38 But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ^a‘This is the heir. ^bCome, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’  ‡

39 ^aSo they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.  ‡

40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?”

41 ^aThey said to Him, ^b“He will destroy those wicked men miserably, ^cand lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will¹ render to him the fruits in their seasons.”  ‡

42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
^a‘The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
This was the Lord’s doing,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’?  ‡

43 “Therefore I say to you, ^athe kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.  ‡

44 And ^awhoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, ^bit will grind him to powder.”  ‡