At harvest time he sent a slave ¹  to the tenants to collect from them ²  his portion of the crop. ³ 

When harvest time came, he sent a slave ¹  to the tenants so that they would give ²  him his portion of the crop. ³  However, the tenants beat his slave ⁴  and sent him away empty-handed.

Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”

The farmer who works hard ought to have the first share of the crops.

“I am the true vine ¹  and my Father is the gardener. ² 

When the harvest time was near, he sent his slaves ¹  to the tenants to collect his portion of the crop. ² 

But the tenants seized his slaves, beat one, ¹  killed another, and stoned another.

They said to him, “He will utterly destroy those evil men! Then he will lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his portion at the harvest.”

But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and the inheritance will be ours!’

What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy ¹  those tenants and give the vineyard to others. ² 

Then ¹  he began to tell the people this parable: “A man ²  planted a vineyard, ³  leased it to tenant farmers, ⁴  and went on a journey for a long time.

But when the tenants saw him, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir; let’s kill him so the inheritance will be ours!’

He will come and destroy ¹  those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” ²  When the people ³  heard this, they said, “May this never happen!” ⁴ 

“Listen to another parable: There was a landowner ¹  who planted a vineyard. ²  He put a fence around it, dug a pit for its winepress, and built a watchtower. Then ³  he leased it to tenant farmers ⁴  and went on a journey.

But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and get his inheritance!’

Then ¹  he began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. ²  He put a fence around it, dug a pit for its winepress, and built a watchtower. Then ³  he leased it to tenant farmers ⁴  and went on a journey.

So be patient, brothers and sisters, ¹  until the Lord’s return. ²  Think of how the farmer waits ³  for the precious fruit of the ground and is patient ⁴  for it until it receives the early and late rains.