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

¹³ And calling his ten servants, he gave them ten pounds, and said to them: Trade till I come.

¹⁴ But his citizens hated him: and they sent an embassage after him, saying: We will not have this man to reign over us.

¹⁵ And it came to pass, that he returned, having received the kingdom: and he commanded his servants to be called, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

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

¹⁷ And he said to him: Well done, thou good servant, because thou hast been faithful in a little, thou shalt have power over ten cities.

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

¹⁹ And he said 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 what thou didst not lay down, and thou reapest that which thou didst not sow.

²² He saith to him: Out of thy own mouth I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up what I laid not down, and reaping that which I did not sow:

²³ And why then didst thou not give my money into the bank, that at my coming, I might have exacted it with usury?

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

²⁵ And they said to him: Lord, he hath ten pounds.

²⁶ But I say to you, that to every one that hath shall be given, and he shall abound: and from him that hath not, even that which he hath, shall be taken from him.

²⁷ But as for those my enemies, who would not have me reign over them, bring them hither, and kill them before me.

²⁸ And having said these things, he went before, going up to Jerusalem.