¹⁴ For it is as when a man, going into another country, called his own ^[a]servants, and delivered unto them his goods. ¹⁵ And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his several ability; and he went on his journey. ¹⁶ Straightway he that received the five talents went and traded with them, and made other five talents. ¹⁷ In like manner he also that received the two gained other two. ¹⁸ But he that received the one went away and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. ¹⁹ Now after a long time the lord of those ^[b]servants cometh, and maketh a reckoning with them. ²⁰ And he that received the five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: lo, I have gained other five talents. ²¹ His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful ^[c]servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord. ²² And he also that received the two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: lo, I have gained other two talents. ²³ His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful ^[d]servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord. ²⁴ And he also that had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou didst not sow, and gathering where thou didst not scatter; ²⁵ and I was afraid, and went away and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, thou hast thine own. ²⁶ But his lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful ^[e]servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I did not scatter; ²⁷ thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back mine own with interest. ²⁸ Take ye away therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him that hath the ten talents. ²⁹ For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away. ³⁰ And cast ye out the unprofitable ^[f]servant into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.

³⁴ It is as when a man, sojourning in another country, having left his house, and given authority to his ^[a]servants, to each one his work, commanded also the porter to watch.

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.