¹

Then He began to speak to them in parables: "A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country.

²

Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the vinedressers.

³

And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed.

⁴

Again he sent them another servant, and at him they threw stones, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated.

⁵

And again he sent another, and him they killed; and many others, beating some and killing some.

⁶

Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, 'They will respect my son.'

⁷

But those vinedressers said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.'

⁸

So they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard.

⁹

Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others.

¹⁰

Have you not even read this Scripture:'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.

¹¹

This was the LORD's doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes'?"

¹²

And they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He had spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and went away.