20 ⁹ He went on to tell the people this parable: 'A man planted a vineyard, let it out to vine-growers, and went abroad for a long time. 20 ¹⁰ When the season came, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them his share of the produce; but the tenants thrashed him and sent him away empty-handed. 20 ¹¹ He tried again and sent a second servant; but he also was thrashed, outrageously treated, and sent away empty-handed. 20 ¹² He tried once more with a third; this one too they wounded and flung out. 20 ¹³ Then the owner of the vineyard said, "What am I to do? I will send my own dear son; Or: my only son. perhaps they will respect him." 20 ¹⁴ But when the tenants saw him they talked it over together. "This is the heir," they said; "let us kill him so that the property may come to us." 20 ¹⁵ So they flung him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 20 ¹⁶ He will come and put these tenants to death and let the vineyard to others.'
20 ^{17 [ Ps.118.22. ]} When they heard this, they said, 'God forbid!' But he looked straight at them and said, 'Then what does this text of Scripture mean: "The stone which the builders rejected has become the main corner-stone"? 20 ¹⁸ Any man who falls on that stone will be dashed to pieces; and if it falls on a man he will be crushed by it.'

20 ¹⁹ The lawyers and chief priests wanted to lay hands on him there and then, for they saw that this parable was aimed at them; but they were afraid of the people.