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The Parable about the Coins

11 As they were listening to this, Jesus[a] went on to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem and because the people[b] thought that the kingdom of God would appear immediately. 12 So he said, “A prince went to a distant country to be appointed king and then to return. 13 He called ten of his servants and gave them ten coins.[c] He told them, ‘Invest this money until I come back.’ 14 But the citizens of his country hated him and sent a delegation to follow him and to announce, ‘We don’t want this man to rule over us!’

15 “After he was appointed king, the prince[d] came back. He ordered the servants to whom he had given the money to be called so he could find out what they had earned by investing. 16 The first servant[e] came and said, ‘Sir, your coin has earned ten more coins.’ 17 The king[f] told him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been trustworthy in a very small thing, take charge of ten cities.’

18 “The second servant[g] came and said, ‘Your coin, sir, has earned five coins.’ 19 The king[h] told him, ‘You take charge of five cities.’

20 “Then the other servant[i] came and said, ‘Sir, look! Here’s your coin. I’ve kept it in a cloth for safekeeping 21 because I was afraid of you. You are a hard man. You withdraw what you didn’t deposit and harvest what you didn’t plant.’ 22 The king[j] told him, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you evil servant! You knew, did you, that I was a hard man, and that I withdraw what I didn’t deposit and harvest what I didn’t plant? 23 Then why didn’t you put my money in the bank? When I returned, I could have collected it with interest.’

24 “So the king[k] told those standing nearby, ‘Take the coin away from him and give it to the man who has the ten coins.’ 25 They answered him, ‘Sir, he already[l] has ten coins!’ 26 ‘I tell you, to everyone who has something, more will be given, but from the person who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. 27 But as for these enemies of mine who didn’t want me to be their king—bring them here and slaughter them in my presence!’”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 19:11 Lit. he
  2. Luke 19:11 Lit. they
  3. Luke 19:13 Lit. minas. A mina was equivalent to about eight months of wages for a laborer.
  4. Luke 19:15 Lit. he
  5. Luke 19:16 The Gk. lacks servant
  6. Luke 19:17 Lit. He
  7. Luke 19:18 The Gk. lacks servant
  8. Luke 19:19 Lit. He
  9. Luke 19:20 The Gk. lacks servant
  10. Luke 19:22 Lit. He
  11. Luke 19:24 Lit. he
  12. Luke 19:25 The Gk. lacks already

11 As they autos were listening akouō to · de this houtos, he went prostithēmi on to tell legō a parable parabolē, because dia · ho he autos was eimi near engys Jerusalem Ierousalēm, and kai they autos supposed dokeō that hoti the ho kingdom basileia of ho God theos was going mellō to appear anaphainō at once parachrēma. 12 So oun he said legō, “A certain tis man anthrōpos of noble birth eugenēs went poreuō to eis a distant makros country chōra to acquire lambanō royal power basileia for himself heautou and kai then to return hypostrephō. 13 So de, calling kaleō ten deka of his heautou servants, he gave didōmi them autos ten deka minas mna, and kai said legō to pros them autos, ‘ Conduct pragmateuomai business until en hos I return erchomai.’ 14 · ho But de his autos citizens politēs hated miseō him autos and kai sent apostellō a delegation presbeia after opisō him autos, saying legō, ‘ We do not ou want thelō this houtos person to rule basileuō over epi us hēmeis.’ 15 · kai When en · ho he autos returned epanerchomai, having acquired lambanō · ho royal basileia power , · kai he ordered legō these houtos servants to whom hos he had given didōmi the ho money argyrion to be called phōneō to him autos, · ho that hina he might know ginōskō what tis they had gained diapragmateuomai by doing business . 16 The ho first prōtos came paraginomai before · de him, saying legō, ‘ Master kyrios, · ho your sy mina mna has gained prosergazomai ten deka minas mna.’ 17 And kai he said legō to him autos, ‘ Well euge done , good agathos servant! Because hoti you have been ginomai trustworthy pistos in en a very small elachistos matter , you will eimi have echō authority exousia over epanō ten deka cities polis.’ 18 And kai the ho second deuteros came erchomai, saying legō, · ho Your sy mina mna, Master kyrios, has gained poieō five pente minas mna.’ 19 So de he said legō to this one houtos as well kai, ‘ And kai you sy, rule ginomai over epanō five pente cities polis.’ 20 Then kai the ho other heteros came erchomai, saying legō, ‘ Master kyrios, look idou, · ho your sy mina mna that hos I kept echō laid apokeimai away in en a piece soudarion of cloth , 21 for gar I was afraid phobeomai of you sy, because hoti you are eimi an exacting austēros man anthrōpos: you take airō up what hos you did not ou lay tithēmi down , and kai reap therizō what hos you did not ou sow speirō.’ 22 He said legō to him autos, ‘ Out ek of ho your own sy mouth stoma I will judge krinō you sy, wicked ponēros servant. You knew oida, did you, that hoti I egō am eimi an exacting austēros man anthrōpos, taking airō up what hos I did not ou lay tithēmi down and kai reaping therizō what hos I did not ou sow speirō? 23 Why dia then kai did you not ou put didōmi my egō · ho money argyrion in epi the bank trapeza? Then kagō when I returned erchomai I prassō could an have collected prassō it autos with syn interest tokos.’ 24 Then kai he said legō to his ho attendants paristēmi, ‘ Take airō from apo him autos the ho mina mna and kai give didōmi it to the ho one who has echō the ho ten deka minas mna.’ 25 And kai they said legō to him autos, ‘ Master kyrios, he has echō ten deka minas mna!’ 26 I tell legō you hymeis that hoti to everyone pas who ho has echō, more will be given didōmi; but de from apo the ho one who does not have echō, even kai what hos he has echō will be taken airō away . 27 But plēn as for · ho these houtos enemies echthros of mine egō who ho did not want thelō me egō to reign basileuō over epi them autos, bring agō them here hōde and kai slaughter katasphazō them autos before emprosthen me egō.”

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