Book of Common Prayer

⁶ And I looked, and lo, in the midst of the seat and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though he had been killed, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the spirits of God sent into all the world. ⁷ And he came and took the scroll out of the right hand of him that sat upon the seat.

⁸ And when he had taken the scroll, the four creatures and 24 elders fell down before the Lamb, having harps and golden vials full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. ⁹ And they sang a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals. For you were killed, and have redeemed us by your blood out of all kindreds and tongues and people and nations, ¹⁰ and have made us kings and priests unto our God, and we shall reign on the earth.

¹¹ And I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and around the living creatures and the elders. And I heard thousands of thousands ¹² saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was killed to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honour and glory and blessing! ¹³ And all the creatures that are in heaven and on the earth, and under the earth and in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying, Blessing, honour, glory, and power be to him who sits upon the seat, and to the Lamb forevermore! ¹⁴ And the four living creatures said, Amen! And the 24 elders fell upon their faces and worshipped him who lives forevermore.

¹⁴ Likewise it will be as a certain man, ready to take his journey to a strange country, called his servants and delivered his goods to them. ¹⁵ And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one – to every man according to his ability – and straightaway departed. ¹⁶ Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and won another five talents. ¹⁷ Likewise, he who received two gained another two. ¹⁸ But he who received the one went and dug a hole in the earth, and hid his master’s money.

¹⁹ After a long season, the lord of those servants came and reckoned with them. ²⁰ Then came he that had received five talents, and brought another five talents, saying, Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have gained with them five talents more. ²¹ Then his master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in a little; I will appoint you over much. Enter into your master’s joy!

²² Also he who received two talents came and said, Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have won two other talents with them. ²³ And his master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in a little; I will appoint you over much. Go in, into your master’s joy.

²⁴ Then he who had received the one talent came and said, Master, I considered that you were a hard man, who reaps where you did not sow and gathers where you did not scatter, ²⁵ and was therefore afraid, and went and hid your talent in the earth. Here, have your talent.

²⁶ His master answered and said to him, You evil servant, and slothful: you knew that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? ²⁷ You ought therefore to have put my money with the moneychangers, and then at my coming I would have received what is my own with profit. ²⁸ Take therefore the talent from him, and give it to the one who has ten talents. ²⁹ For every person who has will be given more, and he will have abundance; and from him who has not, shall be taken away even what he has. ³⁰ And cast that unprofitable servant into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.