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Parable of the Talents

14 “For it is just like a man who was about to take a journey, and he called his servants together and entrusted them with his possessions.(A) 15 To one he gave five [a]talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and then he went on his journey. 16 The one who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he [made a profit and] gained five more. 17 Likewise the one who had two [made a profit and] gained two more. 18 But the one who had received the one went and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19 “Now after a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 And the one who had received the five talents came and brought him five more, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted to me five talents. See, I have [made a profit and] gained five more talents.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master.’

22 “Also the one who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have [made a profit and] gained two more talents.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master.’

24 “The one who had received one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a harsh and demanding man, reaping [the harvest] where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter seed. 25 So I was afraid [to lose the talent], and I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is your own.’

26 “But his master answered him, ‘You wicked, lazy servant, you knew that I reap [the harvest] where I did not sow and gather where I did not scatter seed. 27 Then you ought to have put my money with the bankers, and at my return I would have received my money back with interest. 28 So take the talent away from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’

29 “For to everyone who has [and values his blessings and gifts from God, and has used them wisely], more will be given, and [he will be richly supplied so that] he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have [because he has ignored or disregarded his blessings and gifts from God], even what he does have will be taken away.(B) 30 And throw out the worthless servant into the outer darkness; in that place [of grief and torment] there will be weeping [over sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [over distress and anger].

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 25:15 A talent was a measurement of weight, usually 58-80 pounds. One talent of silver was worth more than 15 years’ wages. One talent of gold was worth even more.

14  For gar the kingdom of heaven is like hōsper a man anthrōpos about to leave on a long trip apodēmeō, who called kaleō in · ho his idios servants and kai entrusted paradidōmi his autos money hyparchō to them autos. · ho 15 · kai To one hos he gave didōmi five pente talents talanton, to another hos two dyo, to another hos one heis to each hekastos according kata to · ho his idios ability dynamis. Then kai he went on his journey apodēmeō. 16 The ho one who had received lambanō · ho five pente talents talanton went poreuō immediately and put ergazomai his autos money to work and kai gained kerdainō another allos five pente. 17 Likewise hōsautōs the ho one who had the ho two dyo gained kerdainō another allos two dyo. 18 But de the ho servant who had received lambanō the ho one heis talent went aperchomai out and dug oryssō a hole in the ground and kai hid kryptō his autos master’ s kyrios · ho money argyrion. · ho 19 Now de after meta a long polys time chronos the ho master kyrios of ho those ekeinos servants returned erchomai and kai settled synairō accounts logos with meta them autos. 20 · kai The ho one who had received lambanō the ho five pente talents talanton came proserchomai and brought prospherō another allos five pente, saying legō, ‘ Master kyrios, you entrusted paradidōmi five pente talents talanton to me egō; look ide, I have gained kerdainō five pente more allos.’ 21 His autos master kyrios said phēmi to him autos, · ho ‘Well done, good agathos and kai faithful pistos servant. You have been eimi trustworthy pistos in epi a few oligos things ; I will put kathistēmi you sy in charge kathistēmi of epi many polys things . Enter eiserchomai into eis the ho joy chara of ho your sy master kyrios.’ 22 · de The ho one who had received the ho two dyo talents talanton also kai came proserchomai, saying legō, “ Master kyrios, you entrusted paradidōmi two dyo talents talanton to me egō. Look ide, I have gained kerdainō two dyo more allos.’ 23 His autos master kyrios said phēmi to him autos, · ho ‘Well done, good agathos and kai faithful pistos servant. You have been eimi trustworthy pistos in epi a few oligos things ; I will put kathistēmi you sy in charge kathistēmi of epi many polys things . Enter eiserchomai into eis the ho joy chara of ho your sy master kyrios.’ 24 Then de the ho one who had received lambanō the ho one heis talent talanton also kai came proserchomai, saying legō, ‘ Master kyrios, I knew ginōskō that hoti you were eimi an unscrupulous sklēros man anthrōpos, reaping therizō where hopou you have not ou sown speirō and kai gathering synagō where hothen you scattered no ou seed diaskorpizō; 25 and kai being afraid phobeomai, I went aperchomai off and hid kryptō · ho your sy talent talanton in en the ho ground . Look ide, you have echō what ho is yours sos.’ 26 But de his autos master kyrios answered apokrinomai · ho him autos, saying legō, ‘ You wicked ponēros and kai lazy oknēros servant! You knew oida that hoti I reap therizō where hopou I have not ou sown speirō and kai gather synagō where hothen I scattered no ou seed diaskorpizō? 27 Then oun you sy ought dei to have deposited ballō · ho my egō money argyrion with the ho bankers trapezitēs, and kai at my return erchomai I egō would an have recovered komizō what ho was mine emos plus syn interest tokos! 28 So oun take airō the ho talent talanton away from apo him autos, and kai give didōmi it to the ho one who has echō the ho ten deka talents talanton. 29 For gar to ho everyone pas who has echō will more be given didōmi, and kai he will have an abundance perisseuō; but de from him ho who has echō not , even kai what hos he has echō will be taken airō from apo him autos. 30 And kai throw ekballō the ho worthless achreios servant into eis the ho outer exōteros darkness skotos, · ho where ekei there will be eimi · ho weeping klauthmos and kai · ho gnashing brygmos of ho teeth odous.’

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