Study Desk

Now while they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem and they thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.

And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.

So He said, "A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then to return.

He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

"And he called ten of his own slaves and gave them ten minas, and said to them, 'Do business with this money until I come back.'

And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

"But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We do not want this man to reign over us.'

But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

"When he returned after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be summoned to him so that he would learn how much they had made by the business they had done.

And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

"The first slave appeared, saying, 'Master, your mina has made ten minas more.'

Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.

"And he said to him, 'Well done, good slave; since you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to have authority over ten cities.'

And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

"The second one came, saying, 'Your mina, master, has made five minas.'

And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.

"And he said to him also, 'And you are to be over five cities.'

And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.

"And then another came, saying, 'Master, here is your mina, which I kept tucked away in a handkerchief;

And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:

for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man; you take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.'

For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.

"He said to him, 'From your own lips I will judge you, you worthless slave. Did you know that I am a demanding man, taking up what I did not lay down, and reaping what I did not sow?

And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

'And so why did you not put my money in the bank, and when I came back, I would have collected it with interest?'

Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?

"And then he said to the other slaves who were present, 'Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has the ten minas.'

And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.

"And they said to him, 'Master, he already has ten minas.'

(And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)

'I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.

For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.

'But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them in my presence.'"

But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.