¹⁴“For it is like a man going on a journey, who summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them. ¹⁵To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. ¹⁶The one who had received five talents went off right away and put his money to work and gained five more. ¹⁷In the same way, the one who had two gained two more. ¹⁸But the one who had received one talent went out and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money in it.¹⁹After a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled his accounts with them. ²⁰The one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, saying, ‘Sir, you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ ²¹His master answered, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful in a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’ ²²The one with the two talents also came and said, ‘Sir, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more.’ ²³His master answered, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’ ²⁴Then the one who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Sir, I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed, ²⁵so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ ²⁶But his master answered, ‘Evil and lazy slave! So you knew that I harvest where I didn’t sow and gather where I didn’t scatter? ²⁷Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received my money back with interest! ²⁸Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has 10. ²⁹For the one who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. ³⁰And throw that worthless slave into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’