"Again, [the Kingdom of God] will be like a man going on a journey, who called his
servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents
of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to
his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received
the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five
more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the
man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid
his master's money.
"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled
accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the
other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents.
See, I have gained five more.'
"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You
have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many
things. Come and share your master's happiness!'.
"The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you
entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'
"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You
have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many
things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
"Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he
said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and
gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out
and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I
harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?
We then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when
I returned I would have received it back with interest.
"'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten
talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an
abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from
him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where
there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
