“For it is as if a
man, going on a journey,
summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15to one he
gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to
his
ability. Then he went away. 16The one who had
received the five
talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more
talents. 17In
the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. 18But
the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the
ground
and hid his master’s money. 19After a long time the
master of those
slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20Then the one who had
received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents,
saying,
‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more
talents.’ 21His master said to
him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy
slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in
charge of
many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 22And the one with
the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to
me two
talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ 23His master said to
him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy
in a few
things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of
your
master.’ 24Then the one who had
received the one talent also came
forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping
where you
did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; 25so I
was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have
what is
yours.’ 26But his master
replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You
knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did
not
scatter? 27Then you ought to have
invested my money with the
bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with
interest. 28So
take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. 29For
to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an
abundance; but
from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 30As
for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where
there will
be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’