Again,
it 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? Well 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.' |
