Matthew 25:14-30

New Catholic Bible

¹⁴ The Parable of the Talents.^[a]“Again, the kingdom of heaven will be like a man going on a journey who summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them. ¹⁵ To one he gave five talents,^[b] to another two talents, to a third one talent—to each according to his ability. Then he set forth on his journey.

¹⁶ “The servant who had received the five talents promptly went to invest them and gained five more. ¹⁷ In the same manner, the servant who had received the two talents gained two more. ¹⁸ But the servant who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

¹⁹ “After a long period of time, the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. ²⁰ The one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing an additional five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you gave me five talents. Behold, I have gained five more.’ ²¹ His master said to him,‘Well done, good and faithful servant. Since you have been faithful in small matters, I will give you much greater responsibilities. Come and share your master’s joy.’

²² “Next, the one who had received the two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. Behold, I have gained two more.’ ²³ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. Since you have been faithful in small matters, I will give you much greater responsibilities. Come and share your master’s joy.’

²⁴ “Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew that you were a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed. ²⁵ Therefore, out of fear I went off and hid your talent in the ground. Behold, I give it back to you.’

²⁶ “His master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant. So you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered! ²⁷ Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have gotten back my money with interest.

²⁸ “ ‘Therefore, take the talent from him and give it to the one with the ten talents. ²⁹ For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he does have will be taken away. ³⁰ As for this worthless servant, cast him outside into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’