A man going into another country called his servants and delivered unto
them his goods. To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and
to another one talent. After a long time the lord of those servants came
home, and made a reckoning with them. He that received five talents came
and said: Lord, thou gavest me five talents; lo, I have gained other
five talents. His lord said unto him: Well done, good and faithful
servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over
many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Likewise he said to
the servant who received two talents and with them gained two other
talents. Then came also the one that had received the one talent and
said: Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou
didst not sow, and gathering where thou didst not scatter. Therefore I
was afraid, and went away and hid thy talent in the earth; lo, here it
is. His lord said: Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I
am a hard man; thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the
bankers, so I could have received back mine own with interest. And he
commanded that the unprofitable servant be cast out where there is
weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matt. 25:14-30.)