¹¹ And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was immediately to 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 ten ^[a]servants of his, and gave them ten ^[b]pounds, and said unto them, Trade ye herewith till I come. ¹⁴ But his citizens hated him, and sent an ambassage after him, saying, We will not that this man reign over us. ¹⁵ And it came to pass, when he was come back again, having received the kingdom, that he commanded these ^[c]servants, unto whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by trading. ¹⁶ And the first came before him, saying, Lord, thy pound hath made ten pounds more. ¹⁷ And he said unto him, Well done, thou good ^[d]servant: because thou wast found faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. ¹⁸ And the second came, saying, Thy pound, Lord, hath made five pounds. ¹⁹ And he said unto him also, Be thou also over five cities. ²⁰ And ^[e]another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I kept laid up in a napkin: ²¹ for I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that which thou layedst not down, and reapest that which thou didst not sow. ²² He saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked ^[f]servant. Thou knewest that I am an austere man, taking up that which I laid not down, and reaping that which I did not sow; ²³ then wherefore gavest thou not my money into the bank, and ^[g]I at my coming should have required it with interest? ²⁴ And he said unto them that stood by, Take away from him the pound, and give it unto him that hath the ten pounds. ²⁵ And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds. ²⁶ I say unto you, that unto every one that hath shall be given; but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away from him. ²⁷ But these mine enemies, that would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.