“For it is just like a man about to
go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his
possessions to them. To one he gave five talents, to another, two,
and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went
on his journey. Immediately the one who had received the five talents
went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. In the same
manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. But
he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the
ground and hid his master’s money.
“Now after a long time the master of
those slaves came and settled accounts with them. The one who had
received the five talents came up and brought five more talents,
saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have
gained five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done,
good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will
put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
“Also the one who had received the
two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to
me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ His master said to him,
‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few
things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy
of your master.’
“And the one also who had received
the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard
man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered
no seed. And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the
ground. See, you have what is yours.’
“But his master answered and said to
him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not
sow and gather where I scattered no seed. Then you ought to have put
my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my
money back with interest. Therefore take away the talent from him,
and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’
(Matthew 25:14-28)
