not doing you an injustice. Have you not become one with me for a penny? Take what is yours! Or do I not have the power to do what I want with what is mine? Do you look askance at me for being so kind?" So said the householder. Save me, O God, from envy when you are kind to others. I will not be pious for reward and do your will, my God, from whom I have everything!