12 Therefore He said: “A nobleman traveled to a far country to receive for himself authority to be king[a] and then return. 13 He called 10 of his slaves, gave them 10 minas,[b] and told them, ‘Engage in business until I come back.’

14 “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We don’t want this man to rule over us!’

15 “At his return, having received the authority to be king,[c] he summoned those slaves he had given the money to, so he could find out how much they had made in business. 16 The first came forward and said, ‘Master, your mina has earned 10 more minas.’

17 “‘Well done, good[d] slave!’ he told him. ‘Because you have been faithful(A) in a very small matter, have authority over 10 towns.’

18 “The second came and said, ‘Master, your mina has made five minas.’

19 “So he said to him, ‘You will be over five towns.’

20 “And another came and said, ‘Master, here is your mina. I have kept it hidden away in a cloth 21 because I was afraid of you, for you’re a tough man: you collect what you didn’t deposit and reap what you didn’t sow.’(B)

22 “He told him, ‘I will judge you by what you have said,[e] you evil slave! If you knew I was a tough man, collecting what I didn’t deposit and reaping what I didn’t sow, 23 why didn’t you put my money in the bank? And when I returned, I would have collected it with interest!’ 24 So he said to those standing there, ‘Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has 10 minas.’

25 “But they said to him, ‘Master, he has 10 minas.’

26 “‘I tell you, that to everyone who has, more will be given; and from the one who does not have, even what he does have will be taken away.(C) 27 But bring here these enemies of mine,(D) who did not want me to rule over them, and slaughter[f] them in my presence.’”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 19:12 Lit to receive for himself a kingdom or sovereignty
  2. Luke 19:13 = Gk coin worth 100 drachmas or about 100 days’ wages
  3. Luke 19:15 Lit to receive for himself a kingdom or sovereignty
  4. Luke 19:17 Or capable
  5. Luke 19:22 Lit you out of your mouth
  6. Luke 19:27 Or execute

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