The Gospel of Barnabas · Chapter 76
The Parable of the Three Vinedressers
'I tell you for an example. There was a man who had three vineyards, which he let out to three husbandmen. Because the first knew not how to cultivate the vineyard the vineyard brought forth only leaves. The second taught the third how the vines ought to be cultivated; and he most excellently hearkened to his words; and he cultivated his, as he told him, insomuch that the vineyard of the third bore much. But the second left his vineyard uncultivated, spending his time solely in talking. When the time was come for paying the rent to the lord of the vineyard, the first said: "Lord, I know not how thy vineyard ought to be cultivated: therefore I have not received any fruit this year."'
'The lord answered: "O fool, dost thou dwell alone in the world, that thou hast not asked counsel of my second vinedresser, who knoweth well how to cultivate the land? Certain it is that thou shalt pay me."'
'And having said this he condemned him to work in prison until he should pay his lord; who moved with pity at his simplicity liberated him, saying: "Begone, for I will not that thou work longer at my vineyard; it is enough for thee that I give thee thy debt."'
'The second came, to whom the lord said: "Welcome, my vinedresser! Where are the fruits that thou owest me? Assuredly, since thou knowest well how to prune the vines, the vineyard that I let out to thee must needs have borne much fruit."'
'The second answered: "O lord, thy vineyard is backward because I have not pruned the wood nor worked up the soil; but the vineyard hath not borne fruit, so I cannot pay thee."'
'Whereupon the lord called the third and with wonder said: "Thou saidst to me that this man, to whom I let out the second vineyard, taught thee perfectly to cultivate the vineyard which I let out to thee. How then can it be that the vineyard I let out to him should not have borne fruit, seeing it is all one soil?"'
'The third answered: "Lord, the vines are not cultivated by talking only, but he needs must sweat a shirt every day who willeth to make it bring forth its fruit. And how shall thy vineyard of thy vinedresser bear fruit, O lord, if he doth naught but waste the time in talking? Sure it is, O lord, that if he had put into practice his own words, while I who cannot talk so much have given thee the rent for two years, he would have given thee the rent of the vineyard for five years."'
'The lord was wroth, and said with scorn to the vinedresser: "And so thou hast wrought a great work in not cutting away the wood and levelling the vineyard, wherefore there is owing to thee a great reward!" And having called his servants he had him beaten without any mercy. And then he put him into prison under the keeping of a cruel servant who beat him every day, and never was willing to set him free for prayers of his friends.'
'I will give you an example. A man owned three vineyards, which he leased to three tenant farmers. The first did not know how to cultivate a vineyard, and therefore his vineyard produced only leaves. The second taught the third how the vines should be cultivated, and the third listened carefully to his words and cultivated his vineyard as instructed, so that it bore much fruit. But the second left his own vineyard uncultivated and spent all his time talking. When the time came to pay rent to the owner, the first said: "Lord, I do not know how your vineyard should be cultivated; therefore, I have received no fruit this year."'
'The owner answered: "O fool, do you live alone in the world? Why did you not seek advice from my second vinedresser, who knows well how to cultivate the land? You will certainly pay me."'
'Having said this, he sentenced the man to work in prison until he paid what he owed. But moved by compassion for his ignorance, the owner released him, saying: "Go away. I do not wish you to work in my vineyard any longer; it is enough that I release you from your debt."'
'The second came, and the owner said to him: "Welcome, my vinedresser! Where is the fruit you owe me? Since you know well how to prune the vines, the vineyard I entrusted to you must surely have produced much fruit."'
'The second answered: "O lord, your vineyard is in poor condition because I neither pruned the branches nor worked the soil. The vineyard has borne no fruit, so I cannot pay you."'
'The owner called the third and asked in astonishment: "You told me that this man, to whom I leased the second vineyard, taught you perfectly how to cultivate the vineyard I leased to you. How, then, can the vineyard leased to him have borne no fruit, since both vineyards have the same soil?"'
'The third answered: "Lord, vines are not cultivated by words alone. Whoever wishes to make a vineyard bear fruit must soak a shirt with sweat every day. How could your vinedresser’s vineyard bear fruit, O lord, when he did nothing but waste his time talking? Surely, if he had put his own words into practice, then while I, who cannot speak so well, have paid you two years’ rent, he would have paid you five years’ rent from his vineyard."'
'The owner became angry and said mockingly to the vinedresser: "You have certainly performed a great work by neither cutting away the branches nor leveling the vineyard; therefore, a great reward is owed to you!" He called his servants and had the vinedresser beaten without mercy. Then he placed him in prison under a cruel guard who beat him every day and would never release him despite the pleas of his friends.'
'I tell you for an example. There was a man who had three vineyards, which he let out to three husbandmen. Because the first knew not how to cultivate the vineyard the vineyard brought forth only leaves. The second taught the third how the vines ought to be cultivated; and he most excellently hearkened to his words; and he cultivated his, as he told him, insomuch that the vineyard of the third bore much. But the second left his vineyard uncultivated, spending his time solely in talking. When the time was come for paying the rent to the lord of the vineyard, the first said: "Lord, I know not how thy vineyard ought to be cultivated: therefore I have not received any fruit this year."'
'The lord answered: "O fool, dost thou dwell alone in the world, that thou hast not asked counsel of my second vinedresser, who knoweth well how to cultivate the land? Certain it is that thou shalt pay me."'
'And having said this he condemned him to work in prison until he should pay his lord; who moved with pity at his simplicity liberated him, saying: "Begone, for I will not that thou work longer at my vineyard; it is enough for thee that I give thee thy debt."'
'The second came, to whom the lord said: "Welcome, my vinedresser! Where are the fruits that thou owest me? Assuredly, since thou knowest well how to prune the vines, the vineyard that I let out to thee must needs have borne much fruit."'
'The second answered: "O lord, thy vineyard is backward because I have not pruned the wood nor worked up the soil; but the vineyard hath not borne fruit, so I cannot pay thee."'
'Whereupon the lord called the third and with wonder said: "Thou saidst to me that this man, to whom I let out the second vineyard, taught thee perfectly to cultivate the vineyard which I let out to thee. How then can it be that the vineyard I let out to him should not have borne fruit, seeing it is all one soil?"'
'The third answered: "Lord, the vines are not cultivated by talking only, but he needs must sweat a shirt every day who willeth to make it bring forth its fruit. And how shall thy vineyard of thy vinedresser bear fruit, O lord, if he doth naught but waste the time in talking? Sure it is, O lord, that if he had put into practice his own words, while I who cannot talk so much have given thee the rent for two years, he would have given thee the rent of the vineyard for five years."'
'The lord was wroth, and said with scorn to the vinedresser: "And so thou hast wrought a great work in not cutting away the wood and levelling the vineyard, wherefore there is owing to thee a great reward!" And having called his servants he had him beaten without any mercy. And then he put him into prison under the keeping of a cruel servant who beat him every day, and never was willing to set him free for prayers of his friends.'