At the eleventh hour
出处：按学科分类—哲学、宗教 复旦大学出版社《圣经典故辞典》第50页（3068字）
【释义】：
最后时刻，最后一刻
For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace.
And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise
And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and said unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house.
Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong; didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
Take that thine is, and go thy way; I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
Matt. 20:1-16
因为天国好像家主，清早出去雇人，去他的葡萄园作工。
和工人讲定，一天一钱银子，就打发他们进葡萄园去。
约在第三个时辰后出去，看见市上还有闲散的人。
就对他们说，“你们也进葡萄园去，应当给的，我必给你们”；他们也进去了。
约在正午和第九个时辰后又出去，也是这样办。
约在第十一个时辰后出去，还有人站在那里，就问他们说，“你们为什么整天在这里闲站呢?”
他们说，“因为没有人雇我们”，他说，“你们也进葡萄园去。”
到了晚上，园主对管事的说，“叫工人都来，给他们工钱，从后来的起到先来的为止。”
约在第十一个时辰雇的人来了。各人得了一钱银子。
及至那先雇的来了，他们以为必要多得；谁知也各得一钱。
他们得了，就埋怨东家说，
“我们整天劳苦受热，那后来的只做了一个小时，你竟对待他们和我们一样么?”
家主回答其中的一人说；“朋友，我不亏待你，你与我讲定的，不是一钱银子么?
“拿你的走罢；我给那后来的和你一样，这是我愿意的。
我的东西难道不可随我的意思用么?因为我作好人，你们就红了眼么?”
这样，那在后的将要在前，在前的将要在后；虽然被召的人多，但是选上的人少。
《马太福音》20∶1－16］
。【条目出处】：《圣经·新约》