¹ He began to speak to them in parables. "A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a pit for the winepress, built a tower, rented it out to a farmer, and went into another country.

² When it was time, he sent a servant to the farmer to get from the farmer his share of the fruit of the vineyard.

³ They took him, beat him, and sent him away empty.

⁴ Again, he sent another servant to them; and they threw stones at him, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated.

⁵ Again he sent another; and they killed him; and many others, beating some, and killing some.

⁶ Therefore still having one, his beloved son, he sent him last to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.'

⁷ But those farmers said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.'

⁸ They took him, killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.

⁹ What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the farmers, and will give the vineyard to others.