ISB ~ Matthew 20 v1

early in the morning:The day was divided into four nighttime “watches” and several daytime “hours” (6 A.M. to 6 P.M.). The early laborers begin around 6 A.M., and those hired at the “third” (9 A.M.; 20:3), “sixth” (noon; 20:5), and “ninth” (3 P.M.; 20:5) hours each agree to a fair wage. The group hired at the “eleventh hour” (5 P.M.; 20:6) only work about one hour since the Law commanded that workers receive their wages by sundown (Deut 24:14-15).