The Parable of the Vineyard Owner

12 Then(A) He began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard,(B) put a fence around it, dug out a pit for a winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went away. At harvest time he sent(C) a slave(D) to the farmers to collect some of the fruit(E) of the vineyard from the farmers. But they took him, beat(F) him, and sent him away empty-handed.(G) Again he sent another slave to them, and they[a] hit him on the head and treated him shamefully.[b] Then he sent another, and they killed that one. He also sent many others; they beat some and they killed some.

“He still had one to send, a beloved(H) son. Finally(I) he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’

“But those tenant farmers said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours!’ So they seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.

“Therefore, what will the owner[c](J) of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the farmers and give the vineyard to others. 10 Haven’t you read this Scripture:(K)

The(L) stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.[d](M)
11 This came from the Lord(N)
and is wonderful in our eyes?”[e]

12 Because they knew He had said this parable against them, they were looking for a way to arrest Him, but they were afraid of the crowd. So they left Him and went away.

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 12:4 Other mss add threw stones and
  2. Mark 12:4 Other mss add and sent him off
  3. Mark 12:9 Or lord
  4. Mark 12:10 Lit the head of the corner
  5. Mark 12:11 Ps 118:22-23

The Parable of the Vineyard Owner

Then(A) He began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard,(B) leased it to tenant farmers, and went away for a long time. 10 At harvest time he sent a slave to the farmers so that they might give him some fruit from the vineyard. But the farmers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 He sent yet another slave, but they beat that one too, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. 12 And he sent yet a third, but they wounded this one too and threw him out.

13 “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What should I do? I will send my beloved(C) son. Perhaps[a] they will respect him.’

14 “But when the tenant farmers saw him, they discussed it among themselves and said, ‘This is the heir. Let’s kill him, so the inheritance will be ours!’(D) 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

“Therefore, what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and destroy(E) those farmers and give the vineyard to others.”

But when they heard this they said, “No—never!”(F)

17 But He looked at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of this Scripture:[b](G)

The stone that the builders rejected—
this has become the cornerstone?[c](H)[d]

18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and if it falls on anyone, it will grind him to powder!”(I)

19 Then the scribes and the chief priests(J) looked for a way to get their hands on Him(K) that very hour, because they knew He had told this parable against them, but they feared the people.(L)

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 20:13 Other mss add when they see him
  2. Luke 20:17 Lit What then is this that is written
  3. Luke 20:17 Lit the head of the corner
  4. Luke 20:17 Ps 118:22

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