Matthew 6:1-4
English Standard Version
Giving to the Needy
6 “Beware of (A)practicing your righteousness before other people in order (B)to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
2 (C)“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may (D)be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have (E)received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. (F)And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Read full chapter
Matthew 25:14-30
English Standard Version
The Parable of the Talents
14 (A)“For (B)it will be like a man (C)going on a journey, who called his servants[a] and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five (D)talents,[b] to another two, to another one, (E)to each according to his ability. Then he (F)went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and (G)dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now (H)after a long time the master of those servants came and (I)settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and (J)faithful servant.[c] (K)You have been faithful over a little; (L)I will set you over much. Enter into (M)the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be (N)a hard man, reaping (O)where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, (P)you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You (Q)wicked and (R)slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 (S)For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And (T)cast (U)the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place (V)there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 25:14 Or bondservants; also verse 19
- Matthew 25:15 A talent was a monetary unit worth about twenty years' wages for a laborer
- Matthew 25:21 Or bondservant; also verses 23, 26, 30
2 Corinthians 9:6-9
English Standard Version
The Cheerful Giver
6 The point is this: (A)whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully[a] will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, (B)not reluctantly or under compulsion, for (C)God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And (D)God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency[b] in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written,
(E)“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 9:6 Greek with blessings; twice in this verse
- 2 Corinthians 9:8 Or all contentment
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.