And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because
he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom
of God was immediately to appear. He said therefore, "A certain
nobleman went into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom,
and to return. And he called ten servants of his, and gave them ten
pounds, and said unto them, 'Trade ye herewith till I come.' But his
citizens hated him, and sent an ambassage after him, saying, 'We will
not that this man reign over us.'
"And it came to pass, when he was come back again, having received the
kingdom, that he commanded these servants, unto whom he had given the
money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by
trading. And the first came before him, saying, 'Lord, thy pound hath
made ten pounds more.' And he said unto him, 'Well done, thou good
servant: because thou wast found faithful in a very little, have thou
authority over ten cities.' And the second came, saying, 'Thy pound,
Lord, hath made five pounds.' And he said unto him also, 'Be thou also
over five cities.' And another came, saying, 'Lord, behold, here is
thy pound, which I kept laid up in a napkin: for I feared thee,
because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that which thou
layedst not down, and reapest that which thou didst not sow.' He saith
unto him, 'Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked
servant. Thou knewest that I am an austere man, taking up that which I
laid not down, and reaping that which I did not sow; then wherefore
gavest thou not my money into the bank, and I at my coming should have
required it with interest?' And he said unto them that stood by, 'Take
away from him the pound, and give it unto him that hath the ten
pounds.' And they said unto him, 'Lord, he hath ten pounds.' 'I say
unto you, that unto every one that hath shall be given; but from him
that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away from him.
But these mine enemies, that would not that I should reign over them,
bring hither, and slay them before me.'"
And when he had thus spoken, he went on before, going up to Jerusalem.