十個奴僕的比喻

11 眾人在聽的時候,耶穌又為他們講了一個比喻,因為祂快到耶路撒冷了,人們以為上帝的國馬上就要降臨了。

12 耶穌說:「有一位貴族要到遠方去受封為王,然後返回。 13 臨行前,他召集了十個奴僕,發給每人一千個銀幣,吩咐他們,『你們在我出門期間要用這些錢做生意。』

14 「可是他的人民卻憎恨他,他們隨後派一個代表團去請願說,『我們不要這人作我們的王。』

15 「那貴族受封為王回來後,召齊十個奴僕,想知道他們做生意賺了多少。 16 第一個奴僕上前稟告說,『主啊,我用你給我的一千個銀幣賺了一萬個銀幣。』

17 「主人說,『好,你真是個好奴僕!你既然在小事上忠心,就派你管理十座城。』

18 「第二個奴僕上前說,『主啊,我用你給我的一千個銀幣賺了五千個銀幣。』

19 「主人說,『我派你管理五座城。』

20 「另一個奴僕上前說,『主啊,這是你先前給我的一千個銀幣,我一直把它包在手帕裡。 21 因為你很嚴厲,沒有存還要取,沒有種還要收,所以我怕你。』

22 「主人聽了,對那奴僕說,『你這個惡奴僕!我要按你自己的話定你的罪。你既然知道我很嚴厲,沒有存還要取,沒有種還要收, 23 為什麼不把我的銀幣存進錢莊,到我回來時可以連本帶利收回來?』

24 「接著,他吩咐站在旁邊的奴僕,『收回他那一千個銀幣,賞給那個賺了一萬銀幣的。』

25 「他們說,『主啊,那個人已經有一萬銀幣了。』

26 「主人答道,『我告訴你們,凡有的,還要給他更多;凡沒有的,連他僅有的也要奪走。 27 至於那些反對我作王的仇敵,把他們捉回來,在我面前處決。』」

Read full chapter

The Parable of the Ten Minas(A)

11 While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God(B) was going to appear at once.(C) 12 He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants(D) and gave them ten minas.[a] ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’

14 “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’

15 “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

16 “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’

17 “‘Well done, my good servant!’(E) his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’(F)

18 “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’

19 “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’

20 “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. 21 I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’(G)

22 “His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words,(H) you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow?(I) 23 Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’

24 “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’

25 “‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’

26 “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away.(J) 27 But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Luke 19:13 A mina was about three months’ wages.

11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.

12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.

17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.

19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.

20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:

21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.

22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?

24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.

25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)

26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.

27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

Read full chapter