^34 (A)It is like a man ^(B)going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants^[a] in charge, ^(C)each with his work, and commands ^(D)the doorkeeper to stay awake.

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.’

³ To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

³⁶ and be like men who are ^(A)waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and ^(B)knocks. ^37 (C)Blessed are those servants^[a] whom the master finds ^(D)awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, ^(E)he will dress himself for service and ^(F)have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. ³⁸ If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! ^39 (G)But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour ^(H)the thief was coming, he^[b] would not have left his house to be broken into. ⁴⁰ You also must be ^(I)ready, for ^(J)the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

⁴⁵ “Who then is ^(A)the faithful and ^(B)wise servant,^[a] whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? ^46 (C)Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. ⁴⁷ Truly, I say to you, ^(D)he will set him over all his possessions.