The Parable of the Talents

¹⁴ For it is like a man going on a journey. He summoned his own slaves and handed over his property to them. ¹⁵ And to one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to each one according to his own ability, and he went on a journey immediately. ¹⁶ The one who had received the five talents went out and^[a] traded with them and gained five more. ¹⁷ In the same way the one who had the two gained two more. ¹⁸ But the one who had received the one went away and^[b] dug up the ground and hid his master’s money. ¹⁹ Now after a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. ²⁰ And the one who had received the five talents came up and^[c] brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents. See, I have gained five more talents!’ ²¹ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge over many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’ ²² And the one who had the two talents also came up and^[d] said, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents. See, I have gained two talents more!’ ²³ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge over many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’ ²⁴ And the one who had received the one talent came up also and^[e] said, ‘Master, because I^[f] knew you, that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering from where you did not scatter seed.^{[g] 25} And because I^[h] was afraid, I went away and^[i] hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours!’ ²⁶ But his master answered and^[j] said to him, ‘Evil and lazy slave! You knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather from where I did not scatter seed.^{[k] 27} Then you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and when I^[l] returned I would have gotten back what was mine with interest! ²⁸ Therefore take the talent from him and give it^[m] to the one who has the ten talents. ²⁹ For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. ³⁰ And throw the worthless slave into the outer darkness—in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!’