Matthew 25:14-30 ¶ For it is like a man travelling into a far country, who called his own slaves and delivered unto them his goods.

EJ2000⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹⁴ ¶ For it is like a man travelling into a far country, who called his own slaves and delivered unto them his goods. ¹⁵ And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each one according to his faculty, and straightway took his journey. ¹⁶ And after he was gone, he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same and made another five talents. ¹⁷ And likewise he that had received two, he also gained another two. ¹⁸ But he that had received one went and dug in the earth and hid his lord’s money. ¹⁹ And after a long time the lord of those slaves came and reckoned accounts with them. ²⁰ And so he that had received five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, Lord, thou didst deliver unto me five talents; behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. ²¹ His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful slave; thou hast been faithful over a few things; I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord. ²² He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou didst deliver unto me two talents; behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. ²³ His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful slave; thou hast been faithful over a few things; I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord. ²⁴ Then he who had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown and gathering where thou hast not scattered; ²⁵ therefore, I was afraid and went and hid thy talent in the earth; behold, thou hast what is thine. ²⁶ His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful slave, thou knewest that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I have not scattered; ²⁷ therefore, it was expedient for thee to have put my money to the bankers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with interest. ²⁸ Take, therefore, the talent from him and give it unto him who has ten talents. ²⁹ For unto every one that has shall be given, and he shall have abundance, but from him that has not shall be taken away even that which he has. ³⁰ And cast ye the unprofitable slave into the outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.